Chief, Regional Coordination and Intergovernmental Affairs

Global Roles; New York, Northern (NY, KY); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

The United Nations Development Coordination Office (UNDCO) in New York seeks a Chief, Regional Coordination and Intergovernmental Affairs to provide strategic leadership for intergovernmental engagement and regional coordination. You will steer engagement strategies with Member States and coordinate with UN entities and regional teams to accelerate the 2030 Agenda.

Responsibilities include leading monitoring and analysis of intergovernmental deliberations, preparing high-quality briefings, and

Qualifications

• Advanced degree or equivalent in a relevant field (sustainable development, economics, public policy, political science, public administration, finance, law, social sciences).
• Minimum ten years of progressively responsible experience liaising with Member States and managing intergovernmental engagement.
• Experience advising on engagement of seniors in intergovernmental forums is required.
• Field experience in the RC system or UN development entities is required.
• Knowledge of UN development coordination architecture, regional level reforms and UN80 initiative is required.
• Strong communications (verbal and written), report writing and negotiation skills are required.
• HQ experience in development cooperation is desirable.
• Team leadership and performance management experience is desirable.
• English at UN Level II; French at UN Level I is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Leads development, implementation and performance review of differentiated engagement strategies with Member States for RC system and DCO mandate.
• Coordinates engagement with DCO sections, Regional Directors, and Resident Coordinators to promote understanding of intergovernmental procedures.
• Oversees monitoring and analysis of intergovernmental deliberations in UN bodies like GA and ECOSOC.
• Develops systems for tracking emerging trends and mapping regional mandates from GA QCPR and ECOSOC resolutions.
• Prepares timely analysis, briefings, and background notes for DCO Senior Management.
• Collaborates with UN Secretariat officials to ensure coherence of messaging and coordination with EOSG and the ASG office.
• Contributes to DCO reports and presentations to the Deputy SG and UN bodies.
• Leads support to regional UN development system architecture and RCP coordination and UN80 initiatives.
• Prepares inputs for SG’s report on Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review and supports ACABQ preparations.
• Supports back-office function for the Deputy SG as Chair of the RCPs and planning of annual meetings and workplans.
• Plans evaluations of the regional architecture and provides regular analysis to support cross-regional learning.

Skills

Intergovernmental Engagement

Regional Coordination

UN Development Coordination

Strategic Leadership

Report Writing

Negotiation Skills

Policy Analysis

Sustainable Development

Economic Analysis

Political Science

Public Administration

Finance

Law

Social Sciences

Liaison with Member States

UN Development System Experience

Communications Skills

Team Leadership

Performance Management

Education

Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in sustainable development, economics, public policy, political science, public administration, finance, law, social sciences or related field.

A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Job description

The Chief, Regional Coordination and Intergovernmental Affairs provides strategic leadership to the Intergovernmental and Regional Liaison Section within the Strategic Partnerships and Engagement Division of the United Nations Development Coordination Office (UNDCO) in New York. The role involves leading intergovernmental engagement strategies, coordinating with UN entities and regional teams, and supporting the regional architecture of the UN development system to accelerate the 2030 Agenda.

Responsibilities

• Leads the development, implementation and performance review of differentiated engagement strategies with Member States in support of the RC system and DCO’s development coordination mandate.
• Coordinates and facilitates engagement with relevant sections in DCO, Regional Directors, and Resident Coordinators, to promote their contribution and understanding of intergovernmental procedures, maintain awareness of Member States’ decisions and positions, and synchronize their messaging.
• Oversees and strengthens DCO’s systems for strategic monitoring and analysis of deliberations in UN intergovernmental bodies related to its mandate, including the General Assembly and ECOSOC through establishing trusted relationships to support informed intergovernmental outcomes.
• Develops the necessary systems for tracking emerging trends and priorities identified by Member States and for mapping and following up on the implementation of DCO's mandates provided by Member States through the GA QCPR and ECOSOC resolutions.
• Oversees the preparation of timely and high-quality analysis, briefings and background notes to assist DCO Senior Management as they engage with Member States.
• Leads, with guidance from the divisional director, collaboration with officials within the UN Secretariat, including EOSG, and supports close coordination with the Office of the ASG to ensure coherence.
• Contributes to the preparation and drafting of DCO's reports and presentations to the Deputy Secretary-General and UN bodies, including the General Assembly (Plenary, Second and Fifth Committees), ECOSOC, and ACABQ.
• Leads the support to the regional architecture of the UN development system, including through the coordination of the internal DCO working group composed of DCO HQ colleagues and DCO regional Teams Leaders, and support to the implementation of relevant UN80 initiatives.
• Prepares all inputs required pertaining to the regional portfolio in the Secretary-General’s report on the implementation of the Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review, in briefing materials, as well as contribute to ACABQ preparations and audit requests on the topic.
• Supports DCO's back-office function for the Deputy Secretary-General in his/her capacity as Chair of the Regional Collaborative Platforms (RCPs), particularly in the preparation of the annual meeting of the RCPs chaired by the Deputy Secretary-General, and their annual workplans and reports.
• Supports the planning of evaluations of the UN development system regional architecture and provides regular analysis on its focus and performance as it evolves over time, supporting cross-regional learning and standardization.
• In coordination with DCO’s Regional Offices, provides strategic direction and day-to-day management to a team of Regional Liaison Officers tasked with responding to EOSG and DCO’s Senior Management requests related to the countries under their regional purview.
• Supports initiatives at the regional level to foster subregional and regional strategies.
• Undertakes other tasks and responsibilities as needed to support the effective functioning of the team and the achievement of organizational objectives.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree (master's degree or equivalent) in sustainable development, economics, public policy, political science, public administration, finance, law, social sciences or related field.
• A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
• A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience liaising with Member States, initiating, developing, and managing intergovernmental engagement, including through regional organizations is required.
• Experience advising on and/or supporting the engagement of seniors in intergovernmental forums is required.
• Field experience in the RC system, in UN development entities or partner organizations is required.
• Experience and knowledge of the UN development coordination architecture, especially at the regional level, including the most recent reforms through the repositioning and the UN80 initiative is required.
• Experience and proven capacity for strong, compelling communications (verbal and written), including report writing, and negotiation skills is required.
• Experience at the headquarters of a development cooperation organization is desired.
• Team leadership and performance management experience is desirable.
• English is required at UN Level II proficiency in reading, writing, listening and speaking.
• French is desirable at UN Level I proficiency in reading, writing, listening and speaking.

Skills

• Intergovernmental Engagement
• Regional Coordination
• UN Development Coordination
• Strategic Leadership
• Report Writing
• Negotiation Skills
• Policy Analysis
• Sustainable Development
• Economic Analysis
• Political Science
• Public Administration
• Finance
• Law
• Social Sciences
• Liaison with Member States
• UN Development System Experience
• Communications Skills
• Team Leadership
• Performance Management

Languages

English, French