Consultant (Research Analyst/Expert)

UN Secretariat; New York (NY); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

The United Nations Secretariat, Department of Operational Support (DOS), seeks a Consultant to support a comprehensive assessment of the RSCE in Entebbe and the UNGSC. You will conduct structured desk research, collect data, and draft reports detailing service offerings, uptake, workload, staffing, and costs across shared-service arrangements.

With at least five years of experience and a Master’s degree, you will develop mapping tools, perform benchmarking, and prepare comparative analyses to

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in business, public administration, management, economics or related field.
• Five years of progressively responsible experience in management or organizational analysis.
• Experience in research, qualitative and quantitative analysis, and analytical reporting.
• Desirable: experience in shared services or benchmarking within UN or similar bodies.

Responsibilities

• Conduct structured desk research on RSCE/UNGSC service arrangements and collect operational data.
• Draft review reports mapping shared-service and mission-support offerings, uptake, workload, staffing and costs.
• Draft benchmarking reports on shared-service arrangements across UN systems, international bodies, and private sector entities.
• Prepare comparative analyses of shared-service structures, identify gaps and findings, update deliverables with feedback.
• Develop data collection tools and a mapping framework including questionnaires and templates.

Skills

Research methods

Data collection

Qualitative analysis

Quantitative analysis

Report drafting

Benchmarking

Org analysis

Project management

Management consulting

Public administration

Shared services

Stakeholder consultation

Education

Master's degree or equivalent

First-level degree + 2 years experience

Job description

Organizational context: The UN Secretariat's Department of Operational Support (DOS) is conducting a comprehensive assessment of the Regional Service Centre in Entebbe (RSCE) and the United Nations Global Service Centre (UNGSC). This initiative, aligned with the Secretary-General's UN80 agenda, aims to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the Organization's operational support. The role of the Consultant is within this assessment, contributing to the analysis of these key shared service providers.

Job purpose: The purpose of this Consultant role is to provide critical research, data collection, comparative analysis, and drafting support for a comprehensive assessment of the UN Secretariat's Regional Service Centre in Entebbe (RSCE) and the United Nations Global Service Centre (UNGSC). This assessment aims to identify opportunities for strengthening operational support arrangements and improving organizational efficiency and effectiveness. The role involves examining current service delivery models, benchmarking against other organizations, and contributing to the development of recommendations for future operational benefits and efficiencies. The Consultant will work closely with the DOS Project Team and the Lead Consultant to deliver key outputs that inform the strategic direction of these vital shared service centers.

Responsibilities: The Consultant will conduct structured desk research on existing service arrangements between RSCE/UNGSC and their clients, collecting and organizing operational data through consultations and meetings. Key duties include drafting review reports on comprehensive mapping of shared-service and mission support arrangements, detailing service offerings, uptake, workload, staffing, costs, and performance. The role also involves drafting reports on benchmarking shared service arrangements in selected UN system entities, international/regional organizations, and private sector institutions. Furthermore, the Consultant will prepare a comparative analysis of shared-service structures, identify patterns, gaps, and findings, and update deliverables based on project team feedback. Developing and applying data collection tools and a mapping framework, including questionnaires and templates, is also a core responsibility.

Education: An advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in a relevant field such as business administration, public administration, management, economics, or organizational development is required. A first-level university degree with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted. Fluency in spoken and written English is essential, with knowledge of an additional official UN language being an advantage.

Work experience: A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in management or organizational analysis, management consulting, programme/project management, business transformation, public administration, or operational support is required. Experience in conducting research, analyzing qualitative and quantitative information, and preparing analytical reports is essential. Desirable experience includes work within shared services or service-delivery systems, particularly in the UN or similar organizations, and experience in cross-organizational benchmarking.

Skills: Research and data collection, qualitative and quantitative analysis, report drafting, comparative analysis, benchmarking, organizational analysis, management consulting, project management, business transformation, public administration, operational support, shared services analysis, stakeholder consultation.

Required languages:

Desired languages: