Sustainable Development Officer (Complex Settings)

UN Secretariat; New York (NY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

UN Secretariat in New York seeks a Sustainable Development Officer to develop SD databases, draft technical papers and analyses, and support intergovernmental policy processes. The role requires experience in humanitarian-development-peace linkages and organizing expert group meetings.

The incumbent will prepare inputs for senior staff presentations and contribute to High-level Political Forum reports, with data-driven planning supportive of UN complex settings.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to apply sustainable development theories to policy and programme work.
• Experience in drafting analytical reports and guidance documents.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain sustainable development databases and qualitative information.
• Draft technical papers and analytical studies on sustainable development issues.
• Formulate, identify, and analyze sustainable development proposals.
• Attend international, regional, and national meetings with counterparts.
• Organize expert group meetings and seminars; prepare briefing materials for senior staff.
• Contribute to reports for intergovernmental bodies, including policy processes.

Skills

Professionalism

Research

Data interpretation

Planning

Communication

Education

Master’s degree in sustainable development/economics/public policy

First-level degree with significant experience

Job description

Organizational context

The Development Coordination Office (DCO), within the UN Secretariat, manages and oversees the resident coordinator system to accelerate the 2030 Agenda. This role is in the Complex Settings Support Section, part of the Sustainable Development Goal Coordination, Policy and Programme Division in New York. The section guides Resident Coordinators on UN sustainable development offers in complex and crisis contexts, collaborating with peace, security, and humanitarian pillars.

Job purpose

The Sustainable Development Officer will contribute to the UN's efforts in complex settings by developing sustainable development databases and qualitative information. This role involves drafting technical papers and analytical studies on sustainable development challenges, particularly those linking humanitarian, development, and peacebuilding efforts. The officer will formulate and analyze proposals, attend international meetings for consultations, and assist in organizing expert group meetings. They will also prepare inputs for senior staff presentations, reports to intergovernmental bodies like the High-level Political Forum, and support UN policy processes. The position requires data collection and analysis to identify trends and provide insights for data-driven planning and decision-making, supporting the UN's mission in complex environments.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain sustainable development databases and qualitative information for assignments.
• Draft technical papers and analytical studies on sustainable development issues, focusing on challenges and opportunities in complex and mission settings, including humanitarian-development-peace linkages.
• Formulate, identify, and analyze sustainable development proposals.
• Attend and consult at international, regional, and national meetings with relevant counterparts.
• Assist in organizing and servicing expert group meetings and seminars.
• Prepare speeches and briefing materials for senior staff on sustainable development coordination in complex settings.
• Contribute to reports for the High-level Political Forum and other intergovernmental bodies, including UN policy processes.
• Monitor intergovernmental meetings, prepare summary reports, and provide substantive support to consultations.
• Participate in missions related to sustainable development in complex countries.
• Organize training seminars and workshops on sustainable development and cross-pillar collaboration.
• Monitor, backstop, and assess capacity-building projects.
• Collect and analyze data using visualization methods to support planning and decision-making.

Education

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in sustainable development, economics, public policy, or a related field is required.
• A first-level university degree combined with significant qualifying experience may be accepted as an alternative.

Work experience

• A minimum of five years of progressive experience in project/programme management or policy work related to sustainable development is required.
• Experience in development, humanitarian, and peacebuilding cross-pillar engagement is desirable, as is experience in drafting reports and guidance documents. Prior work in complex settings and within the UN system or a comparable international organization is also desirable.

Skills

• Professionalism in applying sustainable development theories, conducting research and analysis, and interpreting data.
• Strong planning and organizing skills to set goals, prioritize tasks, and manage resources effectively.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to tailor messages to different audiences and engage in effective dialogue.

Required languages

• English, French