Overview
This role serves as a focal point for collaboration on major issues, providing authoritative technical and policy advice on socio-economic development strategies, policies, and programmes at global, regional, or national levels.
Key Responsibilities
- Serves as focal point for collaboration on major issues/topics; provides authoritative technical and policy advice and assistance to inter-governmental and non-governmental bodies, Member State officials, international and other organizations on planning, evaluating and implementing strategies, policies and programmes which impact socio-economic development at global, regional or national levels.
- Monitors the performance of institutional mandates/actions plans; influences the development and evolution of the UN approach to social development issues; makes substantive contributions to the design and implementation of significant policy and programme changes to address country, regional, global social-economic concerns, including gender considerations.
- Leads the development of a research agenda; oversees the development of and/or conceptualizes formulates and manages major projects/studies; analyzing key trends and changes in socio-economic structures and related issues (e.g. social protection, occupational, educational, demographic patterns, gender issues, etc.) at global, regional or national levels; assesses implications and develops proposals with respect to social sector development plans, programmes and projects.
- Takes the lead in establishing partnerships with other experts and stakeholders (e.g. governments, research institutes, academia, UN system and other international organizations, NGOs, the private sector, etc.) to discuss emerging topics related to social development, poverty and inequality, exchange views on latest findings, policy guidelines, new models of development, etc.
- Plans and directs, in consultation with DPI and other relevant parties, targeted campaigns to facilitate knowledge sharing and appropriate dissemination of information, etc. and ultimately ensures that the latest thinking is incorporated into development programmes and other initiatives.
- Writes and/or supervises preparation of a variety of studies, reports, etc. on social and socio-economic issues for publication within the UN system and in academic journals and other publications.
- Represents the organization at national, regional and international fora and presents institutional views/policies; coordinates and chairs and/or contributes substantively to sectoral seminars, general training programmes, workshops and expert group meetings.
- Coordinates provision of substantive services to inter-governmental bodies (e.g. the Regional Conference on Social Development in Latin America and the Caribbean etc); facilitates the negotiation process and promotes constructive dialogue and collaboration; coordinates and facilitates the establishment of and liaison with various groups in civil society; oversees the preparation of analytical reports and other documentation for such bodies.
- Manages the work unit’s contribution to the preparation and management of meetings of intergovernmental bodies.
- Represents the organizational unit at international, regional and national meetings on social and economic issues.
- Develops and maintains relations with senior officials of member governments and ensures a response to requests for advice and/or assistance on social issues and policies.
- Negotiates with donor and recipient governments on technical assistance programmes and projects.
- Organises and coordinates cooperation among Member States on social programmes or issues.
- Designs, monitors, backstops and assesses the implementation of technical cooperation programmes and projects.
- Leads or participates in technical cooperation missions.
- Contributes to the personnel and financial management of the work unit, to include the development and implementation of work plans and budgets.
- Carries out and supervises key programme activities, including key missions and other initiatives; leads and directs a team of staff; may oversee activities for a discrete work section or equivalent; plans and allocates work assignments; coaches, mentors and evaluates staff; participates in recruitment, selection and training of new staff and in the development of training programs.
- Leads team members efforts to collect and analyze data and provides insight to identify trends or patterns for data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. Ensures that everyone can discover, access, integrate and share the data they need.
- Performs other duties as required.
Required Experience
A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in socio economic development, policy analysis, sociological research or related area is required. Experience with regional technical cooperation projects is required. Experience in research and policy advisory in social protection issues, labour inclusion policies, poverty and multiple dimensions of inequality are desirable. Experience in data analytics or related area is desirable. Publications in social development issues and social policies are desirable.
Qualifications
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent), in sociology, economics, other social science or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two qualifying years of experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is desirable.
