Closing date: 20 Oct 2019
Job Opening number
19-ECO-ESCAP-119179-R-BANGKOK(G)
Org. Setting and Reporting
The mandate of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is to promote sustainable and inclusive development and regional connectivity in the Asian and Pacific region. ESCAP’s role as a regional development arm of the United Nations Secretariat is to support its membership with policy-oriented research and analysis, normative support and technical assistance and capacity building, to respond to the development priorities and changing needs of the Asian and Pacific region.
This position is located in the Transport Research and Policy Section, Transport Division. The Chief of Section reports to the Director, Transport Division.
Responsibilities
Under the direct supervision of the Director, Transport Division, the incumbent is responsible for the following duties:
•Plans and oversees the management of activities undertaken by the Section; ensures that substantive work programmes and programmed activities are carried out in a timely fashion.
•Leads the preparation of various Transport innovation publications and reports on emerging issues in sustainable transport.
•Manages the organization and servicing of high-level’s legislative meetings including the Committee on Transport and Ministerial Conference on Transport.
•Oversees the provision of legal expertise to the secretariat of the existing and new intergovernmental agreements on transport infrastructure.
•Implements and supervises Transport Division research initiatives and ensures quality control of research products.
•Identifies, develops and maintains strategic partnerships and professional networks to support effective implementation of mandates and projects. The focus of the partnerships is with UN agencies, and other development partners including international and sub-regional organizations and research institutes, academic institutions.
•Manages, supervises and carries out the work programme of the Section under his/her responsibility. Co-ordinates the work carried out by the Section; provides programmatic and substantive reviews of drafts prepared by others.
•Provides direct substantive input to intergovernmental bodies such as the Economic and Social Council, the Commission session and its subsidiary bodies, the General Assembly and other policy-making organs by offering strategic advice, technical guidance and assisting in developing consensus, as appropriate.
•Contributes to the reporting to intergovernmental bodies on budget/programme performance or on programmatic/substantive issues, as appropriate, particularly those presented in biannual and/or annual reports.
•Ensures that the outputs produced by the Section maintain high-quality standards; that reports are clear, objective and based on comprehensive data. Ensures that all outputs produced by the Unit/Section under his/her supervision meet required standards before completion to ensure they comply with the relevant mandates.
•Prepares and finalized high-quality analytical inputs for the work programme of the Division, determining priorities, and allocating resources for the completion of outputs and their timely delivery.
•Carries out programmatic/administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of the Section, including preparation of budgets, assigning and monitoring of performance parameters and critical indicators, reporting on budget/programme performance, preparation of inputs for results-based budgeting, evaluation of staff performance (PAS), interviews of candidates for job openings and evaluation of candidates.
•Recruits staff for Section taking due account geographical and gender balance and other institutional values.
•Manages, guides, develops and trains staff under his/her supervision.
•Fosters teamwork and communication among staff in the Unit/Section and across organizational boundaries.
•Represents the Organization at inter-agency meetings, seminars, etc. on substantive-related issues.
•Participates in international, regional or national meetings and provides programmatic/substantive expertise on an issue or hold programmatic/substantive and organizational discussions with representatives of other institutions.
•Guides Transport Division staff in research undertakings related to the field.
Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in transport, economics, management, law or related area is required. A relevant first-level university degree in the above fields in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work Experience
A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in policy analysis and research, as well as formulation of policy recommendation on sustainable development in transport or transport related field is required. Experience in intergovernmental processes/meetings is highly desirable. Experience in designing and supervising multi-disciplinary cross-sectoral research or technical assistance projects is desirable. Experience in managing people in a multi-cultural environment is an asset.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.
How to apply:
To apply, please visit: https://www.unescap.org/jobs