UN Women: Special Assistant for the Deputy Executive Director for Normative Support, UN System Coordination, and Programme Results, New York, USA, P4 FTA

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.

The Assistant Secretary-General (ASG) for Normative Support, UN System Coordination and Programme Results leads the development of the strategies and work programme in the areas of policy development; operations, including programme management, oversight and implementation; normative support and UN System coordination and provides leadership and management guidance and oversight to the staff in these areas aligned with the vision of the ED and UN Women’s Strategic Plan.

The Special Assistant to the ASG for Normative Support, UN System Coordination and Programme Results will provide timely analytical information, coherent policy advice and will have a proven ability to work and act under pressure and with discretion in a sensitive and challenging environment. The Special Assistant must have excellent communication and organization skills to manage the substantive and normative agenda.

Key Functions and Accountabilities:

Provide coordination and liaison support to the Assistant Secretary General / Deputy Executive Director (ASG/DED):

• Provide coordination and technical support to the ASG/DED in interactions with other UN entities by working closely with liaison staff of senior officials of those entities;
• Process and/or prepare the ASG/DED’s participation in meetings and missions/key events;
• Manage the ASG/DED’s agenda; evaluate and keep track of important events and meetings and advise on priorities and critical engagements requiring their presence; 
• Ensure effective communication and coordination with Divisions, Sections and field offices, as well as with key partners and stakeholders.
• Assist in the preparation and follow-up to meetings and key corporate initiatives;
• Maintain close contacts with the Executive Director’s Office, and the Office of the DED/ASG for Resource Management, Sustainability and Partnerships and bring to the attention of the ASG/DED all matters requiring their personal attention. Formulate options as to how those matters might be best handled and followed up, as directed.

Provide technical support to the ASG/DED:

• Provide substantive and technical support to the ASG/DED, including through the provision of sound policy inputs to facilitate their representation duties;
• Identify, research, analyze, prepare and/or organize information and briefing materials for the ASG/DED to facilitate decision-making and leadership in management and representation duties ;
• Prepare outlines, draft papers, speeches and talking points for the ASG/DED. Prepare briefing and research materials needed to support the ASG/DED in their engagements. Provide editorial assistance by drafting, clearing and editing speeches, reports and correspondence; including the preparation of briefing documents, statements, papers, policies, etc.

Provide substantive support to the ASG/DED’s strategic management role:

• Establish a system for the timely monitoring and analysis of critical issues for the ASG/DED’s review and action;
• Ensure timely follow-up to the ASG/DED’s directives, including the effective dissemination of pertinent information to senior management and other relevant staff across the organization;
• Support the ASG/DED in the strategic management of the pillar under her oversight;
• Assist in meeting deadlines related to organizational reports.

Provide high level administrative and logistical support:

• Participate with the ASG/DED in public official engagements, including within the UN System ensuring that liaison has been maintained within all the different sections in UN Women, determine if adequate representation is present and ensure all protocol arrangements are in place;
• Manage the planning and organization of the ASG/DED’s official travel, including the timely preparation of official travel files and background documents by the relevant divisions and units as well as prepare or ensure the preparation of official travel reports.

The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation.

Supervisory/Managerial Responsibilities: The incumbent leads the Front Office team, consisting of 1 GS staff and affiliate personnel (consultants and interns) where applicable.

• Integrity;
• Professionalism;
• Respect for Diversity.

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues;
• Accountability;
• Creative Problem Solving;
• Effective Communication;
• Inclusive Collaboration;
• Stakeholder Engagement;
• Leading by Example.

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Values and Competencies Framework: 

• Strong planning, goal-setting, prioritization and organizational skills;
• Excellent skills and substantive knowledge in gender equality and women's empowerment;
• Demonstrated negotiating, cultural sensitivity and diplomatic skills;
• Well-developed people management skills;
• Ability to provide information, tools, resources to support work achievement;
• Effectiveness orientation and pro-activity;
• Ability to leverage information technology, executive information systems, management techniques and tools for optimal office performance;
• Strong interpersonal skills;
• Strong communication skills, both written and oral. excellent drafting skills with the ability to edit and clear reports, speeches and correspondences;
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills;
• Demonstrate sensitivity, tact and diplomacy, comfortable with handling external relationships at all level;
• Ability to Work in a highly pressured environment;
• Strong sense of responsibility, confidentiality and accountability.

•             Master’s degree or equivalent in social sciences, political science, international relations, business administration or management, public administration or related field.

•             A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

•             A minimum of 7 years of progressively varied responsible experience with international organisations is required.

•             Experience in preparing speeches and presentations for senior management is required.

•             Previous experience in supporting head office management and coordination functions is required.

•             Experience of working on gender equality, women's rights and international development cooperation is desirable.

•             Experience working within the UN System is highly desirable.

•             Fluency in English is required.

•             Knowledge of another official UN language is desirable (French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish).

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment.

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational need.

If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.

UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. (Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.)

Note: Applicants must ensure that all sections of the application form, including the sections on education and employment history, are completed. If all sections are not completed the application may be disqualified from the recruitment and selection process.