The UNV New York Office (NYO) ensures key account management services for all UN partners globally, and manages all other US-based partner relations, with a focus upon Permanent Missions to the United Nations in New York. The NYO contributes to UN Volunteer mobilization by developing and promoting volunteer solutions within UN partner operations, projects and programmes, through a key account management approach and coordinating closely with UNV HQ, Regional Offices and Field Units. Furthermore, the NYO ensures the strategic positioning of volunteers and volunteerism for peace and development within relevant intergovernmental processes. Finally, the NYO supports UNV’s governance relations, liaising with the UNV Executive Board and UNDP headquarters.

Reporting to the Chief, New York Office (NYO), and in close collaboration with staff in NYO, and relevant UNV personnel at HQ and globally, the Programme Specialist, Intergovernmental and Interagency Affairs, focuses on supporting relationship management and partnership development with both UN Member States and UN partners. Additionally, he/she identifies volunteer and volunteerism opportunities in engagement and partnership development with other UN entities, civil society, and the private sector for UNV concerning the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Strengthening relations with the UN Member States at the Permanent Missions, including through intergovernmental processes
 

• Support the provision of analysis on key priorities of Member States – with a focus on Executive Board members, as well as UNV development partners (both current and future);
• Ensure good preparation and support to Executive Board sessions and side events and Executive Board engagements;
• Monitor and gather information on Executive Board discussions, and advocate for volunteers, volunteerism and UNV;
• Track relevant inter-governmental discussions, Second and Third Committees, and General Assembly resolutions, and position volunteers, volunteerism and UNV within these discussions;
• Support in monitoring the work of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) subsidiary bodies relevant to UNV’s mandate such as: the Commission for Social Development, UN Statistical Commission, Commission on the Status of Women as well as the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development;
• Monitor and advocate for volunteerism within UN reform processes, in close coordination with other NYO colleagues;
• Contribute to seeking stronger engagement with NY-based UN Permanent Missions of Member States for cooperation and joint (South-South) initiatives.

Strengthening UN interagency system relations
 

• Keep abreast on United Nations changes and reforms’ dialogues to identify relevant entry point for UNV
• Attend inter-governmental, inter-agency (UNDP and other UN entities) and other meetings and task forces of direct relevance to UNV and prepare brief reports and concept notes;
• Monitor and track inter-agency discussions on SDGs, UN coherence, and reforms, and help in identifying opportunities for leveraging volunteers and volunteerism;
• Contribute to an effective liaison with UN system partners e.g. UNSDG and other inter-agency coordination efforts such as IANYD, UN-SWAP Gender, etc. to ensure UNV contributes to UN coherence and coordination;
• Prepare materials about UNV’s activities, as and when required, for New York-based stakeholders.

Strengthening North America partnerships
 

• Support and coordinate US-Canada partnerships for the positioning of volunteerism and UNV;
• Support engagement with key stakeholders in North America in close collaboration with UNV External Relations and Communication Section and the Volunteer Advisory Service Section and other sections as relevant;
• Ensure effective advocacy, promotion and networking to raise awareness of UNV and comparative strengths in contributing to peace and development;
• Conduct research and prepare presentation materials to identify entry points and position UNV including with North America stakeholders;
• Undertake any other policy/management analysis actions, as determined by the Chief, NYO.
   

Core

Innovation

• Ability to make new and useful ideas work

Leadership

• Ability to persuade others to follow

People Management

• Ability to improve performance and satisfaction

Communication

• Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform

Delivery

• Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement

Technical/Functional

Partnerships

• Ability to engage with other agencies, donors, and other development stakeholders and forge productive working relationships

Intergovernmental Institutions

• Knowledge of intergovernmental bodies (General Assembly, UNDESA, etc.), including respective mandates and ways of working

Sustainable Development

• Knowledge of sustainable development concepts, principles and issues and the ability to apply to strategic and/or practical situations, covering the economic, social and environmental dimensions

Relationship Management

• Ability to engage and foster strategic partnerships with other parties, Inter-Agency Coordination and forge productive working relationships

Knowledge Management

• Ability to capture, develop, share and effectively use information and knowledge

Education

• Master’s degree in social sciences, international relations, international development, communications, public administration, or other development-related field.

Experience

• 5 years of relevant experience in peace and/or development field;
• Experience working on interagency / intergovernmental processes and issues at the global level
• Prior experience working in or directly with the UN system is considered an asset.

Language Requirements

• Fluency in English;
• Proficiency in another official UN language is an asset.
   

Note

• Only short-listed applicants will be contacted;
• The successful candidate will hold a UNDP letter of appointment;

Applicant information about UNDP rosters

UNDP/UNV reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP/UNV at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

Workforce diversity
UNDP/UNV is committed to achieving diversity within its workforce, and encourages all qualified applicants, irrespective of gender, nationality, disabilities, sexual orientation, culture, religious and ethnic backgrounds to apply. All applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

UNDP/UNV does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Scam warning
The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.

Contract Duration: 1 Year with possibility for extension