Senior Development Coordination Officer, Strategic Planning and Head of RCO

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations (UN) is an international organization founded in 1945, currently comprising 193 member states. Its mission is to promote peace, security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security, and cooperation among nations. The UN Development System has undergone significant reforms to enhance its effectiveness in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The UN Resident Coordinator Offices (RCO) play a crucial role in supporting countries in their development priorities and ensuring the successful implementation of the SDGs. The UN RCO in Sierra Leone is led by an empowered UN Resident Coordinator, who is the highest-ranking official of the UN Development System in the country, responsible for coordinating the UN's efforts in sustainable development analysis, strategic planning, programming, financing, communications, advocacy, and partnerships.

Job Overview:
The Senior Development Coordination Officer, Head of RCO/Strategic Planner is a pivotal role within the UN Resident Coordinator's Office in Sierra Leone. This position is responsible for providing strategic guidance to the UN Resident Coordinator (RC) and the UN Country Team (UNCT) to ensure effective and timely support for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda through the Common Country Analysis (CCA) and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF). The officer will facilitate the establishment of external partnerships and coordinate resource mobilization efforts, ensuring that the UN's support aligns with national development goals and priorities. The role also involves managing knowledge management and capacity development activities, overseeing the implementation of the efficiency agenda, and ensuring adherence to organizational policies and procedures. The Senior Development Coordination Officer will lead the overall management of the RCO, ensuring that the office provides efficient and effective substantive coordination support to the RC and UNCT.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic guidance to the RC and UNCT on effective UN support for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda through CCA and UNSDCF.
• Facilitate and oversee the initiation and coordination of external partnerships and joint resource mobilization efforts for the UNSDCF.
• Coordinate the roll-out and implementation of the Efficiency agenda, including Business Operations Strategy and Common Premises.
• Manage knowledge management and capacity development activities within and outside the UN System.
• Lead and coordinate the overall management of the RCO, ensuring adherence to organizational policies and procedures.
• Develop policy recommendations for the RC/UNCT on the implementation of CCA/UNSDCF.
• Ensure effective communication and advocacy related to the UNSDCF implementation.
• Promote engagement across humanitarian, development, and peace domains.
• Oversee the monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of UNSDCF activities. 1
• Manage RCO resources and supervise staff performance, ensuring timely delivery of outputs.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess proven knowledge and understanding of sustainable development theories, concepts, and approaches. They should demonstrate the ability to identify strategic issues, opportunities, and risks, and to generate compelling organizational direction. Strong analytical skills are required to produce reports leading to sound policy recommendations. Candidates should also have a solid understanding of the political environment and the UN system's programs and activities related to the SDGs. The ability to think strategically and to communicate effectively is essential, as is the capacity to negotiate and apply good judgment in complex situations. Candidates should exhibit professionalism, planning and organizing skills, leadership qualities, and the ability to manage performance effectively.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business or public administration, sustainable development, social sciences, education, or a related area is required. A first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

Experience:
A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in strategic planning, sustainable development policy, and program development and management in the context of development cooperation is required. Candidates should have experience with multi-stakeholder coordination and promoting knowledge management in development cooperation. Experience in data analytics or related areas is desirable, with at least two years of such experience preferred.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required, with working knowledge of French being necessary. Fluency is defined as a rating of 'fluent' in all four areas (reading, writing, speaking, understanding), while knowledge is defined as a rating of 'confident' in two of the four areas.

Additional Notes:
The appointment against this post is open for an initial period of one year and may be subject to extension based on funding availability. The position is subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, and staff members are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers. The UN is committed to achieving gender balance and encourages female candidates to apply. Reasonable accommodations may be provided for applicants with disabilities. The UN does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.