Sustainable Development Officer (SDG Acceleration)

Job Advertisement

Position Title: Sustainable Development Officer (SDG Acceleration)
Location: New York
Country: United States
Deadline Date: Not specified

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Development Coordination Office (DCO) is dedicated to supporting countries in their efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The DCO works closely with Resident Coordinators (RCs) and UN Country Teams (UNCTs) to facilitate national policy transformations and leverage financing for sustainable development. The organization emphasizes collaboration across various sectors, including energy, health, education, and climate, to address the complex challenges faced by countries in achieving their development goals. The DCO operates globally, with a focus on enhancing the capacities of national governments and fostering partnerships with external actors such as academia and financial institutions.

Job Overview:
The Sustainable Development Officer (SDG Acceleration) will play a crucial role in supporting the Policy Section of the DCO, particularly in the areas of energy transition and green economy. The incumbent will work under the guidance of the Chief of the Policy Section to assist Resident Coordinators and UN Country Teams in advising national governments on systemic transformations that align with their development priorities and accelerate the achievement of the SDGs. This position requires a deep understanding of sustainable development issues and the ability to collaborate with various stakeholders to identify effective support mechanisms for governments. The officer will also engage in strategic partnerships, diagnose capacity constraints, and facilitate knowledge exchange to enhance the effectiveness of UN initiatives at the national level.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Sustainable Development Officer will be responsible for a wide range of duties, including: supporting RCs and UNCTs in advising national governments on pathways for systemic transformation; collaborating with UN entities to advance support to governments; diagnosing capacity constraints and organizing support for priority thematic areas; championing innovative approaches such as Foresight and digitalization; facilitating networking among RCO Economists and Development Finance Officers; reviewing UN Common Country Analyses; planning and facilitating workshops; monitoring trends and best practices; preparing written outputs on sustainable development issues; providing support for intergovernmental processes related to the 2030 Agenda; coordinating outreach activities; and conducting training workshops for capacity building.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a strong background in sustainable development and development financing, with a minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in a policy and advisory role. Additionally, at least three years of experience in policy-oriented work related to SDG acceleration is required. Experience in program and project management, particularly in energy access and sustainability, is desirable. Familiarity with the UN Development System or similar international organizations at the country level is also preferred, along with experience in supporting national economic and financing plans.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in public administration, international development, economics, international relations, energy systems, or a related field is required. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in a policy and advisory role related to sustainable development and development financing. Candidates should have at least three years of experience specifically focused on systems approaches to SDG acceleration. Experience in program and project management, particularly in the context of energy access and sustainability, is desirable. Familiarity with the UN Development System or similar international organizations at the country level is also preferred, along with experience in supporting national economic and financing plans, policies, and strategies.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required for this position, as it is one of the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Knowledge of another UN official language, such as French, is considered an advantage. Fluency is defined as a rating of 'Fluent' in all four areas (reading, speaking, writing, and understanding), while knowledge is rated as 'Confident' in two of the four areas.

Additional Notes:
This position is temporarily available for 364 days. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment. The United Nations is committed to achieving gender balance in its staff and strongly encourages female candidates to apply. The position may involve outreach activities, training workshops, and presentations on sustainable development issues. The United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process, and reasonable accommodations may be provided for applicants with disabilities.