Deputy Executive Secretary for Programme Support

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Position Title: Deputy Executive Secretary for Programme Support
Location: Beirut
Country: Lebanon
Deadline Date: Not specified

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
The Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) is a part of the United Nations Secretariat and operates under the supervision of the United Nations Economic and Social Council. Established to provide a framework for the formulation and harmonization of sectoral policies for member countries, ESCWA serves 21 Arab countries in Western Asia and North Africa. The organization acts as a platform for congress and coordination, a home for expertise and knowledge, and an information observatory. ESCWA coordinates its activities with various divisions and main offices of the United Nations Headquarters, specialized agencies, and international and regional organizations, including the League of Arab States and the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Job Overview:
The Deputy Executive Secretary for Programme Support plays a crucial role in the Office of the Executive Secretary of ESCWA, reporting directly to the Executive Secretary. This position involves directing programme planning, strategy development, technical cooperation, communication, external relations, and resource mobilization. The incumbent is expected to support the Executive Secretary in overseeing the Safety and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Security Section at the UN House and enhance engagement with sub-regional organizations and national government authorities. The role also includes outreach to civil society and non-governmental partners in the region, ensuring that ESCWA's strategies align with the 2030 Agenda and regional priorities, while adhering to results-based management principles.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Deputy Executive Secretary for Programme Support will be responsible for a wide range of duties, including assisting the Executive Secretary in directing and overseeing all activities related to programme support operations and staff safety and security. The incumbent will lead the implementation of ESCWA’s strategy, ensuring alignment with the 2030 Agenda and regional priorities. Responsibilities include advising the Executive Secretary on strategic direction, programme planning, technical cooperation, and administrative issues. The role involves formulating and implementing programme planning, monitoring, evaluation, and preparing strategic framework and performance reports. The Deputy Executive Secretary will oversee technical cooperation, capacity-building initiatives, and change management programmes to support member states in adopting evidence-based policies and sustainable development practices. Additionally, the incumbent will coordinate resource mobilization and fundraising efforts, enhance engagement with regional and sub-regional donor organizations, and maintain productive relations with national government authorities. The role also includes supervising the delivery of high-quality knowledge dissemination products and implementing effective communication strategies to enhance ESCWA’s visibility and stakeholder engagement.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must demonstrate proven experience in management of people, resources, and assets, with the ability to perform duties diplomatically and negotiate effectively. The role requires a strong sense of professionalism, with a commitment to achieving results and meeting deadlines. Candidates should exhibit strong planning and organizational skills, with the ability to develop clear goals and adjust priorities as necessary. Effective communication skills are essential, including the ability to tailor language and style to match the audience. Leadership qualities are critical, as the incumbent will serve as a role model and empower others to achieve objectives. The ability to make sound judgments and decisions based on relevant information is also required.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree in business, management, public administration, international development, 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:
Candidates must have at least fifteen years of progressively responsible experience in strategic management, human resources, administration, logistics, financial management, budget, technology, and innovation or a related field. A minimum of ten years of experience in managing development programmes at the regional and/or international level is required, along with at least five years of experience in international organizations. Experience in the Arab region and in facilitating intergovernmental negotiations is also necessary, as well as experience dealing with regional and sub-regional donor organizations and national government authorities.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Arabic is required for this position, as these are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency is defined as a rating of 'fluent' in all four areas: speaking, reading, writing, and understanding. Proficiency in French is also beneficial but not mandatory.

Additional Notes:
This position is temporarily available for 3 months, with the possibility of an extension for another 3 months. Recruitment and selection are subject to budgetary approval. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment. This temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, but it does not guarantee future incumbency of the post. Eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station, and may be restricted to 'internal candidates' who have been recruited through a competitive examination or selection process. Staff members who will reach the mandatory age of separation within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply. The United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.