Senior Development Coordination Officer, Head of RCO and Strategic Planner

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, and to address global challenges such as poverty, inequality, and climate change. The UN operates in various countries around the world, with a focus on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 203

• The UN Resident Coordinator Offices (RCO) play a crucial role in supporting countries in their development priorities and ensuring effective coordination among UN agencies.

Job Overview:
The Senior Development Coordination Officer, Head of RCO and Strategic Planner is a pivotal role within the UN Development System, specifically located in the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in Guatemala. This position is responsible for providing strategic guidance and support to the UN Resident Coordinator (RC) and the UN Country Team (UNCT) in implementing the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Head of RCO will manage resources effectively to support sustainable development analysis, strategic planning, programming, financing, communications, advocacy, and partnerships. This role requires a deep understanding of sustainable development issues and the ability to lead interagency coordination on various topics, including disability inclusion and budget management. The position demands a proactive approach to fostering partnerships and mobilizing resources for joint programming initiatives, ensuring that the UN operates as a cohesive and effective development partner in the country.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic guidance to the RC and UNCT on UN support for the 2030 Agenda implementation through the Common Country Analysis (CCA) and UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF).
• Facilitate and oversee the establishment of external partnerships and resource mobilization efforts for the UNSDCF, including negotiations with donor offices.
• Coordinate the implementation of the efficiency agenda, including Business Operations Strategy and Local Shared Service Centers.
• Manage knowledge management and capacity development activities within the UN System.
• Ensure effective coordination support to the RC/UNCT and adherence to organizational policies.
• Lead the strategic design of UN’s policy and programmatic services, ensuring alignment with national development goals.
• Promote engagement across humanitarian, development, and peace domains.
• Oversee UNSDCF monitoring, evaluation, and reporting, ensuring quality control and coherence across inter-agency coordination bodies.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a strong background in sustainable development, strategic planning, and program management. Proven ability to lead multi-stakeholder coordination efforts and experience in UN interagency coordination are essential. The ideal candidate should demonstrate excellent negotiation skills, innovative technical leadership, and the ability to analyze complex data for sound policy recommendations. Strong communication skills and the ability to foster partnerships are critical for success in this role.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business or public administration, sustainable development, social sciences, education, or a related field 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 years of progressively responsible experience in strategic planning, sustainable development policy, and program development and management is required. Experience in team leadership and management, as well as in promoting knowledge management in development cooperation, is essential. Familiarity with UN interagency coordination and resource mobilization strategies is desired.

Languages:
Fluency in both English and Spanish (written and oral) is required for this position. Knowledge of another UN official language is considered an advantage. Fluency is defined as a rating of 'Fluent' in all four areas (reading, speaking, writing, and understanding).

Additional Notes:
The appointment is for an initial period of one year and may be subject to extension based on funding availability. The UN is committed to achieving gender balance and encourages female candidates to apply. The recruitment process is open to applicants from under-represented member states, and reasonable accommodations may be provided for applicants with disabilities. The UN does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.