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. The UN Development System has undergone significant reforms since January 1, 2019, aimed at enhancing its effectiveness in achieving the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The UN Resident Coordinator Offices (RCO) play a crucial role in supporting countries to meet their development priorities and SDGs, led by an empowered UN Resident Coordinator who acts as the highest-ranking UN official at the country level. The UN operates in numerous countries worldwide, with a focus on sustainable development, humanitarian assistance, and peacekeeping.

Job Overview:
The Senior Development Coordination Officer, Head of RCO and Strategic Planner is a pivotal role within the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office in Iraq. This position is responsible for providing strategic guidance to the UN Resident Coordinator (RC) and the UN Country Team (UNCT) to ensure effective support for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. The role involves overseeing the Common Country Analysis (CCA) and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), facilitating partnerships, and coordinating resource mobilization efforts. The Head of RCO is accountable for the quality and timeliness of the office's work, managing resources effectively to support sustainable development analysis, strategic planning, programming, financing, communications, advocacy, and partnerships. This position requires a deep understanding of sustainable development, strong leadership skills, and the ability to navigate complex political and operational environments.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic guidance to the RC and UNCT on UN support for the 2030 Agenda through CCA and UNSDCF.
• Facilitate and oversee the establishment of external partnerships and resource mobilization for UNSDCF.
• Coordinate the implementation of the efficiency agenda, including Business Operations Strategy and Common Premises.
• Support the transition of the UN Assistance Mission to Iraq (UNAMI) and operationalize the new UN Cooperation Framework (2025-2029).
• Manage knowledge management and capacity development activities within and outside the UN System.
• Lead overall management of the RCO, ensuring effective coordination support to the RC/UNCT.
• Perform any other tasks as assigned by the RC.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess 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. Experience in multi-stakeholder coordination and team leadership is essential. Familiarity with UN interagency coordination across humanitarian, peace, and development sectors is desirable. Candidates should demonstrate a strong ability to manage complex projects and lead teams effectively, with a focus on achieving sustainable development outcomes.

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 (10) years of progressively responsible experience in strategic planning, sustainable development policy, and program development and management is required. Candidates should have experience in team leadership and multi-stakeholder coordination, particularly in the context of development cooperation. Experience in UN interagency coordination and managing transitions in complex settings is highly desirable.

Languages:
Fluency in English is required, and knowledge of Arabic is desired. Knowledge of another UN official language is 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 UN is committed to achieving gender balance and encourages female candidates to apply. The position may involve working in a non-smoking environment, and reasonable accommodations may be provided for applicants with disabilities. The UN does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.