Senior Development Coordination Officer / Economist

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 Development System, which includes various agencies and programs, aims to support countries in achieving sustainable development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The UN Resident Coordinator Offices (RCO) play a crucial role in this mission by coordinating efforts at the country level to align with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The UN RCO in Brazil is led by an empowered and independent UN Resident Coordinator, who is the highest-ranking official of the UN Development System in the country, ensuring effective collaboration among UN agencies and national counterparts.

Job Overview:
The Senior Development Coordination Officer / Economist will be responsible for coordinating evidence-based analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to support the UN Country Team (UNCT) in understanding sustainable development trends, challenges, and opportunities. This role involves overseeing the provision of substantive advice on innovative economic and SDG policies to Resident Coordinators and UNCTs, as well as national counterparts. The officer will lead the development of new SDG programs with a strong investment orientation, ensuring alignment with national development priorities and the 2030 Agenda. The position requires a deep understanding of sustainable development issues and the ability to manage complex data and policy discussions effectively.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Coordinate evidence-based SDG analysis to support UNCT understanding of sustainable development trends and challenges.
• Oversee the provision of substantive advice on economic and SDG policies to Resident Coordinators and UNCTs.
• Lead the development of new SDG programs with a focus on investment and acceleration towards achieving the SDGs.
• Direct SDG knowledge generation and management, including research and analysis of best practices.
• Manage the preparation of UN flagship reports and ensure evidence-based policymaking.
• Guide the UNCT in optimizing country-level operations to respond to sustainable development needs.
• Facilitate engagement with stakeholders, including the private sector and civil society, to develop partnerships around SDG financing.
• Supervise the development and implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF).
• Lead the design of the Common Country Analysis (CCA) and annual reviews. 1
• Ensure the integration of gender perspectives in all areas of work and promote gender balance in staffing.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in economics. A first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in sustainable development policy, economic analysis, or project/programme management in the context of development cooperation is required. Knowledge of the SDGs and their application at the national level is essential, along with experience in the United Nations system or a comparable international organization. Proven experience in coordinating multi-stakeholder processes and participatory assessments is desirable.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in economics is required. A first-level university degree may be accepted if combined with additional qualifying experience. Candidates should have a strong academic background in sustainable development, economics, or related fields, with a focus on practical application in development contexts.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least ten years of progressively responsible experience in sustainable development policy, economic analysis, or project/programme management. Experience working in the United Nations system or similar international organizations is highly desirable. Familiarity with Brazil and/or Latin American middle-income countries is preferred, along with a demonstrated ability to coordinate multi-stakeholder processes and engage effectively with diverse perspectives.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Spanish is required for this position, as these are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Knowledge of Portuguese is desirable, and familiarity with 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), while knowledge is rated as '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. Staff members are expected to adhere to the authority of the Secretary-General and may be assigned to various functions in accordance with established rules. The UN is committed to achieving gender balance and encourages female candidates to apply. Reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities may be provided upon request. The UN does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.