Director of Administration, D1

Org. Setting and Reporting

The mandate of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is to promote sustainable and inclusive development and regional connectivity in the Asia-Pacific region. The role of ESCAP as a regional development arm of the United Nations Secretariat is to support its membership with policy-oriented research and analysis and with normative, technical and capacity-building assistance to respond to the development priorities and changing needs of countries in Asia and the Pacific. This position leads the Division of Administration, managing holistic administrative services and operational areas including procurement, human resources, finance, facilities management and central support services, conference services management, information technology services among others. Other activities of the Division include acting as a service provider to other UN entities in Asia and Pacific, overseeing the real estate and host country agreements of ESCAP premises, and administration of the United Nations Medical and Occupational Safety and Health services. This position is located in the Division of Administration. The incumbent reports to the Executive Secretary.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Director of Administration is responsible for the effective, efficient and systematic management and delivery of all administrative support services required by ESCAP and client entities, enabling efficient and cost-effective mandate delivery and ensuring adherence to established UN regulations, rules, policies and procedures in all operational areas. Under the direct supervision of the Executive Secretary, the incumbent is required to perform the following functions: • Provides strategic advice to the Executive Secretary on the integrated management of ESCAP’s financial, human, and physical resources, in alignment with current UN Secretariat reform initiatives, including efforts to modernize planning, budgeting, and talent management. Supports senior leadership in driving data-informed administrative decision-making and in implementing streamlined, future-fit service delivery models. Leads the development and operationalization of robust resource and asset management frameworks that uphold fiduciary integrity while enabling organizational agility and innovation under the UN 2.0 framework. • Develops strategies, processes and procedures that ensure strategic and cost effective management of the administrative services of the following sections and units: human resources management; financial services; procurement; information and communications technology services; conference services management; real estate management and central support services; travel, transport, and host country relations. • Prepares major reports for senior management and UN legislative bodies, inclusive of the General Assembly and ACABQ, provides guidance in related areas including strategic planning, management policies, processes, rules and regulations including for enterprise risk management, business continuity and operational resilience and manages internal and external audits, including timely responses and implementation of audit and oversight evaluation recommendations. • Develops cost plans and containment strategies for the division, monitors expenditures to ensure that they remain within authorized levels; provides guidance and direction on financial and resource planning and effective utilization. • Provides supervision and policy advisory services and guidance to all areas under the Division and in support of the Commission's work. Promotes organization-wide reform policies and initiatives, supports forward-looking responsibilities related to ongoing reform efforts under UN 80 (consolidation, efficiency agenda, Common Administrative Platform), UN 2.0, and other relevant initiatives, and leads impactful results through inter-agency coordination and active engagement with the Thailand Operations Management Team (OMT) and the Regional OMT (R-OMT). • Ensures that the outputs produced by the Division maintain high quality standards and ensures that production and service standards are met; implements innovative strategies such as the environmental management system (EMS) in support of sustainable business operations, business automation and innovation, and service management portfolios for Secretariat and other UN System clients by organizing and directing operational activities of the Division with the objective of continuous upgrading of divisional staff capacity and services. • Leads, supervises and carries out the work of the Division, ensuring that work in the different areas is coordinated both within the Division and other Divisions, and with other organizations of the United Nations System, as appropriate. • Manages, guides, develops, and trains staff under his/her supervision. • Fosters teamwork and communication among staff in the Division and across organizational boundaries. • Performs other related duties as required.

Competencies

Core Competencies: Professionalism: Ability to provide specialized advice in a broad range of human resources management, financial, real estate management and administrative areas to senior management. Ability to prepare reports with respect to key administrative decisions. Ability to apply UN rules, regulations, policies, and guidelines in work situations and prepare reports or rational with respect to key administrative decisions. Demonstrated ability in handling complex organizational issues at the international level. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. Planning & Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies and direction of the Organization; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently. Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be "clients" and seeks to see things from clients' point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients' needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients' environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client. Managerial competencies: Leadership: Provides strategic and innovative leadership; collaborates to ensure operational strategies support the programme of work appropriately; serves as a role model that other people want to follow: empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing. Judgment/decision making: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; proactively seeks and recommends sound policy guidance; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in management, business administration, public administration, human resources, finance, or related field is required. A relevant first-level university degree in the above fields in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Job - Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible experience in various areas of administration, such as financial services and budgeting, human resources, real estate management, information technology services, supply chain management, conference services, central support services or related field is required. Experience leading a large, multi-functional administrative service platform in a multi-entity administrative service-provider setting with accountability for service quality, cost-effectiveness, client satisfaction, and reform implementation across multiple administrative functions is required. Prior experience working in the UN Common system or other international organizations, with a deep understanding of UN administrative rules, policies, and reform agendas (e.g., UN 2.0, Common Administrative Platform) is required. Experience in contributing to and leading UN reform initiatives, including direct involvement in the preparatory work and/or implementation of the Business Operations Strategy (BOS), Common Back Office (CBO), and Common Premises (CP) is required. Experience leading business transformation, process simplification, automation, or digitization of administrative services, including the use of ERP systems, service-management platforms, workflow tools, dashboards, or data-driven management tools to improve service quality, transparency, timeliness, and accountability, is required. Proven experience in business and client services continuity in a headquarters, regional headquarters, or comparable institutional setting is desirable. A minimum of two (2) years of experience in leading UN interagency initiatives related to the provision of administrative services is desirable. Demonstrated experience with international standards in financial (IPSAS), procurement, human resources or other administrative areas is desirable. Experience of working in the Asia-Pacific region in a regional headquarters, regional commission, international institution, or comparable setting, with responsibility for administrative service delivery to clients across multiple countries or duty stations, is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult https://languages.un.org for details).

Required Languages LanguageReadingWritingListeningSpeakingEnglishUN Level IIIUN Level IIIUN Level IIIUN Level III Assessment Qualified applicants may be evaluated through a competency-based interview and/or other assessment methods. Special Notice Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or under-represented in the UN Secretariat as of 30 April 2026, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Nauru, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, and Vanuatu. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. Pursuant to section 6.9 of ST/AI/2010/3/Rev. 1, interns, consultants, individual contractors and gratis personnel may not apply for or be appointed to any vacancy in the Professional or higher categories within six months of the end of their current or most recent service. Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professionals programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position. United Nations Considerations According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. All external candidates recruited in accordance with section ‎2.2 (a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2. (c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date. No Fee THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.