ECONOMIC AFFAIRS OFFICER (Technical Advisor), P3

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Resources Management Section (RMS) of the Energy, Housing and Land Management Division of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), based in Geneva, Switzerland. The incumbent is under the direct supervision of the P5, Chief of Section (RMS) and the general supervision of D1, Director, Energy, Housing and Land Management Division. This position is temporarily available for an initial period of 6 months with the possibility of extension.

Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the P-5, Chief of Section (RMS), and the general supervision of the Director, Energy, Housing and Land Management Division, the incumbent is responsible for supporting the implementation of the project “Strengthening Circular Resource Systems”; and for carrying out concrete, result-oriented activities that are to be developed under the project with the active participation of UNECE member States, national and international government policymakers and analysts; regional and municipal authorities; regulatory authorities; industries and sectoral associations in construction, metals, technology minerals, EV/battery value chains and recycling; small and medium-sized enterprises in circular value chains; academic and research institutions; non-governmental organisations; professional associations; and other organisations specialising in sustainable resource management and circularity in the resource sector. Within delegated authority, the incumbent will carry out the following duties: Economic or sector analysis • Develops databases and qualitative information necessary for development of a new methodology for measuring and reporting the material flows and impacts of resources in a circular economy using the United Nations Framework Classification for Resources (UNFC) and the United Nations Resource Management System (UNRMS); • Interprets, applies and, as necessary, adapts econometric models to determine trends, patterns and relationships to reduce the demand for virgin materials and the associated carbon emissions in different sectors and contexts. • Drafts specified inputs for technical papers and analytical studies on resource management. • Identifies and analyses policy proposals made elsewhere relating to sustainable management resources, with a focus on circularity, closed-loop material flows and material efficiency. • Attends international, regional, and national meetings to collect information and to hold discussions with colleagues in other institutions. • Assists in the organization and servicing of expert group meetings, seminars, etc on sustainable resource management and circularity issues. • Prepares speeches and other inputs for presentations by senior staff and project partners. Intergovernmental support • Identifies governance gaps and provides substantive support to governments of the project’s beneficiary States with the aim to strengthen their national capacities to implement UNRMS for circular, low-carbon and sustainable resource systems using innovative technologies, policies and business models. • Prepares inputs for reports related to the project to intergovernmental bodies, in particular the Committee on Sustainable Energy and the Expert Group on Resource Management. • Follows intergovernmental meetings of relevance to the project and prepares summary reports. • Assists in the organization of panels, round tables etc. on issues related to the project for intergovernmental processes. Technical cooperation • Participates in missions on sustainable resource management and circularity issues, usually as a member of a team, as part of the project’s implementation activities. • Organizes training seminars for national experts and other stakeholders in the project’s beneficiary countries. • Prepares case studies on integrated resource management, based on UNFC and UNRMS, and other technical documentation for implementation of the project. • Contributes to the preparation of material for the approval of regional, country or sector technical cooperation projects. General • Performs other related duties as required, including a variety of administrative tasks necessary for the final delivery of the project and the work unit’s services. • Undertakes on-the-job and other training activities, both internally and externally. • Collects and analyzes data to identify trends or patterns in sustainable resource management and governance and circularity and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Deep knowledge of matters related to sustainable resource management, closed-loop material flows and circularity. Ability to apply economic theories and concepts in different sectors of economic and sustainable development. Ability to conduct independent research on economic topics, determine suitability, validity and accuracy of data provided by different sources. Shows skill in developing sources for data collection. 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. Able to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. • Planning & Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; 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.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in economics, engineering, geology, materials science, environmental science or a related field is required. A first-level university degree in the specified fields of study in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Job - Specific Qualification

Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is desirable.

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in economic research and analysis, policy formulation, application of economic principles in development programmes or a related area is required. At least two years of progressively responsible experience in energy and resource management research, analysis, and policy formulation is required. Experience working with UNECE member States is desirable. Experience working with the United Nations Resource Management System (UNRMS) and the United Nations Framework Classification for Resources (UNFC), including a published case study on UNRMS or UNFC, is desirable. Two years or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. Either French or Russian is desirable. 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

Desirable Languages

LanguageReadingWritingListeningSpeakingFrenchUN Level IUN Level IUN Level IUN Level IRussianUN Level IUN Level IUN Level IUN Level I

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by a competency-based interview.

Special Notice

• This position is temporarily available for an initial period of 6 months with the possibility of extension. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment. • This post is financed by extrabudgetary resources. The appointment or assignment and renewal thereof are subject to the availability of the post or funds, budgetary approval, and extension of the mandate. • The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity 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. • While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post. • Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station. • Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation. • Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as "retirement." Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the 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.