Head, Office for the Middle East and North Africa, DCP/OMENA, P4

Org. Setting and Reporting

The Division of Country Programmes (DCP) is responsible for coherence and impact of ITC's programmes at the country and regional levels. The five (5) regional sections within ITC maintain close relations with partners in ITC's programme countries to ensure a demand-led approach and strengthened country engagement for all projects. The regional sections are responsible for country coordination, for gathering country intelligence, for needs assessments and design of demand led projects, for in-country resource mobilization and for managing multiyear, multi-disciplinary projects. Under the direct guidance of the Director of Country Programmes, the incumbent will serve as a senior manager responsible for leading technical cooperation activities aimed at strengthening trade capacity in beneficiary countries in the Middle East and North Africa, promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth. The Head, Office for the Middle East and North Africa,(OMENA) will develop coherent and coordinated project and programme responses to country and regional trade development needs within the ambit of ITC's mandate; build effective relations with key counterparts in the private sector and related institutions, national governments and regional organizations; enhance collaboration with the UN Resident Coordinators, donors, and other international partners at country and regional level; and feed related intelligence back to ITC to ensure quality programme development and implementation with a clear focus on sustainable impact.

Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Director, DCP the incumbent will seek to implement ITC's vision and related strategic objectives as elaborated in its Strategic Plan as well as ITC's Country Engagement Strategy. The position involves the following responsibilities: • Contribute to the development of a shared vision and strategic objectives and support related planning for ITC's work in the Middle East and North Africa in line with ITC's strategic plan, including the development of a corresponding regional strategy and resource-mobilization framework. • Identify and translate opportunities and key challenges in relation to trade development in the region, including overcoming barriers to trade, and ensuring sustainable integration within regional and global value chains and markets, into actionable and bankable programme proposals. • Oversee the coherence of ITC's projects and programmes in the region, including identifying trade-related capacity-building needs and priorities, developing project proposals, and supporting resource mobilization efforts, to ensure that ITC’s interventions effectively respond to the evolving needs and development priorities of beneficiary countries.;. • Ensure that ITC's programme activities in the region contribute to sustainable and inclusive growth, with a particular focus on vulnerable and marginalized underrepresented groups (women, youth, refugees and internally displaced persons as well as persons with disabilities). • Engage closely with donors and partners in the region, coordinating efforts of ITC country managers and project managers with the objective of enlarging and diversifying the funding sources for the region. • Represents ITC in international and regional fora on trade development and related technical assistance in the region and assists in tailoring agendas addressing current and future trade challenges. • Provide strategic oversight and guidance on programme and project management practices across the region, promoting quality implementation, sustainable impact of interventions, and effective identification and management of programmatic and operational risks • Oversee the planning, allocation and monitoring of the section’s financial resources and budgets, ensuring effective utilization of funds, alignment with strategic priorities, and compliance with organizational rules and donor requirements • Provide substantive input to ITC's corporate documents (strategic plan, operational plan, and annual report) and related statements, thereby contributing to ITC's communication with stakeholders. • Manage a multidisciplinary team and evaluate staff performance. • Perform other relevant duties as required

Competencies

• Professionalism: Good knowledge and understanding of trade development needs as well as opportunities and challenges for the private sector in the Middle East and North Africa, the international trading system, and the TRTA environment. Knowledge of results-based Management (RBM) and project management. Good collaborative and people skills to ensure integration, synergies and consistency of his/her activities with other parts of ITC. Proven networking skills ideally with established network of trade-related contacts in the region including ministries, the private sector, heads of business associations and non-governmental organizations, senior officials in UN and other international organizations and donor agencies. Proven analytical, communication, diplomacy and representation skills. Proven track-record of resource mobilization. Shows pride in work and in achievements. 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. • Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively. Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately. Asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication. Tailors language, tone, style, and format to match the audience. Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. • Leadership: 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 improvement, does not accept the status quo. Shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. • Managing Performance: Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority. Makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member. Accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills. Monitors progress against milestones and deadlines. Regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff. Encourages risk-taking and supports staff when they make mistakes. Actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff. Appraises performance fairly.

Education

Advanced university degree in economics, business management, development studies, social sciences or in a similar field. A first level university degree in the above subjects may be considered with an additional two years of qualifying work experience.

Job - Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven (7) years (nine years with a first level university degree) of progressively responsible professional work experience in the field of trade development, ideally in a multi-cultural and multilateral environment, is required. At least five (5) of these years to include experience in trade related technical assistance (TRTA), particularly in supporting Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs), business support organisations (BSOs) and/or policymakers, as well as programme development and management, including planning, implementation, monitoring, reporting and oversight of programme budgets and performance, in the Middle East and/or North Africa is required. At least five (5) years of experience in resource mobilization and partnership development is required. Experience of managing multi-cultural teams is required.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English and Arabic are required. French 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 IIIArabicUN Level IIIUN Level IIIUN Level IIIUN Level III

Desirable Languages

LanguageReadingWritingListeningSpeakingFrenchUN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level II

Assessment

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

Special Notice

The conditions of service are governed by the United Nations Staff Rules and Regulations. This is a fixed term appointment for an initial period of one (1) year. ITC champions workforce diversity, inclusion, gender equality and gender parity and considers all qualified persons - of all genders - equally, including those with disabilities, without discrimination or prejudice of any kind. ITC also offers attractive flexible work arrangements to help promote a healthy work/life balance and to allow all staff members to express and develop their talents fully. If you are unable to complete our online application form due to a disability, please send an email to hrs-jobs@intracen.org. Applications from women and nationalities from developing and least developing countries are particularly encouraged to apply. Applicants will be contacted only if they are under serious consideration. For information on salary and entitlements, please consult the International Civil Service Commission website: http://icsc.un.org THE USE OF AI AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS IS PROHIBITED AND ITS USE MAY RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION.

United Nations Considerations

In accordance with the United Nations Staff Regulations and Rules, 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 ITC 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. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, Inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on "Manuals" hyper-link on the upper right side of the Inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted based on the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable 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. Job openings advertised in Inspira will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

ITC does NOT charge any fees or request money from candidates at any stage of the recruitment process, nor does it concern itself with bank account details of applicants. Requests of this nature allegedly made on behalf of ITC are fraudulent and should be disregarded.