Head, Subregional Office for North and Central Asia, 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 is located in the Subregional Office for North and Central Asia (SONCA). The Office covers Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The incumbent of this post will report to the Deputy Executive Secretary for Partnerships and Coordination of ESCAP.

Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Deputy Executive Secretary for Partnerships and Coordination and general supervision of the ESCAP Executive Secretary, and within delegated authority, the Head of SONCA will be responsible for the following: • Acts as the representative of ESCAP in the North and Central Asian subregion, including promoting the active participation of member governments in the subregion in the work of ESCAP while promoting subregional development cooperation and connectivity among the SONCA clients. • Formulates, leads and implements, in consultation with the concerned entities at ESCAP Headquarters, the programme of work of the Subregional Office by determining subregional priorities and utilizing resources effectively for the timely delivery of mandated outputs. Supports the implementation of the Special Programme for Economies of Central Asia (SPECA), including its Governing Council and Economic Forum in collaboration with the Economic Commission for Europe. Supports the organization of the Thematic Working Groups under SPECA by respective divisions. Further, ensures that subregional activities and initiatives, including the subregional forum on sustainable development in North and Central Asia, reinforce the overall ESCAP strategic framework and its core mandate. • Advises the Executive Secretary and Deputy Executive Secretary on emerging issues and concerns in the subregion, including those gathered from consultations/discussions with government officials and representatives of other key intergovernmental organizations, institutions and stakeholders, and provides advice toward developing courses of action, taking into consideration the socio-economic and political context of the subregion. • Provides inputs to ESCAP Headquarters entities, including the concerned substantive divisions on the development, formulation and implementation of the ESCAP work programme related to the countries of the subregion through: (a) Coordinating with concerned government officials, UN entities, UN Resident Coordinators and UN Country Teams (including relevant ESCAP engagement within UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks), subregional organizations and other stakeholders; (b) Providing support for missions, intergovernmental meetings, workshops, ESCAP flagship publications, training and other relevant activities held in the subregion; and (c) Acting as focal point in the subregion for ESCAP matters and activities. • Ensures that the outputs produced by the Subregional Office maintain high-quality standards and are consistent with ESCAP work programme; that reports are clear, objective and based on comprehensive data. Ensures that all outputs produced by the Office under his/her supervision meet required standards before completion to ensure they comply with the relevant mandates • Participates in international, regional or national meetings and provides policy advice and technical assistance in economic and social development policies and programmes to governments in the subregion in coordination with other existing entities, including those within the UN system. • Promotes partnership and knowledge sharing among member countries, private sector, civil society and other relevant development partners, including other ESCAP Subregional Offices and Regional Institutes, in addressing key priority areas of the subregion. • Undertakes or oversees the programmatic, administrative, and managerial tasks necessary for the functioning of the Subregional Office, including preparation of budgets, and inputs for results-based budgeting, reporting on budget/programme performance, recruitment/selection of candidates (taking due account of geographical balance), evaluation of staff performance, and development/guidance of staff under his/her supervision. • Performs other related duties as necessary in accordance with the UN rules and regulations.

Competencies

Core Competencies Professionalism: Demonstrated in-depth understanding of political, social and economic sustainable development issues in Asia and the Pacific. Strong analytical skills combined with good judgment. Ability to produce analytical reports and papers on technical issues and to review and edit the work of others. Ability to apply UN rules, regulations, policies and guidelines in work situations. 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. 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. 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 audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. Managerial Competencies 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 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. 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 creativity and initiative; actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; appraises performance fairly.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in economics, social sciences, or related areas 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 fifteen years of progressively responsible experience, including several years at the international level, in economic and social analysis, policy formulation and implementation, and/or programme management is required. Demonstrated experience in representing a relevant institution at the regional or subregional level, including engagement with government officials, UN entities, and development partners, is required. Extensive experience in advising senior leadership on socio-economic issues, and in providing policy guidance within complex environments is required. Demonstrated experience in establishing and maintaining professional networks as well as partnerships with academia, civil society, governments as well as subregional organizations, and the private sector is required. Experience in leading and managing administrative functions, including budgeting, recruitment, staff development, and performance evaluation of a diverse international team is required. Experience working in the Asia-Pacific region, preferably having been based in the region outside of the home country, is desirable. Experience with regional cooperation frameworks and sustainable development agendas of the North and Central Asia region is desirable. Experience with the United Nations programmes, policies, rules and regulations is desirable. Experience of working with economies that are landlocked and/or have undergone a transition to market economies, outside of the home country, is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. 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 IIUN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level II

Desirable Languages

LanguageReadingWritingListeningSpeakingRussianUN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level II

Assessment

Qualified candidates 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. Staff of the United Nations Secretariat must fulfill the lateral move requirements to be eligible to apply for this vacancy and are requested to indicate all qualifying lateral moves in their Personal History Profile (PHP) and cover note. For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or under-represented in the UN Secretariat as of 31 March 2026, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, China (People's Republic of), Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Grenada, 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 Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, 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.