Principal Economic Affairs Officer, D1

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Strategic Planning and Communications Service (SPCS) in the Office of the Under-Secretary-General of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA). The incumbent is responsible for leading the work of SPCS, including the formulation of policies and strategies in the areas of thought leadership, strategic planning, communications and ICT governance, as well as representation of the Department in relevant Secretariat policy and normative bodies. The incumbent reports to the Chief of Office of the Under-Secretary-General.

Responsibilities

The incumbent is responsible for the following duties: -Supports the Under-Secretary-General and the Assistant Secretaries-General in defining the Department’s strategic priorities, and in coordinating and delivering shared goals for the Department. -Leads, supervises and carries out the work programme of the Service under his/her responsibility. Co-ordinates the work carried out by different work units under the Service; provides programmatic/substantive reviews of the drafts prepared by others. -Support senior management in the thought leadership and analytical work of the Department, act as the Secretary of the Editorial Board and the High-level Advisory Board on Economic and Social Affairs. -Strengthens the collaboration of DESA Divisions to more effectively address new and emerging challenges and enhance foresight, especially on cross-cutting issues. -Promotes strategic integration and policy coherence, including collaborative work with other Secretariat entities in the economic and social fields to better meet intergovernmental mandates and emerging challenges. -Provides strategic direction and authoritative oversight of analytical work, ensuring that publications and policy briefs are substantively robust, methodologically sound, and aligned with mandated priorities and organizational objectives. -Reviews and validates analyses and reports, ensuring accuracy, coherence, and strategic relevance, and advises on necessary revisions to strengthen policy messaging and alignment with the Department’s vision and goals. -Oversees the preparation of the Department’s annual plan of action and performance reports in consultation with the all divisions and offices. -Ensures that the Department’s publications and policy briefs are substantively robust, methodologically sound, coherent and strategically relevant; advises on necessary revisions to strengthen policy messaging and alignment with the Department’s vision and goals. -Serves as the focal point for the work of the Department related to the Executive Committee of the Secretary-General, and the Executive Committee on Economic and Social Affairs. -Oversees the preparation and implementation of the Department’s strategic communications plan as well as the creation, production and dissemination of public information outreach materials, including through digital campaigning, social media channels and platforms. -Guides the preparation and implementation of the Departmental ICT strategy; act as the Secretary to the Departmental Steering Committee on ICT and its working groups; ensures Departmental compliance with ICT policies and directives. -Undertakes or oversees the programmatic/administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of the Service, including preparation of budgets, reporting on budget/programme performance, securing extrabudgetary resources and managing related projects, evaluation of staff performance (PAS), interviews of candidates for job openings, evaluation of candidates and preparation of inputs for results-based budgeting. -Recruits staff, taking due account of geographical balance. -Manages, guides, develops and trains staff under his/her supervision. -Fosters teamwork and communication among staff in the Service and across organizational boundaries. -Leads and supervises the organization of meetings, seminars, etc. on economic and social issues; manages the substantive preparation and organization of such meetings or seminars. -Represents the Service at internal and external meetings and conferences, and, as required, on other matters.

Competencies

Professionalism: Knowledge of the major social and economic issues as they relate to the Department’s programme of work. Ability to produce 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. 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. Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable. 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. Judgement/Decision-making: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; 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 degree) in economics, social sciences, sustainable development or related area is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying work 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 in sustainable development research and policy analysis in an international environment is required. A minimum of five years of experience in strategic planning within a global sustainable development context is required. Experience in managing complex programmes and diverse teams is required. Experience in the production of publications, including substantive review and quality assurance, in the development field is required. Experience in developing communication materials (e.g., communication campaigns, speeches, press releases, articles, audio-visual materials or similar) in the development field is required. Experience in intergovernmental support and inter-agency engagement is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. There are no additional desirable languages specified. 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 Evaluation of qualified candidates may include a substantive assessment, which may be followed by a competency-based interview. Special Notice Staff members appointed to the current position are required to submit a financial disclosure statement upon assignment or appointment and annually thereafter. 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. 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 31 May 2026, are strongly encouraged to apply: Andorra, Brunei Darussalam, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Grenada, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Liechtenstein, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Sao Tome and Principe, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu. Afghanistan, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, China, Cuba, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Libya, Liberia, Luxembourg, Monaco, Oman, Paraguay, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Turkmenistan, United States of America. 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.