Principal Social Affairs Officer

Org. Setting and Reporting

The position is located in the Office of the Under-Secretary-General of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA). The Principal Social Affairs Officer (Special Advisor) reports to the Under-Secretary-General (USG) through the Director of the Division for Inclusive Social Development (DISD).

Responsibilities

The Principal Social Affairs Officer (Senior Adviser) assists the USG in the preparations for the Second World Summit for Social Development (WSSD2) in his role as Secretary-General of the Summit. He/she will provide political advice and guidance to UN DESA senior officials/management and staff supporting the intergovernmental processes and inter-agency and stakeholder engagement as the Secretariat of the Summit. Within delegated authority, the Principal Social Affairs Officer (Senior Adviser) will be responsible for performing the following duties: Policy analysis and advice • Identifies, analyses and monitors emerging issues relevant to preparations for the WSSD2, including the intergovernmental negotiations on the action-oriented political declaration to be agreed prior to the Summit. • Assesses implications and makes recommendations to DESA senior officials on possible strategies, policies and other measures to address issues of concern and advance the intergovernmental negotiations, United Nations system engagement and stakeholder engagement. • Identifies opportunities for socializing Member States and stakeholders on the Summit and its follow-up and advises the Summit secretariat in the formulation and implementation of communication strategies and approaches to shore up support from Member States and stakeholders for the Summit and its outcomes. • Working with DESA staff, provides support to the co-facilitators responsible for the WSSD2 political declaration, engaging regional groups as appropriate. • Provides guidance on the coordination of United Nations system engagement and stakeholder engagement in preparation for the Summit. • Participates in inter-agency coordination mechanisms developed in support of the Summit Reporting • Supports the Director of DISD to provide regular, timely and high-quality reporting to the USG on the status of intergovernmental negotiations, and UN system engagement in the preparations of the Summit. • Provides guidance on the preparation of briefing paper and issue notes to the Secretary-General, Member States and other stakeholders, as needed. Coordination • Working with DESA staff, builds and maintains collaborative relationships with the co-facilitators, regional groups, United Nations system entities and key stakeholders to ensure coherence. • Provides advice and guidance to the Summit secretariat on the organization of side events at the Summit and negotiations of the Host Country Agreement with the Summit’s host. • Supports the USG and DESA senior management to develop a strategy for the Department’s follow-up to the outcome of the Summit including, but not limited to, the work of the Economic and Social Council, the Commission on Social Development, the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and other intergovernmental bodies involved in inclusive social development. • Advises the Summit secretariat, as appropriate, in the development of the UN-system follow-up to the Summit and its outcomes • Performs other ad hoc assignments, as requested by the USG and Director of the Division.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Demonstrated sound knowledge of the inclusive social development field and of the United Nations and multilateral system. Strong analytical skills combined with good political judgment. In-depth understanding and ability to evaluate international political situations. Ability to provide strategic advice and recommendations to senior officials. Ability to propose creative approaches to both substantive and managerial issues and processes while abiding by UN rules, regulations, policies and guidelines. 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. • 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. • Creativity: Actively seeks to improve programmes or services; offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs; promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas; takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas; thinks “outside the box”; takes an interest in innovative ways of doing things; is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches. • Vision: Identifies strategic issues, opportunities and risks; clearly communicates links between the Organization’s strategy and the work unit’s goals; generates and communicates broad and compelling organizational direction, inspiring others to pursue that same direction; conveys enthusiasm about future possibilities. • 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 international relations, social science, economics, sustainable development, law, public administration 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 social affairs, sustainable development, diplomacy, law or related field is required Experience in supporting intergovernmental processes and coordination of global inter-agency and multi-stakeholder system is required. Experience in providing strategic advice and recommendations to senior officials in an international setting is required. Experience in strategic communication in an international context is desirable. Proven track record of leadership and management in multicultural settings, including coordination of interdisciplinary teams is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in spoken and written English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

• This position is temporarily available from 2 January to 28 November 2025. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment. • 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. • This temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15. • 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.

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. 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.