UN Women: Special Assistant for the Deputy Executive Director for Normative Support, UN System Coordination, and Programme Results, New York, USA, P4 FTA

About the role

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security. The Assistant Secretary-General (ASG) for Normative Support, UN System Coordination and Programme Results leads the development of strategies and work programmes in policy development, operations, programme management, oversight and implementation, normative support and UN System coordination, providing leadership and management guidance to staff in these areas aligned with the Executive Director’s vision and UN Women’s Strategic Plan. The Special Assistant to the ASG will provide timely analytical information, coherent policy advice, and proven ability to work under pressure with discretion in a sensitive and challenging environment, requiring excellent communication and organization skills to manage the substantive and normative agenda.

Responsibilities

• Provide coordination and liaison support to the Assistant Secretary General / Deputy Executive Director (ASG/DED):
  • Provide coordination and technical support to the ASG/DED in interactions with other UN entities by working closely with liaison staff of senior officials of those entities
  • Process and/or prepare the ASG/DED’s participation in meetings and missions/key events
  • Manage the ASG/DED’s agenda; evaluate and keep track of important events and meetings and advise on priorities and critical engagements requiring their presence
  • Ensure effective communication and coordination with Divisions, Sections and field offices, as well as with key partners and stakeholders
  • Assist in the preparation and follow-up to meetings and key corporate initiatives
  • Maintain close contacts with the Executive Director’s Office, and the Office of the DED/ASG for Resource Management, Sustainability and Partnerships and bring to the attention of the ASG/DED all matters requiring their personal attention; formulate options as to how those matters might be best handled and followed up, as directed
• Provide technical support to the ASG/DED:
  • Provide substantive and technical support, including sound policy inputs to facilitate representation duties
  • Identify, research, analyze, prepare and/or organize information and briefing materials to facilitate decision-making and leadership in management and representation duties
  • Prepare outlines, draft papers, speeches and talking points for the ASG/DED
  • Prepare briefing and research materials needed to support the ASG/DED in their engagements
  • Provide editorial assistance by drafting, clearing and editing speeches, reports and correspondence, including preparation of briefing documents, statements, papers, policies, etc.
• Provide substantive support to the ASG/DED’s strategic management role:
  • Establish a system for the timely monitoring and analysis of critical issues for the ASG/DED’s review and action
  • Ensure timely follow-up to the ASG/DED’s directives, including effective dissemination of pertinent information to senior management and other relevant staff across the organization
  • Support the ASG/DED in the strategic management of the pillar under her oversight
  • Assist in meeting deadlines related to organizational reports
• Provide high level administrative and logistical support:
  • Participate with the ASG/DED in public official engagements, including within the UN System, ensuring liaison has been maintained within all sections in UN Women, determine if adequate representation is present and ensure all protocol arrangements are in place
  • Manage the planning and organization of the ASG/DED’s official travel, including timely preparation of official travel files and background documents by relevant divisions and units, and prepare or ensure preparation of official travel reports
• The incumbent performs other duties within their functional profile as deemed necessary for the efficient functioning of the Office and the Organisation.

Supervisory responsibilities

The incumbent leads the Front Office team, consisting of 1 General Service staff and affiliate personnel (consultants and interns) where applicable.