Position description
Org. Setting and Reporting
The position is located in the Trade Facilitation Section (TFS) of the Economic Cooperation and Trade Division (ECTD) of the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE). The incumbent reports directly to the D-1, Chief of Service, and is under the general supervision of the Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ECE. The Trade Facilitation Section (TFS) services ECE’s a normative machinery in the field of digital and sustainable trade facilitation, notably the Working Party on Trade Facilitation and Electronic Businesses (UN/CEFACT) and its subsidiary bodies: the Team of Specialist (ToS) on ESG Traceability in Value Chains for the Circular Economy (ToS ESG VC CE) and the Advisory Group (AG) on UN/LOCODE. The Section also provides technical assistance and capacity building for the implementation of standards and recommendations and through targeted and demand-driven research, in the ECE region.
Responsibilities
Under the direct supervision of the D1, Chief of the Division, the incumbent undertakes the following tasks:
- Manages and provides leadership to the Trade Facilitation Section and its staff. This includes: the recruitment processes and performance management for Section staff; managing and ensuring that all programmed activities are carried out in a timely and high-quality fashion; overseeing and supervising the regular budget programme of work and all related activities, planning resource use, monitoring and evaluation activities, and reporting regularly to the Division Director. Leads team members efforts to collect and analyze data and provides insight to identify trends or patterns for data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. Ensures that everyone can discover, access, integrate and share the data they need.
- Secretariat servicing: Supervises the efficient servicing of the Centre for Trade Facilitation and Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT), its Bureau and related normative bodies (e.g. UN/LOCODE, Teams of Specialists), including regular and effective communications with the chairpersons/bureau and other key members of the intergovernmental bodies served. Meeting servicing includes the timely creation and publication of meeting agendas, documents, and reports.
- Analytical work: Manages, supervises, coordinates, and carries out the analytical work related to the Section’s programme of work and ensures that the outputs produced by the Trade Facilitation Section maintain high-quality standards; that reports are clear, objective and based on comprehensive data. This includes: commissioning economic studies and analyses that cannot be undertaken internally; providing programmatic and substantive reviews of drafts prepared by others; finalizing documents, including those for submission to the serviced intergovernmental machinery; providing substantive input in the preparation of position papers and reports for presentation to intergovernmental bodies such as the Economic and Social Council, the General Assembly and other policy-making organs, as appropriate.
- Capacity-building: Supervises and provides input to capacity-building and implementation projects for sustainable trade facilitation, including the UN Development Account and extra-budgetary projects. This includes the design of and mobilization of funds for, implementation and reporting of impactful and demand driven support to UNECE programme countries.
- Provides policy guidance to the Chief of Service, on conceptual strategy development and management for the implementation of overall strategies and intra and inter-divisional/departmental policies and procedures in the areas of sustainable and digital trade facilitation. Leads or participates in the identification of new or emerging development issues of potential concern, particularly for countries with economies in transition.
- Promotes UNECE’s work on sustainable and digital trade facilitation to potential users, to governments and to other international organizations, donors and development partners, including non-specialised audiences. In cooperation with UNECE media team, ensures impactful media presence of the Section’s workstreams, including by supervising the maintenance of respective websites, the preparation of brochures, press releases and other promotional materials (including videos and social media content).
- Liaises and coordinates work on issues covered by UN/CEFACT with other organizations (such as UN Conference on Trade and Development, the other UN Regional Commissions, WTO, ITC, ISO and the WCO) and represents the UNECE in related cooperation and coordination activities.
- Supports the Director of the Division and the UNECE Management in managing the Division including by responding to requests from UN Headquarters and the office of the UNECE Executive Secretary as well as participating in the ongoing information sharing and coordination activities of the Division.
- Fosters teamwork and communication among staff in the Trade Facilitation Section and across organizational boundaries. Undertakes professional development and training activities.
Competencies
- Professionalism: Ability to apply theories related to international trade, particularly trade facilitation, and sustainable development; knowledge of new and emerging cross-cutting issues, such as the circular economy, the digital and green transformation and gender; knowledge of the particular trade-related development challenges of countries with economies in transition; knowledge of the role of standards, and new and emerging issues related to standardization, as they arise in the trade and development context. 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;
- Planning and 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;
- 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;
- 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. 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.
Education
- Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in economics or a related field. A first-level university degree in the specified fields of study in combination with an additional two years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work Experience
- At least ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in economic research and analysis, policy formulation, application of economic principles in development programmes, or a related area is required. At least five (5) years of experience in international trade or trade facilitation, and related regulatory and policy frameworks is required. Minimum three (3) years of management and supervisory experience is required.
Languages
- English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French or Russian is desirable.
Application instructions
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