Chief of Protocol(Secretary to Governing Bodies & Chief, External Relations and Inter-Agency Affairs) at UN-Habitat

Responsibilities

Provision of overall leadership to the Secretariat of the Governing Bodies. Specifically:

Serve as Secretary of the Governing Bodies of UN-Habitat including the Executive Board, the Committee of Permanent Representatives and the UN-Habitat’s Assembly:

• Prepare provisional agenda for the sessions; prepare Convocation letters, Notifications, Annotations to the Agenda, rules of procedure, timetable, and documentation.
• Prepare/review all draft pre-session documents before approval of Executive Director.
• Organize work of the session and coordinate work of the conference servicing, including liaising with the Conference Service Departments of UNON and New York.
• Prepare notes for the President of the UN-Habitat’s Assembly, the Chair of the Executive Board and Chair of the Committee of Permanent Representatives on each agenda item for the respective sessions.
• Handle legal and procedural issues arising during the sessions.
• Negotiate with governments wishing to host sessions.
• Follow up on the implementation of decisions of the Governing Bodies and resolutions of the General Assembly and ECOSOC.

Serve as the Chief of Inter-Agency Affairs:

• Develop UN-Habitat’s strategic plan and long-term program of cooperation with other UN organizations/agencies and advise the Executive Director on policy guidance.
• Coordinate the preparation of follow-up actions on decisions taken by inter-agency and inter-governmental bodies in areas relevant to UN-Habitat work.
• Support UN-Habitat Task managers System in fulfilment of key objectives to improve coordinated implementation of its Agenda within the UN system and streamline reporting to ECOSOC and the GA through the UN-Habitat Assembly.  
• Monitor governing bodies of the UN agencies and their consideration for human settlement matters and bringing relevant decisions to the attention of the Executive Director.
• Prepare report to the Executive Director on inter-agency/inter-governmental cooperation for submission to Governing Bodies.

Serve as Chief of External Relations:

• Enhance UN-Habitat’s good relationship with governments and their Permanent Missions to UN-Habitat.
• Organize informal briefing meetings between the ED and Permanent Representatives on specific activities of UN-Habitat.
• Prepare briefs for the Executive Director’s official visits and maintain an up-to-date mailing list of Governments and undertake special assignments of political nature.

Serve as Chief of Protocol for UN-Habitat:

• Responsible for all protocol matters during official functions.
• Ensure all official letters to government observe proper diplomatic language and format.
• Lead 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.

Competencies

• PROFESSIONALISM: Ability to ensure the optimum preparations for efficient servicing of high-level meetings including sessions documents and reports. Ability to ensure follow-up and implementation of the relevant resolutions of the Governing Bodies , ECOSOC, and the General Assembly. Ability to cultivate and ensure a positive image among governments and enhance relations with UN sister agencies and the host government. Ability to apply knowledge of various United Nations administrative, financial and human resources rules and regulations in work situations. The ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Education

• Advanced University degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) preferably in international relations, political science or in government or related field is required.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is desirable

Work Experience

• A minimum of fifteen (15) years of progressively responsible experience in protocol in a governmental or international organization, including planning and organizing meetings, dealing with high-ranking/senior official is required.
• Experience in political analysis and diplomacy, or related field, at the international level is required
• Experience in follow-up and implementation of resolutions from high level governing bodies is desirable.
• Experience in managing complex crisis, involving a wide array of national and international stakeholders is desirable.
• Experience devising political strategies for senior-level officials is desirable.
• Experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.