Senior Economic Affairs Officer, P5

Senior Economic Affairs Officer, P5

UN ECLAC - Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean

Santiago, Chile

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Unit of Innovation and New Technologies, Division of Production, Productivity and Management. The Chief of Unit of Innovation and New Technologies reports to the Chief of the Division.

Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of the Chief of the Division, the Chief of Unit of Innovation and New Technologies will be responsible for the following duties:

Economic or sectoral analysis

• Leads or participates in the formulation, organization and management of mandated programmes of industrial, sectoral and technological analysis and the formulation of strategies, policies and actions for adoption by countries, regions or the international community.
• Leads or participates in the identification of new or emerging development issues of potential concern to the Latin American and Caribbean region and the international community and designs and develops programmes to address them.
• Supervises a team of staff economists undertaking this work.
• Commissions economic studies and analyses that cannot be undertaken internally.
• Conceives, plans and manages expert group meetings, seminars and similar consultations that contribute to the finalization of the work unit’s outputs.
• inalizes reports on development for issuance by the United Nations.
• Prepares speeches for senior staff and makes presentations on economic issues for specialist or non-specialist audiences.

Intergovernmental support

• Provides direct substantive support on development issues to intergovernmental bodies (such as the General Assembly, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the Economic and Social Council, the Trade and Development Board, the regional commissions and the subsidiary bodies of each) by offering strategic advice, giving technical guidance and assisting in developing a consensus.
• Manages the work unit’s contribution to the preparation and management of meetings of intergovernmental bodies.
• Represents the organizational unit at international, regional and national meetings on development issues.

Technical cooperation

• Develops and maintains relations with senior officials of member governments and ensures a response to requests for advice and/or assistance on economic issues and policies.
• Negotiates with donor and recipient governments on technical assistance programmes and projects.
• Organizes and coordinates cooperation among Member States on economic programmes or issues.
• Leads or participates in technical cooperation missions.

Programme support

• Functions as the head of an organizational unit.
• Contributes to the formulation of the medium-term plan, the programme of work and the budget of the unit and participate in the formulation of the organization's overall programme of work and other similar endeavours.
• Attends to various administrative matters concerning the Division.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Competencies

• PROFESSIONALISM: Ability to apply economic theories and concepts in industrial, sectoral and technological analyses and policies for sustainable development. Ability to conduct independent research on economic topics, determine suitability, validity and accuracy of data provided by different sources. Ability to develop economic policies and make recommendations on their implementation. 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 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.
• TEAMWORK: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
• 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.
• BUILDING TRUST: Provides an environment in which others can talk and act without fear of repercussion; manages in a deliberate and predictable way; operates with transparency; has no hidden agenda; places confidences in colleagues, staff members and clients; gives proper credit to theirs; follows through on agreed upon actions; treats sensitive or confidential information appropriately.

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in economics or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

• A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in economic research and analysis, policy formulation, application of economic principles in development programmes or related area.
• Experience in conducting economic research and policy formulation in the fields of industrial, sectoral and technological development is required.
• Experience in conducting research in the field of economics on Latin America and the Caribbean region is required.
• Experience participating in technical cooperation in the area of economics in Latin America and the Caribbean region is desirable.
• Experience providing support on development issues to intergovernmental bodies, such as the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, is desirable.
• Experience supervising and coordinating the work of a team of economists is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in Spanish and English is required.

NOTE: ‘’Fluency’’ equals a rating of ‘’fluent’’ in all four areas (speak, read, write, and understand)

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