Principal Economic Affairs Officer, New York, United States

organizational setting and reporting

this position is located in the strategic planning and communications service (spcs) in the office of the under-secretary-general of the department of economic and social affairs (desa). The incumbent is responsible for leading the work of spcs, including the formulation of policies and strategies in the areas of thought leadership, strategic planning, communications and ict governance, as well as representation of the department in relevant secretariat policy and normative bodies.

The incumbent reports to the chief of office of the under-secretary-general.

the incumbent is responsible for the following duties:

• supports the under-secretary-general and the assistant secretaries-general in defining the department’s strategic priorities, and in coordinating and delivering shared goals for the department.
• leads, supervises and carries out the work programme of the service under his/her responsibility. Co-ordinates the work carried out by different work units under the service; provides programmatic/substantive reviews of the drafts prepared by others.
• support senior management in the thought leadership and analytical work of the department, act as the secretary of the editorial board and the high-level advisory board on economic and social affairs.
• strengthens the collaboration of desa divisions to more effectively address new and emerging challenges and enhance foresight, especially on cross-cutting issues.
• promotes strategic integration and policy coherence, including collaborative work with other secretariat entities in the economic and social fields to better meet intergovernmental mandates and emerging challenges.
• provides strategic direction and authoritative oversight of analytical work, ensuring that publications and policy briefs are substantively robust, methodologically sound, and aligned with mandated priorities and organizational objectives.
• reviews and validates analyses and reports, ensuring accuracy, coherence, and strategic relevance, and advises on necessary revisions to strengthen policy messaging and alignment with the department’s vision and goals.
• oversees the preparation of the department’s annual plan of action and performance reports in consultation with the all divisions and offices.
• ensures that the department’s publications and policy briefs are substantively robust, methodologically sound, coherent and strategically relevant; advises on necessary revisions to strengthen policy messaging and alignment with the department’s vision and goals.
• serves as the focal point for the work of the department related to the executive committee of the secretary-general, and the executive committee on economic and social affairs.
• oversees the preparation and implementation of the department’s strategic communications plan as well as the creation, production and dissemination of public information outreach materials, including through digital campaigning, social media channels and platforms.
• guides the preparation and implementation of the departmental ict strategy; act as the secretary to the departmental steering committee on ict and its working groups; ensures departmental compliance with ict policies and directives.
• undertakes or oversees the programmatic/administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of the service, including preparation of budgets, reporting on budget/programme performance, securing extrabudgetary resources and managing related projects, evaluation of staff performance (pas), interviews of candidates for job openings, evaluation of candidates and preparation of inputs for results-based budgeting.
• recruit staff, taking due account of geographical balance.
• manages, guides, develops and trains staff under his/her supervision.
• fosters teamwork and communication among staff in the service and across organizational boundaries.
• leads and supervises the organization of meetings, seminars, etc. On economic and social issues; manages the substantive preparation and organization of such meetings or seminars.
• represents the service at internal and external meetings and conferences, and, as required, on other matters.

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