Org. Setting and Reporting

The post is located in the Dangerous Goods Section, Sustainable Transport Division of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) in Geneva. The Sustainable Transport Division works to facilitate the international movement of persons and goods by inland transport modes and to improve competitiveness, safety, energy efficiency, environmental performance and security in inland transport and to contribute effectively to sustainable development. The incumbent reports directly to the Chief of the Sustainable Transport Division.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties: 1. Provides leadership, co-ordination and supervision of the work of the professional and general service staff members of the Section, who: (a) Are responsible for or provide support to the servicing of the following intergovernmental bodies: Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods and on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals of the Economic and Social Council and its two sub-Committees; Inland Transport Committee; Working Party on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, Joint Meeting of the RID Safety Committee and of the Working Party on the Transport of Dangerous Goods; ADN Safety Committee; ADN Administrative Committee. (b) Write and prepare documentation for meetings. (c) Draft, compile and edit technical and legal texts relating to the conditions of transport of Dangerous goods (hazard classification, labelling, documentation, packing standards, construction and operation of vehicles, containers, tank-containers, etc.); arrange those texts in the form of legislative texts for national law or international agreements; preparing corresponding depositary notifications for circulation by the Office of Legal Affairs, prepare revised editions of recurrent United Nations sales publications (every two years) (in English and/or French): United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, Model Regulations; United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, Manual of Tests and Criteria, Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals, Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR), and European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Inland Waterways (ADN). 2. Leads the secretarial work of the intergovernmental bodies: (a) acts as Secretary of the Economic and Social Council’s Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods and on the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals, and its Sub-Committee of Experts on the Transport of Dangerous Goods; (b) acts as Secretary of the Joint Meeting of the RID Safety Committee and of the UNECE Working Party on the Transport of Dangerous Goods; (c) acts as Secretary of the ADN Safety Committee and ADN Administrative Committee. In this capacity: - Writes and prepares documentation for meetings; - Reviews or writes summary reports on the debates and submits the final reports to the Economic and Social Council or to the ECE Inland Transport Committee; - Is in charge of the organization and preparation of the meetings of these bodies; - Organises the follow-up activities resulting from decisions of the ECOSOC or of the Inland Transport Committee. 3. Participates in activities of other sections and other organizations, and seeks cooperation of Governments: (a) At ECE level: - To ensure harmonization of the various national or international instruments dealing with the transport of dangerous goods; - To implement the work of the Working Party on the Transport of Dangerous Goods in all countries of the ECE and beyond; (b) At worldwide level: - To promote the implementation of the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods and of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals; - To ensure an effective follow-up to the implementation of chapter 19 of UNCED Agenda 21, as well as of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development in relation to SDGs 2, 3, 8, 11, 12 and 14. 4. Represents the ECE secretariat at relevant conferences and meetings convened by specialized agencies, and governmental and non-governmental organizations. 5. Advises the Director of the Division on the political, legal and technical aspects of the areas of responsibility of the post as well as of other areas of international transport. 6. Performs other related duties as required.

Competencies

Professionalism: Expert knowledge in the transport of dangerous goods area. Ability to produce reports and papers on technical issues and to review and edit the work of others. Ability to apply UN rules, regulations, policies and guidelines in work situations. 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. Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments. Delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards. Operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules. Supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments. Takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable. 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. 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.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in transport, chemistry, physics, engineering, industrial safety management, economics, international law or related field is required. A first level university degree in the specified fields of studies with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Job - Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

At least ten years of experience linked to transport of dangerous goods or related regulations in a Government department and /or in international organization is required. Experience in drafting summary reports of meetings and preparing texts for publication is required. Experience in servicing or participating in meetings of intergovernmental bodies dealing with transport regulations is required. At least five years of experience of managing teams in an international context is desirable. Experience in drafting legal texts is desirable.

Languages

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice

At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Staff members of the United Nations Secretariat must fulfil the lateral move requirements to be eligible to apply for this vacancy. Staff members are requested to indicate all qualifying lateral moves in their Administrative Profile (AP) and cover letter. For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or under-represented in the UN Secretariat as of 30 November 2025, are strongly encouraged to apply:Andorra, Angola,Belize, Brunei Darussalam,China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea,Grenada, Guinea-Bissau,Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Libya, Liechtenstein, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Nauru, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu,Germany,San Marino,Russian Federation.

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. All external candidates recruited in accordance with section ‎2.2 (a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2. (c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.