Org. Setting and Reporting

In its Resolution A/RES/72/279, the United Nations General Assembly endorsed the transformation of the Development Operations Coordination Office (DCO) as a stand-alone coordination office within the United Nations Secretariat. DCO exercises managerial and oversight functions of the Resident Coordinator (RC) system under the collective ownership of the members of the United Nations Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG). In 2026, DCO undertook a comprehensive organizational recalibration to ensure the RC system remains optimally configured to support the acceleration of the 2030 Agenda in its final years. This recalibration is aligned with the Secretary-General’s UN 80 initiative, reinforcing accountability, transparency and performance credibility of the Resident Coordinator system, and fully embodies the UN 2.0 shift—anchored in data, digital, innovation, behavioral science, strategic foresight, and a mission-driven organizational culture. The Director of Strategic Partnerships and Engagement Division reports to the Assistant Secretary-General (ASG)/Director, Development Coordination Office (DCO), under the overall leadership of the Chair of the UNSDG/Deputy Secretary-General. a. In line with the ongoing recalibration of DCO, this position is expected to serve as one of two Deputy Directors of DCO and may act as Officer in Charge, during the absence of the ASG. The Director leads the Strategic Partnerships and Engagement Division, guiding engagement with Member States and UN system entities and overseeing the RC system’s strategic partnerships and communications. As a member of the Senior Leadership team, the Director works in close coordination with the Office of the ASG, the Director of the Policy, Programme and Data Division, and with DCO’s Regional Directors. In addition, s/he is expected to work closely with the Chief of the RC Leadership Branch, as well as with the UN Secretariat OneEO.

Responsibilities

The Director provides strategic vision, leadership, and oversight to the Division, which includes: a) the Intergovernmental Relations Section, b) the Strategic Communications and Information Integrity Section, c) the Partnerships and Resource Mobilization Section and d) the Fund Coordination Service. The Director enabling effective partnerships with UN entities, guiding DCO’s engagement on pooled funds with close collaboration with the Director of the Policy, Programme and Data Division to ensure coherence. Within delegated authority, the Director will be responsible for the following: • Intergovernmental Relations Ensures that DCO’s engagement with Member States and partners advances UN reform priorities and demonstrates measurable value-for-money and system-wide impact of the Resident Coordinator system. • Oversees and directs the Intergovernmental Relations Section, in close collaboration with DCO Regional Offices, including for follow-up with specific countries or regions. • Manages engagement with interagency and intergovernmental bodies, including the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budget Questions, Administrative and Budgetary Committee (Fifth Committee), the Operational Activities Segment of the Economic and Social Council, the General Assembly and other policy-making organs, and provides inputs to associated reporting • Provides regular strategic analysis and advice to the ASG on emerging dynamics affecting the RC system’s mandate, funding and positioning within intergovernmental processes. Partnerships, Resource Mobilization, and Fund Coordination • Engages in external relations and advocacy on behalf of DCO and the RC system, working with partner offices across the UN system, including the UN Office in Brussels for effective RC system engagement with the European Union. • Cultivates and strategic partnerships for support to the RC system, engaging with Member States, regional organizations, philanthropic actors, private sector entities and civil society. • Provides strategic direction for diversified and innovative funding strategies to sustain and strengthen the resourcing of the Resident Coordinator system, ensuring coherence between different funding streams, and ensuring complementarity of fundraising approaches for RC system-associated pooled funds. • Leads engagement with key external stakeholders to champion pooled funds in line with the Funding Compact and oversees DCO’s engagement with the UNSDG subsidiary bodies on pooled funds. • Throughout, the Director promotes innovative and data-driven approaches, behavioral insights, and strategic foresight as applicable. Strategic Communications and Information Integrity • Oversees DCO’s strategic communications, ensuring coherent alignment with UNSDG system-wide communications platforms, and positioning the RC system’s impact within broader UN development reform narratives, including through evidence-based messaging, digital diplomacy, and targeted outreach. • Oversees DCO’s engagement with the Department for Global Communications and the UN Communications Group. • Supports the Director in leading the global positioning of the Resident Coordinator system, ensuring that DCO’s communications articulate reform rationale, measurable results and institutional added value under UN reform, strengthening Member State confidence and safeguarding multilateral credibility. • Ensures the development and dissemination of high-impact narrative and evidence-based products that demonstrate system-wide results, value-for-money and reform alignment of the RC system. • Harnesses UN 2.0 capabilities, including behavioral insights, digital monitoring and proactive narrative positioning to mitigate misinformation risks affecting sustainable development and the UN’s credibility. Division Management • Oversees preparation and management of Division work-plans, budgets, programme performance reviews, evaluations, and results-based budgeting inputs. • Leads recruitment and talent management within the Division (in collaboration with One EO), advancing UN values, gender parity, geographical diversity, and a culture of collaboration. • Manages, guides, develops and trains staff under his/her supervision. • Fosters teamwork and communication among staff in the division and across organizational boundaries. • Collaborates effectively with all senior managers and ensures the effective collaboration of the Division with all relevant counterparts. • Ensures effective knowledge management and stewardship of relevant communities of practice. Deputy Director, DCO • Serves as Deputy to the ASG, and a core member of the leadership team together with the Director of the Policy, Programme and Data Division, supporting the ASG’s leadership of the RC system. • Represents DCO in high-level international, regional and national forums, advancing the RC system’s strategic priorities. • Fosters cross-DCO teamwork and shared accountability for UN 2.0 leadership delivery, ensuring that transformation initiatives are collaboratively owned across policy, partnerships, communications and digital functions. • Liaises with EOSG as required. • Acts as Officer-in-Charge when required. • Performs other related duties, as required, to advance DCO’s mandate for SDG acceleration in an evolving global development landscape.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of the substantive field of work on Intergovernmental Affairs, external engagement and strategic communications, in general and of specific areas being supervised. Shows ability to produce reports and papers on technical issues and to review and edit the work of others. Shows 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. Demonstrates deep understanding of the political economy of multilateral financing and partnerships for sustainable development. 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. 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. Demonstrates the ability to operate effectively in complex political environments, integrating strategic communications, resource mobilization and intergovernmental engagement to advance institutional reform objectives. JUDGEMENT/DECISION-MAKING: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in international relations or public administration, law, social sciences, or a related area, 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.

Job - Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

At least fifteen (15) years of progressively responsible experience in sustainable development cooperation, including experience at the international level in strategic partnerships and external relations, is required. At least ten (10) years serving in field-based leadership positions in-country and/or regionally (outside of the candidate's country of origin) is required. Experience in senior leadership representational role and managing large multicultural teams is required. Experience of strategic resource mobilization, fundraising and nurturing/creating innovative multi-sectoral partnerships and investment coalitions for sustainable development is required. At least five (5) years of intergovernmental or diplomatic representation experience at the international level is desirable. Experience in leading interagency collaboration through participation in UN development system coordination or equivalent at the HQ, regional or country level is desirable. Demonstrated experience communications at the regional or country level is desirable.

Languages

Assessment

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

Special Notice

This position is available for 364 days. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Internal Applicants: When completing the form, ensure ALL fields, ALL professional experience and contact information are completed and up to date. This information is the basis for the hiring manager to assess your eligibility and suitability for the position and to contact you. Individual contractors and consultants (Non-Staff Personnel) who have worked within the UN Secretariat in the last six months, irrespective of the administering entity, are ineligible to apply for professional and higher temporary or fixed-term positions and their applications will not be considered. 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. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. All applicants are strongly encouraged to apply on-line as soon as possible after the job opening has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the job opening. Online applications will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided. If you do not receive an email acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. In such cases, please resubmit the application, if necessary. If the problem persists, please seek technical assistance through the Inspira "Need Help?" link. NOTE: While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post. Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station. This temporary job opening may be limited to "internal candidates," who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15. Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation. Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as "retirement." Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service.

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.