Org. Setting and Reporting
In its Resolution A/RES/72/279, the United Nations General Assembly endorsed the transformation of the Development Coordination Office (DCO) as a stand-alone coordination office within the United Nations Secretariat.
DCO exercises managerial and oversight functions of the resident coordinator 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 RCS remains optimally configured to support the acceleration of the 2030 Agenda in its final years, and fully embodies the UN 2.0 shift—anchored in data, digital, innovation, behavioral science, strategic foresight, and a mission-driven organizational culture.
The position is located in the United Nations Development Coordination Office (DCO) in New York and reports to the Chief, Complex Settings Support.
The Complex Settings Support Section is one of four teams within the Sustainable Development Goal Coordination, Policy and Programme Division, and is responsible overall for guiding RCs and RCOs on the UN sustainable development offer in complex settings, including crisis and mission contexts.
The team is responsible for the policy interface and collaboration with the UN Peace and Security Pillar, UN humanitarian entities, as well as the Inter-Agency Standing Committee and broader collaboration with humanitarian partners.
The team also oversees support to RCOs on programme criticality, ensuring that UN country teams are well prepared to adapt their operating footprint in the context of rapid change to the development landscape.
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Sustainable Development Officer will be responsible for the following duties: • Develops sustainable development databases and qualitative information required for recurrent or ad-hoc assignments.
• Drafts inputs for technical papers and analytical studies on sustainable development issues.
This includes analytical inputs on sustainable development challenges and opportunities in complex settings, including mission settings, and relating to humanitarian-development-peace cross-pillar linkages.
• Formulates, identifies and analyses proposals on sustainable development issues.
• Attends international, regional, and national meetings for consultations with colleagues in other institutions dealing with sustainable development issues.
Consultations may include relevant UN development, humanitarian and peacebuilding counterparts.
• Assists in the organization and servicing of expert group meetings, seminars, etc. on sustainable development issues.
• Prepares speeches and other inputs for presentations by senior staff on sustainable development issues.
Such inputs may include briefings and key messages for DCO leadership on sustainable development coordination in complex settings.
• Prepares inputs for reports to High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development and other intergovernmental bodies, inter-agency or expert groups on issues relating to sustainable development.
This may include inputs to UN policy and reporting processes relevant to sustainable development in complex settings.
• Follows intergovernmental meetings, prepares summary reports and provides substantive support, as needed.
This may include substantive support to relevant inter-agency consultations and policy forums.
• Participates in missions on sustainable development issues relating to complex countries.
• Organizes training seminars/ workshops on sustainable development issues with a focus on complex countries and cross-pillar collaboration.
• Monitors, backstops and assesses the implementation of capacity building projects in sustainable development.
• Performs other duties as required, including administrative tasks.
• Undertakes on-the-job and other training activities both internally and externally.
• Collects and analyzes data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting Competencies
PROFESSIONALISM:Ability to apply sustainable development theories, concepts and approaches.
Ability to conduct independent research and analysis on sustainable development topics, determine suitability, validity and accuracy of data provided by different sources.
Shows skill in developing sources for data collection.
Able 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.
Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.
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.
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.
Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in sustainable development, economics, public policy, public administration, finance, natural resources management, engineering, law, social sciences or related field.
A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Job - Specific Qualification
Not available. Work Experience
A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in project or programme management, policy-oriented work in a broad range of sustainable development issues is required.
A minimum of 2 years' experience in engaging with development, humanitarian, and peacebuilding cross-pillar work is desirable.
A minimum of two years' experience in drafting briefing papers, reports, and guidance documents is desirable.
Experience working on development, humanitarian and peacebuilding cross-pillar issues in a complex setting is desirable.
Experience working in the United Nations system or a comparable international organization is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat.
For this job opening, English is required.
The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult for details).
Required Languages
LanguageReadingWritingListeningSpeaking
EnglishUN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level II Assessment
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise, which may be followed by competency-based interview. Special Notice
This recruitment and any subsequent appointment remain subject to budgetary, classification, and intergovernmental approvals, including General Assembly approval, as applicable.
Appointment against this post is open for an initial period of one year and may be subject to extension, subject to legislative body funding availability.
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.
Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professionals programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position.
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.
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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 natur