View Vacancy - Programme Manager and Policy Adviser
An exciting and challenging opportunity to work at the UK Mission to the United Nations and help implement UK policy on international development at the United Nations at a time when the international community is focussed on delivering the Sustainable Development Goals. The postholder will lead for the UK on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) at the UN, and manage our institutional relationship, programme and policy engagement with two UN agencies - UNFPA and UN-Women.
The successful candidate will join a busy team that leads on international development, health and climate change at the UN, including the UK’s relations with the Development Funds and Programmes. The successful candidate will work primarily with the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID), but will also have the opportunity to work across UK government departments. This role will work with senior officials and ministers and will speak on behalf of the UK at the UN. As well as being part of the UK Mission, this position will also be a full member of DFID’s United Nations and Commonwealth Department, a global team headquartered in Scotland.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
- Build and maintain up-to-date understanding of UK priorities and Member States positions on SRHR, family planning, and gender equality, influencing a wide network of key contacts on these issues amongst Member States, the UN system and NGOs
- Manage effective relationships between the UK, UNFPA and UN Women, to ensure efficient and effective use of UK financial contributions and to achieve UK policy objectives
- Contribute to the delivery of improved strategic and performance management (results reporting and human resource management), cost and value consciousness and contribution to results for UNFPA and UN-Women.
- Work with policy managers in DFID and the UK Mission to develop policy positions in relation to the agencies and to family planning and gender equality more broadly, including helping to shape UNFPA and UN-Women’s contribution to implementing the Sustainable Development Goals and the Secretary-General’s Development Reform agenda.
- Represent the UK and negotiate on its behalf at the UNFPA Executive Boards and the UN Women Executive Boards to deliver UK priorities on oversight, accountability, transparency and programme effectiveness.
- Represent the UK and negotiate on its behalf at the Commission on Population and Development, and other international development fora as needed.
- Represent the UK on relevant development policy issues in EU, General Assembly and ECOSOC negotiations
- Prepare statements, briefs and reporting on SRHR, UNFPA, UN-Women and wider UN development issues, including gender equality as needed.
- Provide effective and efficient programme management of the UK’s annual core contribution of £20 million to UNFPA and £12.5 million to UN-Women according to DFID’s requirements, including contributing to annual reviews and project completion reports, results monitoring, and contributing to business cases for future funding,
- Assist and advise government ministers and officials visiting New York, including support to UKMIS activities and planning for High-Level Week at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in September each year.
- Play an active part as a member of DFID’s United Nations and Commonwealth Department, including contributing to team meetings and events. You may be required, on occasion, to travel to Scotland and London.
- Provide assistance to other members of the UK Mission and DFID.
- Perform other duties as required and work flexibly, adjusting to changing priorities as needed
- Excellent negotiation, influencing and communication skills, including written communications, in English
- Ability to deliver high quality results on multiple areas of work to tight deadlines
- Some familiarity with governance functions such as audit and oversight, results-based management, evaluation, or budgets
- An understanding of international development, the Sustainable Development Goals, and the Secretary-General’s UN Reform agenda.
- Some programme management experience
Under US State Department requirements, the Mission may only employ, as non-diplomatic staff, persons who are US citizens, US Green Card holders or G visa holders*. If you hold a visa other than a G visa you are not currently eligible to work at the Mission. Please refer to our website for information on exceptions to this policy at www.gov.uk/world/usa.
*A visas are acceptable at the Embassy and Consulates. The UK Mission to the UN (UKMIS) accepts G visas, and British Defence Staff (BDS) outposts accept A or NATO visas.
- Knowledge and understanding of the UN and development system
- Understanding of Member State Permanent Missions and how they interact with the UN
- Previous experience of development work in a developing country
- Familiarity of working in public service, particularly the UK civil service
- A degree in one of the following disciplines, or any other related field: Economics, Political Science, Social Science, Law, International Development, or Gender Studies.
The British Embassy Network offers a strong benefits package. This package includes medical, dental, vision, life, long term and short term disability insurance, a 401(k) retirement savings plan, generous vacation and leave time, and an enriching training package. The Embassy offers these benefits to all regular US Locally Engaged Staff who work a minimum of 30 hours per week
Individuals who are Green Card holders, UK/US dual citizens, and non US taxpaying citizens will be paid a net salary based on a simulated US tax status.
Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy are subject to terms and conditions of service according to local American employment law.
Resume and a cover letter should be submitted by 15 July 2018. Please identify in your cover letter whether you are currently eligible to work at the Embassy. Internal candidates must inform their Head of Group before applying.
Only successful candidates will be contacted. Please no phone calls. Due to the high volume of resumes we receive, we cannot guarantee consideration of your application if the submission instructions are not properly followed.
We welcome candidates of any race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity, disability, age, or any other category. The Mission is committed to building a diverse environment. UKMIS New York prides itself on upholding the principles of diversity and inclusion and providing equal opportunities for all.
We strive to nurture a diverse workforce by promoting policies that emphasize fairness, transparency, creativity and a comfortable and safe working environment in which individual differences are respected and the contributions of all staff are recognized and valued. The Mission values honesty, integrity, professionalism, and teamwork. Treating all colleagues with respect is fundamental. We have a zero tolerance policy towards bullying, harassment and discrimination. We want staff to express themselves freely, to think creatively and to feel free to challenge policy perspectives constructively. The Mission supports the professional learning and development of all colleagues.
This opportunity is closed to applications.
