Regional Director, Europe and Central Asia

Organizational Context

The UN Secretariat's Development Operations Coordination Office (DCO), transformed by UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/72/279, manages the Resident Coordinator (RC) system. The Regional Director, based in Istanbul, reports to the ASG/Director of UNDCO and leads DCO's regional interface, fostering collaboration across the UN Development System and supporting RC system effectiveness in advancing the 2030 Agenda.

Job Purpose

The Regional Director serves as a strategic leader and thought leader for sustainable development within the Europe and Central Asia region. This role is primarily outward-facing, providing strategic support to Resident Coordinators (RCs) and UN Country Teams (UNCTs) at regional, sub-regional, and country levels. The Director convenes stakeholders, brokers partnerships, and leverages UN 2.0 capabilities like foresight, behavioral science, and data to accelerate SDG achievement. Key functions include leading regional thought leadership, fostering collaboration with regional entities and international financial institutions, developing strategic partnerships, integrating complex development approaches, and coordinating regional communications. The role also involves managing the Regional Office, overseeing its strategy, budget, and operations, and ensuring efficient support to the RC system, including dispute resolution and talent management.

Responsibilities

The Regional Director leads the UNDCO Regional Office, focusing on regional sustainable development thought leadership, partnerships, and convening for SDG impact. This includes developing regional strategies, fostering collaboration with UN entities, regional commissions, and international financial institutions, and building multi-country partnerships. The role involves integrating complex development approaches, applying foresight and risk analytics, and influencing stakeholders using UN 2.0 skills. Responsibilities extend to coordinating regional communications, supporting resource mobilization, and ensuring quality assurance for UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Frameworks. The Director provides strategic guidance to RCs and UNCTs, oversees regional results reporting, and facilitates host government and donor relations. Additionally, the role encompasses corporate management and people leadership, including directing the Regional Office's strategy, budget, and operations, managing staff, promoting digital transformation, and ensuring compliance with UN policies on equality and well-being. The Director also contributes to UNDCO strategy formulation and oversees regional reporting to intergovernmental bodies.

Work Experience

A minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible experience in development cooperation coordination, with at least 10 years in senior leadership roles involving interagency collaboration, is required. This includes 5 years of field experience, demonstrated strategy/policy formulation, and experience in organizational reform/change management. Experience in leading complex units, managing budgets, and working in challenging settings is necessary. Experience with the UN Resident Coordinator system, regional coordination, digital/data/foresight tools, and strategic resource mobilization is desirable.

Skills

Professionalism, Accountability, Client Orientation, Leadership, Judgment/Decision-Making, Strategic Analysis, Partnership Brokering, Development Coordination, Management, Communication, Risk Management, Foresight, Behavioral Science, Data Analysis, Digital Transformation.

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