Lead Technical Editor for the Update of the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting Central Framework

Organizational Context

The United Nations Secretariat, Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), Statistics Division (UNSD), is undertaking an update of the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting (SEEA) Central Framework. This update aims to align the SEEA with recent developments in statistical standards and policy needs, such as climate change and biodiversity. The role of Lead Technical Editor is home-based and expected to last for 7 months.

Job Purpose

The Lead Technical Editor will provide editorial oversight and technical leadership for the update of the SEEA Central Framework. This involves ensuring consistency and coherence across updated recommendations, drafting and revising Guidance Notes on specific issues, and contributing to technical discussions within task teams and the UNCEEA Technical Committee. The role is crucial for synthesizing feedback from global consultations and proposing edits for the final updated framework, ensuring it meets evolving user needs and reflects current statistical standards. The consultant will play a key part in preparing the updated framework for submission to the UN Statistical Commission.

Responsibilities

Provide editorial oversight and technical leadership for the SEEA Central Framework update process, ensuring accuracy, coherence, and consistency. Draft and finalize technical Guidance Notes on selected issues, incorporating feedback from task teams and the UNCEEA Technical Committee. Review, revise, and redraft Guidance Notes authored by others to ensure consistency and readiness for global consultations. Participate in and contribute to meetings of task teams and the UNCEEA Technical Committee, offering technical advice and ensuring conceptual coherence. Analyze and summarize feedback from global consultations on Guidance Notes, identifying outstanding issues and developing preliminary recommendations for the updated framework. Draft summary reports on substantive feedback from global consultations and prepare technical notes and presentations for outreach activities.

Work Experience

A minimum of twenty-five years of progressively responsible experience in government, UN system, NGO, or consultancy is required. Essential experience includes national accounting, environment statistics, or environmental-economic accounts, as well as providing technical assistance and drafting international technical guidance. Experience with compiling environmental-economic accounts is desirable.

Skills

Professionalism, Planning & Organizing, Judgement and decision making, Technical advice, Methodology development, Statistical capabilities and standards, Data analysis and interpretation, Meeting commitments and deadlines, Persistence, Calmness under stress, Goal setting, Prioritization, Resource allocation, Risk assessment, Monitoring and adjusting plans, Efficient time management, Problem-solving, Information gathering, Decision-making, Fluency in English (written and spoken).

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