Principal Coordination Officer Job Vacancy at UN-Habitat

United Nations Jobs, UN-Habitat Jobs, UN Jobs,

• Job Opening ID: 258597
• Job Network : Economic, Social and Development
• Job Family : Programme Management
• Category and Level : Professional and Higher Categories, D-1
• Duty Station : NAIROBI
• Department/Office : United Nations Human Settlements Programme
• Date Posted : Jun 23, 2025
• Deadline : Jul 6, 2025

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Org. Setting and Reporting

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities. UN-Habitat is the focal point for all urbanization and human settlement matters within the UN system. UN-Habitat works with partners to build inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities and communities. UN-Habitat promotes urbanization as a positive transformative force for people and communities, reducing inequality, discrimination and poverty.

The position is located in the External Relations, Strategy, Knowledge and Innovation Division (ERSKI) of UN-Habitat in Nairobi. ERSKI is responsible for corporate strategic planning, monitoring and reporting on global urban trends and conditions, global advocacy, communications and partnerships as well as digital urban innovation. The Division is responsible for leading the development of UN-Habitat’s flagship report, the gathering and reporting on global urban data, and the production of cutting-edge knowledge and innovation on cities, as well as digital solutions for sustainable urban development. The Division leads the preparation of the World Urban Forum every two years, established by the UN General Assembly in 2001 as a global platform convening experts and stakeholders on sustainable urban development. The position is reporting directly to the Director, ERSKI.

Responsibilities: Principal Coordination Officer

Under the overall supervision of the Director of ERSKID, the Principal Coordination Officer, will perform the following:

• – Oversees the preparation of UN-Habitat’s biennial flagship report, the World Cities Report, assessing global state of urban development, to be launched at the World Urban Forum
• – Coordinates UN-Habitat’s global urban monitoring and reporting through data and statistical programs aligned with SDG 11 and the New Urban Agenda including through partnerships at the World Urban Forum
• – Coordinates and delivers the implementation of a corporate data strategy to implement UN-Habitat’s strategic plan across Divisions and teams
• – Manages a global data coalition of partners for strengthening urban monitoring and reporting under the World Urban Forum – Oversees the preparation of the periodic global assessment of progress with SDG 11 in collaboration with relevant UN entities
• – Coordinates UN-Habitat’s innovation and smart cities deliverables aligned with UN-Habitat’s strategic plan
• – Ensures that the research, data and innovation outputs produced by ERSKID maintain high-quality standards; that reports are clear, objective and based on comprehensive data
• – Leads the Quadrennial report of the UN Secretary General on progress with the implementation of the New Urban Agenda leveraging also the World Urban Forum
• – Co-ordinates collaboration on research, data and innovation with other agencies and bodies of the United Nations system
• – Co-ordinates and oversees the preparation of reports on research, data and innovation for presentation to the Executive Board of the UN-Habitat Assembly, the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budget Questions, Committee for Programme Coordination, Economic and Social Council, the General Assembly and other policy-making organs, as appropriate
• – Oversees and leads the preparation of research, data and innovation deliverables and initiatives for the World Urban Forum – Undertakes or oversees the programmatic/administrative tasks related to projects, including preparation of budgets, reporting on budget/programme performance, evaluation of staff performance (PAS), interviews of candidates for job openings, evaluation of candidates and preparation of inputs for results-based budgeting
• – Manages, guides, develops and trains staff under his/her supervision within relevant projects and programs – Leads and supervises the organization of meetings, seminars on substantive issues leveraging global platforms like the World Urban Forum. Manages the substantive preparation and organization of such meetings or seminars
• – Participates in international, regional or national meetings and provides programmatic/substantive expertise on an issue or holds programmatic/substantive and organizational discussions with representatives of other institutions
• – Fosters teamwork and communication among staff in relevant projects and programs related to research, data and innovation.
• – Leads team members efforts to collect and analyze data and provides insight to identify trends or patterns for data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. Ensures that everyone can discover, access, integrate and share the data they need.

Competencies: Principal Coordination Officer

Professionalism: Proven knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to urban development. Ability to identify key strategic issues, opportunities and risks. ability 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.

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.

Vision: Identifies strategic issues, opportunities and risks; clearly communicates links between the Organization’s strategy and the work unit’s goals; generates and communicates broad and compelling organizational direction, inspiring others to pursue that same direction; conveys enthusiasm about future possibilities. 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.

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 that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.

Education: Principal Coordination Officer

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in urban planning, economics, public administration, social sciences or related area is required.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is desirable.

Work Experience: Principal Coordination Officer

• A minimum of fifteen (15) years of progressively responsible experience in human resources management, administration, logistics, financial management, budget or related field is required. Experience in leading urban policy research, analysis, and knowledge is desirable.
• Experience in global urban monitoring and reporting is desirable.
• Experience of organizing and/or working with intergovernmental bodies advising on policy trends and best practice innovations is desirable.
• Experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is desirable.

NOTE: “Fluency equals a rating of “fluent” in all four areas (read, write, speak, understand) and “Knowledge of” equals a rating of “confident” in two of the four areas.

Assessment

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

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