Senior Economic Affairs Officer, Debt Management (Temporary Job Opening) – UNCTAD jobs in Switzerland

Within delegated authority, the duties of the Senior Economic Affairs Officer are: Economic or sectoral analysis • Leads or participates in the formulation, organization and management of mandated programmes of economic analysis and the formulation of possible economic strategies, policies and actions for adoption by the international community, in particular in the areas of external and domestic debt issues (both private and public), development finance, global financial markets and governance structures, and their macroeconomic and developmental policy implications. • Leads or participates in the identification of new or emerging debt and development issues of potential concern to the international community, particularly those of a regional or global nature, and designs and develops programmes to address them. • Supervises a team of staff economists undertaking this work. • Commissions economic studies and analyses that cannot be undertaken internally. • Conceives, plans and manages expert group meetings, seminars and similar consultations that contribute to the finalization of the branch’s outputs. • Finalizes reports on debt and development finance for issuance by the United Nations. • Prepares speeches for senior staff and makes presentations on economic issues for specialist or non-specialist audiences. Intergovernmental support • Provides direct substantive support on development issues to intergovernmental bodies (such as the General Assembly, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the Economic and Social Council, the Trade and Development Board, the regional commissions and the subsidiary bodies of each) by offering strategic advice, giving technical guidance and assisting in developing a consensus. • Manages the work unit’s contribution to the preparation and management of meetings of intergovernmental bodies. • Represents the organizational unit at international, regional and national meetings on development issues. Technical cooperation • Develops and maintains relations with senior officials of member governments and ensures a response to requests for advice and/or assistance in the area of debt and development finance. • Negotiates with donor and recipient governments on technical assistance programmes and projects. • Organizes and coordinates cooperation among Member States on economic programmes or issues. • Leads or participates in technical cooperation missions. Programme support • Functions as a team leader. • Contributes to the formulation of the medium-term plan, the programme of work and the budget of the unit and participate in the formulation of the organization’s overall programme of work and other similar endeavours. • Attends to various administrative matters concerning the larger organizational unit (Branch or Division). • Performs other related duties as required.

Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in economics or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in economic research and analysis, policy formulation, application of economic principles in development programmes or related area is required. Experience in evaluation and application of debt and financial sustainability models to developing countries is desirable. Previous experience in providing policy advice in developing countries is desirable.

Fluency in English (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.