Associate Advisor for Culture and Governing Bodies (Paris, France) contract

Post Number : CAB 013

Grade : P-2

Parent Sector : Office of the Director-General (CAB)

Duty Station: Paris

Job Family: Culture

Type of contract : Fixed Term

Duration of contract : 2 years, renewable

Recruitment open to : Internal and external candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 18-OCT-2024

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

The Cabinet of the Director-General is established with the aim to support the Director-General and her Advisors in defining strategic orientations and managing institutional relations, in liaison with UNESCO’s Culture Sector, as well as in relation to UNESCO’s Governing Bodies, in liaison with the Governing Bodies Secretariat. 

Under the overall authority of the Director of the Cabinet and the direct supervision of the Senior Advisor for Governing Bodies and the Culture Advisor in the Cabinet of the Director-General, the incumbent is responsible for providing professional and technical support to the Cabinet’s work related to the Governing Bodies and to the Culture Sector.

He/She will: 

• Review and analyze requests, incoming and outgoing documents and reports submitted to the Cabinet pertaining to the Governing Bodies and to the Culture Sector’s areas, identifying in these documents critical elements that should be highlighted for the attention of the supervisors in the Cabinet of the Director-General; obtaining additional information or clarification from the Sectors when necessary; preparing recommendations for the Advisors’ consideration.
• Support the supervisors in carrying out research and consultations in preparation of the Director-General’s meetings with personalities in the Governing Bodies and to the Culture Sector’s domains and ensuring that appropriate follow-up action is taken by the sectors concerned.
• Provide input to the Advisor to the Culture Sector in the Cabinet for the Director-General’s public statements/communications on Culture issues upon request. 
• Support the Culture Advisor in reviewing documents submitted by the Culture Sector for the Governing Bodies; draft related working documents and briefing notes. 
• Support the Senior Advisor on Governing Bodies related matters in coordinating the preparation of UNESCO’s Governing Bodies meetings with the other advisors in the Cabinet and liaising with the Governing Bodies Secretariat in this regard; provide analytical support in the drafting of related working documents and briefing notes and undertake preliminary revision of documents to be submitted to the Executive Board and General Conference.
• In the context of the engagement of UNESCO with the Brazilian presidency of the G20, and with the following presidencies of the forum, coordinate the contribution of the Organization to the G20, notably by ensuring appropriate follow-up with the relevant sectors within UNESCO and field offices and support UNESCO’s G20 Sherpa and Senior advisor in this process. 

Education

• Advanced University degree (Master’s or equivalent) in the field of international relations, international law, political or social science, or a related area.

Work Experience

• A minimum of two (2) years of relevant professional experience in the fields of international relations and culture or dealing with intergovernmental organs within the United Nations system or similar organizations, of which preferably one (1) year acquired at international level.
• Experience in providing advice to Senior Management.

Skills/Competencies

• Very good knowledge and understanding of UNESCO’s programmes in its various fields of competence and of the approved programme priorities.
• Proven ability to identify emerging trends, needs and priorities of the Culture Sector and ability to articulate a variety of issues with the Organizations’ priorities.
• Very good knowledge and understanding of international instances, such as the G20. 
• Ability to take initiative and to handle assignments, working with a fairly high degree of independence in collecting evidence, synthesizing and analysing information from various sources for review by the Senior Advisor and the Culture Advisor on various matters related to the Governing Bodies and Culture areas.
• Solid written and oral communication skills with proven ability to prepare and draft clear concise working documents and briefing notes; Ability to present and discuss findings on issues in the area of culture clearly and concisely.
• Excellent organizational, coordination and interpersonal skills including the ability to interact with a wide range of stakeholders within and outside of the Organization and the ability to work in a team and to maintain effective working relationships in a multicultural environment.
• Ability to prioritize work to meet tight deadlines, to manage heavy workloads and to work under pressure.
• Strong sense of ethics, integrity, tact, discretion and diplomacy. 

Languages

• Excellent knowledge (written and spoken) of English and French.

Work Experience

• Previous work experience within UNESCO, or in another UN agency, in a relevant context.
• Experience in engaging with the G20 process.

Skills/Competencies

• Familiarity with the activities of UNESCO’s Governing Bodies.   
• Familiarity with the work and general functioning of international organizations and/or the UN System.

Languages

• Knowledge of other official UNESCO languages (Arabic, Chinese, Russian and/or Spanish).