The UN/UNDP Brussels Representation Office has a coordinating role in leading the UN Brussels Team (UNBT) and supporting the broader UN system to maintain, nurture and develop the UN strategic partnership with the European Union (EU). In recent years, this partnership has gained in intensity as has the UNBT’s role in projecting a unitary UN image to its partners. The UNBT today is constituted by 28 resident agencies, funds, programmes and other entities and 3 virtual members connecting from other capitals with the possibility of more to come. The UN/UNDP office also provides logistical and strategic support to UN and UNDP headquarters, country representatives and other non-resident UN entities.

The UN Coordination Specialist will work under the guidance and direct supervision of the Director of the UN/UNDP Brussels Representation Office and Representative of the UN System in the EU. The incumbent will ensure overall coordination support to the efficient functioning of the Director’s Office in their capacity as UN Director. This will include bringing together the different UN entities at different levels to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the UN-EU strategic partnership. The incumbent will additionally provide support in the analysis of global (development and humanitarian) policies of mutual UN-EU interest, including the coordination of inputs into substantial UN contributions to EU policy initiatives, and promote smooth information flows between the UNBT and the EU institutions. Promoting a client-oriented approach, the UN Coordination Specialist will work in close collaboration with the DCO Senior Programme Manager working in the UN Director’s office, the UNBT and the various units of the UN/UNDP Brussels Representation Office (Deputy Director, Operations, Programme, Bureaux and Projects).

The UN Coordination Specialist must be very self-motivated, with the capacity to take initiatives and work independently with an innovative approach to problem-solving. With excellent communications and diplomatic skills, s/he should be able to work concurrently on multiple activities, observing priorities and deadlines to deliver required results.

• Implement activities of joint UN-EU interest, in line with the outcomes of the yearly High-Level Dialogue between the EU and the UN as well as priorities identified by the UNBT and UN/UNDP Director.
• Track EU and UN policy developments relevant to the UN and keep the UN system regularly informed.
• Support and advise the UN Director and UN entities in their engagement with the EU institutions.
• Identify and recommend actions for enhancing inter-agency coordination, initiating and providing support in the implementation of inter-agency joint actions agreed upon by the UNBT.
• Organize dialogues and consultations between the UN system and the EU to advance common priorities, particularly to contribute to shaping EU policies and programmes.
• Conduct research and write briefings on EU institutions and relevant policies; provide support in the preparation of information and advocacy materials in consultation with the UNBT.

Ensures the effective coordination of activities emanating from the Director’s Office regarding inter-agency coordination, focusing on the achievement of the following results: 

• Draft correspondence, briefings and reports for the Director, on all issues relevant to UN-EU coordination; facilitate the circulation of incoming/outgoing UNBT communications, ensuring adherence to appropriate protocol and correspondence guidelines.
• Coordinate the preparation of missions and events in support of UNBT-wide activities; compile and prepare briefings, presentation materials and background information for identified UNBT missions.
• Provide support in the organization of UNBT Agency Heads’ meetings and yearly retreats, circulating information as required, ensuring that relevant parties are kept informed of activities, initiatives and requests, and facilitating any necessary follow-up action.
• Track and report on UNBT cost-shared budgeted activities.

Institutional Arrangement

The UN Coordination Specialist will perform their duties under the direct supervision of the UN/UNDP Director, working in close collaboration with the UNBT, the DCO Senior Programme Manager in the Director’s Office and the various units within the UN/UNDP Brussels Representation Offices (Directorate, Operations, Programmes, Bureaux and Projects).

• Excellent coordination, analytical, reporting and drafting skills.
• Ability to plan, prioritize and deliver tasks on time.
• Strong interpersonal and networking skills, and proven capacity to coordinate consultative processes, work with and maintain good working relations with partners.
• Initiative-taking with ability to work effectively under pressure and adapt to change; proven problem-solving abilities.
• Effective participation in team-based, information-sharing environment, collaborating with others.
• Sound knowledge of work and mandates of the UN System, UNDP and the EU institutions.
• Experience in the usage of computers and office software packages (Office, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc).

• Fluency in English (written and spoken).
• Knowledge of French an advantage.

Travel:
UNDP will cover the cost of travel of the individual to the duty station, as well as their return to their home upon completion of their services. Travel costs are covered only in the event that the function will be undertaken physically in the duty station and excludes working from home arrangements.

The following documents shall be required from the applicants:
a) Personal CV or P11, indicating all past positions held and their main underlying functions, their durations (month/year), the qualifications, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate, and at least three (3) the most recent professional references of previous supervisors. References may also include peers.
b) A cover letter (maximum length: 1 page) indicating why the candidate considers him-/herself to be suitable for the position.
c) Managers may ask (ad hoc) for any other materials relevant to pre-assessing the relevance of their experience, such as reports, presentations, publications, campaigns or other materials.