Coordinator, Digital Policies and Trade

Bern | Geneva

Organization: UPU - Universal Postal Union
Location: Bern | Geneva
Grade: Senior level - P-5, International Professional - Internationally recruited position
Occupational Groups:
- Operations and Administrations
- Information Technology and Computer Science
- Sustainable trade and development
- Managerial positions
Closing Date: 2024-02-26

Vacancy Announcement No: UPU/24/P5/FT-C/436

Title: Coordinator, Digital Policies and Trade

Grade: P5

Type of contract: Fixed-term (Core) Appointment

Duration: Three years

Publication Date: 16 January 2024

Application Deadline: 26 February 2024
(35 day(s) until closing deadline)
Currently accepting applications

Organizational Unit: Policy, Regulation and Markets Directorate (DPRM)

Duty Station: Bern Switzerland

Scheduled date for taking up appointment: As soon as possible

Organizational Context:
With its 192 member countries, the Universal Postal Union (UPU), a specialized agency of the United Nations, is the primary forum for cooperation between postal sector players. It helps to ensure a truly universal network of up-to-date products and services.

Main duties:
Under the direction and responsibility of the Director, DPRM:
- Lead, coordinate and provide strategic direction in the themes of digital trade, digital economy and trade inclusion related to the postal sector;
- Lead, coordinate and facilitate the role of the UPU and its members in the UN Information Society and Digital Trade development agenda;
- Represent the UPU at external organizations and events and be an advocate of the UPU's objectives in the areas covered by the position;
- Coordinate and manage the secretariat for relevant UPU bodies dealing with digital trade by ensuring close cooperation with all related committees and groups, and IB departments.

1. Strategy and Policy:
- Design the strategies and polices of relevant UPU bodies aimed at promoting digital and trade inclusion, innovation and interconnectivity and oversee their implementation;
- Guide and coordinate research, validate expert analysis of the trends in innovative postal services related to the digital economy and trade inclusion;
- Inform and advise governments, operators, industry stakeholders on issues related to relevance of the Post in the development of digital economy, the Information Society and development and implementation of trade inclusion policies;
- Formulate and help oversee policies and strategies that increase the relevance of the Postal sector in government agenda as it relates to the areas covered by the position.

2. Management:
2.1. Organization and planning
- Lead and coordinate the preparation and evaluation of business plans for the implementation of new projects, covering objectives, outcomes, revenues, costs amongst others
- Oversee and give instructions for the planning and preparation of project descriptions, specifications, objectives and indicators
- Establish project structures, rules and operating principles
- Monitor, report, and assist with the evaluation of the effective execution of projects and achievement of business plan outcomes
- Validate project deadlines for the completion of the different stages and tasks
2.2. Resources management
Budget:
- Develop and manage budgets and ensure the effective use of internal and external funds;
- Coordinate and prioritize resources across projects, managing links between the projects within the overall costs and risks of the unit.
- Negotiate the mobilization of external resources, of a physical, financial and technical nature, to aid in the achievement of unit objectives;
Human resources:
- Validate the need for interns, experts, consultants and other staff
- Supervise the work of the teams (Set annual work plans for the staff, monitor achievement of objectives and evaluate performance on regular basis);

3. Coordination:
Internal:
- Coordinate activities related to electronic postal services, digital transformation, digital inclusion and trade inclusion with other Directorates and Units in the International Bureau, as well as within UPU bodies, to ensure coherence and avoid duplication.
External:
- Coordinate responsibilities of the UPU in the UN World Summit for the Information Society (WSIS), UN IGF and related UN Digital Agenda initiatives
- Coordinate the working relationship with UN agencies and related development partners in Digital Trade
- Coordinate the working relationship with postal community on digital trade development and inclusion

4. Representation and Communication:
4.1. Representation
- Represent the position of the UPU, negotiate on the organization's behalf, and promote the UPU and its activities related to digital economy and trade at international meetings and external forums and events;
- Lead the negotiations of relevant contracts on behalf of the UPU with external organizations such as United Nations, Civil Society, Development partners and the private sector;
- Build and maintain relations and strengthen cooperation with external strategic partners and other international organizations;
4.2. Communication
- Ensure communication of UPU activities in the areas covered by the position with external parties and oversee the development of content relating to the subject matter for promotional material and the website;
- Conceive and organize international conferences and relevant events (WSIS, e-trade-for-all, IGF, WTO Public Forum, Ecommerce week etc.)
- Report on the progress to other national, regional, and international organizations;

5. Secretariat to UPU bodies:
- Act as required as Assistant Secretary or Secretary of the relevant UPU bodies dealing with Digital policy and trade matters;
- Brief, advise and assist the chairs of relevant Committees, work groups in the preparation and management of their work programmes and ensure the necessary coordination between them;
- Validate the content of documents prepared by the relevant experts for submission to UPU bodies;
- Coordinate the organization of meetings of the relevant UPU groups and their sub-groups;
- Guide the development of activities within relevant UPU bodies, and ensure follow-up and implementation of decisions and recommendations;
- Act as secretary/assistant secretary of one or several Congress committees, including advance preparations and documents for the meetings concerned; and ensure coordination with the rest of the Congress secretariat.

QUALIFICATION AND SKILLS REQUIRED

Education:
Advanced level university degree (Master or equivalent ) in International Trade, International Relations, Economics, Political Science, Public Policy, or Business Administration or any such related field,
or
First university degree (Bachelor's degree or equivalent) in the aforementioned areas with two additional years of experience.

Experience:
At least 10 years of international professional work experience working with public and private sectors on trade and digital economy issues

Technical knowledge:
1. Knowledge in digital trade, e-commerce and digital economy issues
2. Knowledge of trade facilitation and international trade development issues would be an asset
3. Strong track record in programme and project management at an international level.
4. Background in knowledge management, capacity building, communications would be a valued asset
5. Very good knowledge in business and strategic planning
6. Good knowledge of the United Nations System and its development goals

Skills and abilities / competencies:
1. Previous experience in policy analysis and development
2. Excellent communication skills: writing, public speaking and presentation with the ability to explain and summarize difficult complex issues in a clear manner
3. Strong leadership and managerial skills (human and financial resources) and a team player
4. Strong familiarity with Salesforce, MS Office Suite, and project management tools is highly preferred

Language skills:
Proficiency in English or French. Working knowledge of the other language would be an asset

Additional Information:
French is the official language of the UPU. English and French are the working languages of the UPU International Bureau.
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Priority shall be given for an internal promotion.
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Candidates might be considered for other similar posts (for a period not exceeding one year).
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The UPU is committed to encouraging diversity within its workforce. Interested candidates from minority groups and/or with disabilities are encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated equally and in the strictest confidence.
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Candidates must ensure that they provide relevant contact details so that they can be contacted at any time, to prevent them from
being excluded from the selection process.
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The UPU is committed to securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity for its staff members. In this
regard, candidates under serious consideration for selection may be subject to satisfactory background checks aimed at validating the educational and professional background records as indicated by candidates in their respective application forms.

Annual salary: (Net of tax)
92,731 USD

Post adjustment: 85.3 % of the above figure(s). This percentage is to be considered as indicative since variations may occur each month either upwards or downwards due to currency exchange rate fluctuations or inflation.

The conditions of service are governed by the Staff Regulations and Rules of the International Bureau of the Universal Postal Union.

Please note that all candidates must complete an on-line application form.
All applications must be received by the closing date as stated in the vacancy announcement.

Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.

Applications from women and member states are particularly encouraged.

The UPU promotes diversity and work-life balance.

For further instructions regarding the online application process, please visit the UPU internet page at:

...

Currently accepting applications

The UPU has a smoke-free environment

We do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.

Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify.
Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.

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