Org. Setting and Reporting
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.
Responsibilities
Under the supervision of Director, DPRM, the incumbent will: - Coordinate, supervise and manage activities, studies and human resources relevant to Postal Policy and Regulation, Congress and CA matters. - Represent the organization to external organisations within the competencies of the incumbent and ensure secretariat role to UPU bodies and lead, organize and coordinate Congress and CA secretariat activities. 1. Overall strategy and direction of all activities under the incumbent’s supervision - Lead, supervise and coordinate the formulation of postal policy guidelines and strategies that support the strategic objectives of the UPU in relation to postal regulation, universal postal service obligation (USO), UN policies; - Provide authoritative advice to the General Management and other directorates and programmes of the organization on matters related to Postal Policy and Regulation, Congress and CA matters; - Initiate, plan, supervise and coordinate, through subordinate managers and experts, the programmes and activities of functionally specialized units to ensure the accomplishment of tasks. - Make decisions on administrative and operational matters pertaining to Postal Policy, Regulation, and Congress and CA matters; - Lead, supervise and coordinate all strategic activities of the programs under his/her purview in the areas of policy and regulation, as to enable and facilitate the universal postal services provision and access. - Give authoritative guidance and advice on complex and unusual issues related to Postal Policy and Regulation, Congress and CA matters. - Represent the organization at external and internal meetings of various bodies, forums and events on behalf of the General Management or the DPRM Director and especially, where Postal Policy and Regulation, Congress and CA matters are concerned. 2. Postal policy and regulatory reform formulation and advice - Lead, supervise and coordinate the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policy advice, recommendations and proposals for the relevant bodies of the UPU and the General Management of the International Bureau on the following matters: - The provision of the universal postal service (UPS) by UPU member governments including the scope of the UPS, its regulation and financing, and its nexus with other public policy objectives of UPU member country governments; - Domestic postal policy and regulatory reform and best practice; - World Trade Organization and broader UN policy issues and how they relate to postal services and other areas of UPU competence; - Access and Interconnectivity issues from a policy and regulatory perspective; - Lead, supervise and coordinate: (a) the conduct of studies; (b) the organization of forums such as conferences and workshops; (c) the development of best in market tool kits, that foster the sharing of policy and regulatory best practice and policy formulation recommendations in the area of postal regulation; (d) technical assistance to member countries in respect of matters under the purview of the programme. - Lead, supervise and coordinate: the development work on innovative UPU products and services in the areas of postal regulation; and - Lead, supervise and coordinate all activities covered by the program in charge of the UPU Acts in close cooperation with the Legal Directorate - Represent the UPU at relevant forum meetings including conferences and events. 3. Secretariat to Congresses, the Council of Administration (CA) and their Management Committees, as well as to the CA Committee in charge of postal policy and regulation - Lead, supervise and coordinate the planning, organization and execution of the work of Congress and the CA, as well as ensure their Secretariat and provision of authoritative guidance and substantive input required for the meetings of Congresses, CA, their Management Committees and other International Bureau internal committees dealing with Congresses and CA within the competencies of programme, including: a) Review and approval of draft agendas, documents and reports of various bodies, including the CA Plenary, Committees, Taskforces and Expert Teams; b) Review and approval of the required briefings related to the work of the CA for General Management of the International Bureau, CA Chair and chairs of other committees as required; and c)Review and approval the publication of the summary record of the CA sessions and the quadrennial CA report to Congress. d)Congress calendar, agenda and composition of Congress committees; e) Analysis and distribution of Congress proposals; f) Preparation of the required briefings related to the work of Congress for Congress Plenary and Committee’s Chairs, General Management of the International Bureau, regional meetings and member countries. - Ensure the quality and knowledge content of documents prepared by the programs for submission to the UPU bodies. - As Secretary or responsible officer, coordinate the organization of the meetings of the dedicated groups including the preparation of documents, reports and information distribution, provide advice and guidance to Chairs, ensure follow up and implementation of decisions and recommendations, as well as the preparation of the sessions, invitation, documents, organization, running of meetings of all sessions, elaboration and dissemination of all reports and related documents with all heads of committees and standing groups; - Coordinate the quality preparation of CA summary reports and ensure their dissemination and ensure the up-dates and dissemination of the Congress and CA Rules of Procedure. - Liaise with the POC Secretariat and ensure cooperation and coordination between the Congress and CA Secretariat and the POC Secretariat, as well as cooperation between Congress and CA Committees and POC Committees that have interdependent activities; - Act as Secretary of the CA Committee on Postal Policy and Regulations - Act as Assistant Secretary of the Council of Administration, the apex governing body of the UPU, working with the Director, DPRM (in his capacity as Secretary of the Council of Administration) to ensure delivery of the CA’s mandate. - Act as Assistant Secretary of Congress, the main governing body of the UPU, working with the Director, DPRM (in his capacity as Secretary of Congress) to ensure delivery of the Congress’ mandate. 4. Building networks and partnerships to support the UPU work on postal policy and regulations - Lead, develop and supervise relations with UPU external stakeholders and partners in the fields of postal reform, policy and regulation. - Represent the UPU at relevant forum meetings including conferences, events, roundtables and workshops. 5. Coordination with internal and external stakeholders Build relations and strengthen cooperation with internal and external stakeholders and especially, on cross-functional issues, such as the following: Internal: - DPRM on Legal Affairs, Digital Policies and Trade, Sustainability Services and Knowledge Centre and Think Tank - DOP on Product Strategy, Development and Integration, Quality of Service Improvement and Measurement, Standards, Customs and Supply Chain - DCDEV on Postal Reform and Regional Development Projects External: - Member countries on postal policy, regulations and remuneration governance, economic and operational issues - UN agencies on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and other political or regulatory organizations concerned with the regulation of services, such as the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and the World Trade Organization (WTO), for instance. 6. Resource management Budget: - Ensure an efficient allocation of budget resources and their management, taking corrective measures as required. Team management: - Lead the team members of the programs under his/her purview, gaining results in a cooperative and motivated environment, evaluate their performances and work in conjunction with the DPRM Director to ensure their professional development - Define and allocate the annual objectives of the programs under his/her purview, ensuring synergies between programs and their staff, set priorities - Provide guidance and advice on complex technical, political and governance issues 7. Representation and reporting - Represent the UPU at external meetings, conferences and other events in the fields associated with the programs under his/her purview, the CA and Congress. - Report to member countries and wide postal sector players on the activities of the programme and provide them with recommendations and the results obtained.
Competencies
Professionalism - Takes responsibility for own actions and decisions, and for the consequences of these; - Produces and delivers high-quality results; - Drives change and improvement, continually searching for new ways to position the organization for success; - Ensures that knowledge and learning is shared across the organization and encourages staff to learn from each other. Ethics - Ensures that personal views and convictions do not compromise ethical principles; - Understands and behaves in accordance with the UPU's professional, ethical and legal framework; - Does not abuse power or authority vested by functions; - Respects commitments and promises made to internal and external partners; - Promptly confronts unprofessional or unethical behaviours and takes immediate appropriate action; - Maintains confidentiality and treats sensitive information with discretion. Teamwork - Works collaboratively with team members to achieve results; - Shows respect to other members of the team, regardless of gender or of cultural, educational or religious background; - Seeks help when needed in order to achieve set goals; - Shares information on issues that may affect the team and respects confidentiality; - Accepts joint responsibility for the team's successes and shortcomings. - Encourages cooperation among staff within the programme and directorate and across the organization; - Collects and assesses information on a broad range of issues related to the team's work and seeks common solutions; - Encourages others to be innovative in order to improve outcomes. - Creates an empowering and motivating environment, encouraging team members to work together; - Delegates work appropriately, providing staff with the necessary support to meet their objectives; - Clarifies strategies and goals with supervisees and acts as a role model to foster enthusiasm and energy at work; - Ensures that knowledge and learning is shared within the programme and directorate and across the organization and encourages staff to learn from each other. Results orientation - Seeks to achieve expected outputs within the agreed timeframe; - Ensures competent delivery with minimal supervision, even under pressure and with constantly changing priorities; - Keeps supervisors informed of challenges encountered and solutions found. - Quickly identifies issues and the right person to provide solutions, and shows strong client orientation in business dealings; - Explores the options for finding innovative solutions to improve work processes and results; - Remains focused and keeps morale high when faced with adversity; - Reallocates resources quickly and effectively when faced with unforeseen events. - Provides high-quality advice in their area of expertise; - Possesses excellent judgement and decision-making abilities; - Anticipates new trends, patterns and challenges, and identifies opportunities to promote the medium and long-term goals of the UPU; - Encourages supervisees to think outside the box and to find creative solutions to problems. Team management - Demonstrates the ability to delegate responsibility, motivate and lead, and provide effective coaching and performance feedback; - Coordinates the activities of the team; - Delegates work efficiently within the team and evaluates the team's work in a timely and fair manner; - Clearly communicates work expectations and defines successful indicators; - Takes ownership of the team's problems and seeks sustainable solutions; - Recognizes team participation and rewards individual contributions; - Ensures a good planning of work and regularly reassesses priorities to ensure delivery of the expected outcomes; - Motivates team members to strive for excellence. - Aligns existing UPU projects with the strategy in place, providing clear guidelines for long-term projects; - Takes responsibility for the team's results and failures and encourages the team to always seek improvement. Leadership - Encourages colleagues to share their views and takes time to understand and consider those views; - Is receptive to new ideas and working methods; - Adapts readily and efficiently to changing priorities and demands. - Shows commitment to the team's work and identifies trends and opportunities to improve existing processes and methodologies; - Builds and promotes internal and external partnerships that can provide information, assistance and support to the UPU; - Interacts with other directorates to create opportunities for synergies and resource optimization; - Fosters a trusting working environment by accepting and providing feedback to improve cooperation within the team; - Defines team members' priorities and motivates the team to achieve set goals; - Encourages staff to test new and innovative solutions for solving existing problems. - Demonstrates excellent judgement and decision-making abilities; - Demonstrates a high sense of political sensitivity; - Demonstrates strong representational abilities; - Demonstrates the ability to develop and implement a strategic vision; - Demonstrates the ability to understand the full complexity of a situation; - Demonstrates a high sense of integrity and impartiality. Job-related competences: 1. Leadership skills: ability to lead and manage staff and complex projects and activities, and to delegate, direct and coordinate their activities 2. Ability to plan, organize and lead multi-stakeholder programs in a multicultural context 3. Ability to identify problems and solutions, and to manage complex organizational issues 4. Ability to educate and communicate on the UPU’s objectives and activities in the areas covered by the position 5. Excellent presentation skills; strong ability to develop arguments/ excellent communication and negotiation skills with strong representational abilities 6. High sense of professional integrity and political sensitivity 7. Excellent interpersonal skills, including the ability to maintain harmonious working relations with delegates and staff at all levels in a multicultural environment 8. Excellent communication skills, including the ability to explain economic issues and analysis clearly and effectively 9. Ability to set ambitious objectives and obtain results 10. Commitment to continuous learning: keep abreast of policy, regulatory, markets and economic trends 11. Cost awareness
Education
Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in economics, business administration, political science, international postal management, international relations or any such related field, or first university degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in the aforementioned areas with the stipulated additional years of experience.
Job - Specific Qualification
1. Solid knowledge and proven experience and in securing, building and maintaining stakeholder relationships is required 2. Solid knowledge and proven experience and in securing, building and maintaining stakeholder relationships is required 3. Sound knowledge of and proven experience with policy and regulation development and implementation, project management and evaluation methodologies is required 4. Very good knowledge of the environments and networks of international organizations (private and public) is desirable 5. Practical knowledge in public policy advocacy, preferably in an international context is required 6. Familiarity with the rules and procedures and cooperation mechanisms used in the UN system would be an advantage is desirable 7. Extensive knowledge of the international postal services and business is desirable 8. Extensive knowledge of regulatory and operational issues and questions on pricing and remuneration in the postal sector is desirable 9. Knowledge of macroeconomic issues and how these relate to postal sector and its socio-economic trends is required 10. Knowledge of sources for data collection as well as quantitative technical analyses is required 11. Familiarity with the working of the UPU bodies, resulting from participation in the meetings of these bodies is desirable
Work Experience
1. With an advanced university degree at least 10 years are required 2. With a first level university degree at least 12 years of international experience in two or more of the other areas covered by the position are required
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. French is desirable. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult https://languages.un.org for details).
Language
Reading
Writing
Listening
Speaking
English
UN Level III
UN Level III
UN Level III
UN Level III
Language
Reading
Writing
Listening
Speaking
French
UN Level II
UN Level II
UN Level II
UN Level II
Assessment
Applicants will be contacted directly if selected for written test. Additional testing/interviewing may be used as a form of screening. Experience: With an advanced university degree at least 10 years, with a first level university degree at least 12 years of international experience in two or more of the other areas covered by the position. Languages: Proficiency in English is required. Working knowledge of French would be an asset. Working knowledge of other UN languages would be an asset.
Special Notice
- Annual salary:(Net of tax) 103,165 USD - Post adjustment: 90.7% 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. - Type of contract: Fixed-term (Core) appointment - Duration: Three years - Scheduled date for taking up appointment: As soon as possible - French is the official language of the UPU. English and French are the working languages of the UPU International Bureau. - Priority shall be given for an internal promotion. - 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. - Candidates might be considered for other similar posts (for a period not exceeding one year). - 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. - 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. - At the discretion of the UPU, such background checks may also be extended to include criminal records, disciplinary measures, sexual exploitation and abuse, and professional license check validation.
United Nations Considerations
According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. All external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2 (a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2. (c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.
No Fee
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.
