Under the authority of the Director General of UNESCO and direct supervision of the Assistant Director-General for Culture, the incumbent shall be responsible for ensuring the effective management of the World Heritage Centre, which acts as the Secretariat of the World Heritage Committee (Article 14, paragraph 1 of the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage).
In doing so, the incumbent shall be responsible for the proper implementation of the World Heritage Convention and the implementation of the Committee’s decisions.
This will include the direction and management of the activities, staff and finances of the World Heritage Centre as a whole; the convening of the statutory meetings under the World Heritage Convention, such as the General Assembly of States Parties, sessions of the World Heritage Committee, its Bureau and subsidiary organs; coordination of UNESCO-wide activities pertaining to the World Heritage system, with a view to producing synergies and avoiding duplication, including with the activities of other international conventions, organizations and related programmes; act as UNESCO focal point for the coordination of operational programmes for the conservation of World Heritage sites; mobilize extrabudgetary resources, including from the private sector, and develop and maintain partnerships to support activities under the Convention, particularly for the conservation of World Heritage sites and those that are at risk or in danger; promote greater awareness and understanding of the World Heritage Convention; develop a modern information and knowledge management system, and provide clearing house services to UNESCO Member States on World Heritage.
The incumbent will coordinate and supervise the Centre’s financial operations to ensure prompt allocation and monitoring of the proper use of resources, and oversee the performance review and evaluation processes.
Working closely with the Assistant Director-General for Culture, the incumbent will establish a good working relationship and close contact with all other programme sectors and the Central Services toobtain their cooperation and effective contribution. Similarly, relationships will be nurtured and developed with UNESCO Member States, States Parties to the World Heritage Convention, World Heritage Advisory Bodies, United Nations agencies and other relevant organizations.
Qualifications and experience
• Advanced university degree in subjects related to cultural or natural heritage conservation and management or equivalent relevant experience. Other studies in specific aspects of heritage management would be an asset.
• At least 10-15 years of progressively responsible professional and practical experience, including 7-10 years at the international level, related to cultural or natural heritage management, financial administration and human resource management.
• Experience at regional and/or international level and/or within the United Nations system is desirable.
• Demonstrated experience in interdisciplinary and intersectoral work.
• Demonstrated knowledge of leadership and general management practices and techniques, as well as experience in management roles in conservation and management in national and/or international environments.
• Demonstrated ability to direct change processes at the substantive and management levels within large institutions of national or international scope.
• Experience in working in multicultural work environments and ability to supervise a large team.
Candidates should also possess:
• A broad general culture, sound analytic capacities and proven leadership and managerial skills.
• Working knowledge with excellent drafting skills in one of the working languages (English or French). Knowledge of the second one is strongly desirable. Language training will be mandatory to acquire the required level of the second working language in a reasonable timeframe.
Competencies
The successful candidate should be able to demonstrate the following competencies:
• Commitment to the Organization’s mandate, vision and priorities and knowledge of UNESCO’s programme and budget, and its planning processes;
• In-depth knowledge and practical experience of the World Heritage Convention and its implementation;
• Institutional leadership capacity, high sense of objectivity and integrity, diplomacy, tact and political astuteness;
• Teamwork, excellent interpersonal skills to maintain effective working relationships with internal and external collaborators and partners and ability to build trust and work in a multicultural environment;
• Proven experience and skills in managing large staff teams and institutional units;
• Sound judgement and decision-making skills;
• Ability to interact with a wide range of high-level partners and demonstrated partnership development and fundraising experience;
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with strong representational abilities;
• Ability to communicate effectively and persuasively – orally and in writing.
Terms and conditions
The post is at grade D-2 common to the United Nations system, with a salary composed of base salary and post adjustment which, at the present dollar exchange rate, totals approximately US $164,767 (with dependants) or US $151,369 (without dependants) per annum, exempt from taxation. In addition, UNESCO offers an attractive benefit package, including 30 days annual vacation, home travel, education grant for dependent children, pension plan and medical insurance. Please note that UNESCO is a non-smoking Organization.
How to apply
Candidates wishing to apply for this post should do so through the following website:http://www.unesco.org/employment
Candidates without easy access to the Internet may, exceptionally, apply by mail, sending a full curriculum vitae in English or French, preferably on the official UNESCO curriculum vitae form, which indicates their nationality, date of birth and gender to:
Chief, Recruitment and Classification Section, Bureau of Human Resources Management, UNESCO, 7 Place de Fontenoy, 75352 Paris 07-SP, France.
An Assessment Centre may be used in the recruitment process of this post.
Applications should reach UNESCO before 25 August 2010. Please quote post number “CLT/WHC-001”.
THERE IS NO APPLICATION, PROCESSING OR OTHER FEE AT THIS OR AT ANY STAGE OF THE PROCESS