Deputy Executive Director - D2
Vacancy S/P/2026/010. Fixed-term regular staff position (2 years), Office of the Executive Director, Geneva. As part of the UN80 Initiative, UNITAR and the United Nations System Staff College (UNSSC) are merging into the United Nations Institute for Capability and Learning Innovation (UNICLI), effective 1 January 2027. This position is recruited under UNITAR in 2026 and will transition to UNICLI.
The Deputy Executive Director reports to the Executive Director and Assistant Secretary-General and serves as the primary internal executive anchor and operational enabler, with executive management and strategic oversight of finance and budget, human resources, governance, legal and risk, information technology, and general administration, while leading enterprise-wide organizational transformation, risk management and performance management.
Key responsibilities: (1) Organisational leadership, stewardship and culture as a member of the senior leadership team; (2) Executive deputization and operational continuity, acting on behalf of the Executive Director and serving as Officer-in-Charge; (3) Strategic governance and risk management, including enterprise risk management, compliance, fraud prevention, safeguarding, and serving as focal point for oversight bodies (Board of Auditors, OIOS, JIU); (4) Organisational transformation and performance, leading post-merger integration between UNITAR and UNSSC and oversight of the Turin Campus and offices in Bonn, Hiroshima, Madrid and New York; (5) Strategic leadership of operations and management across finance, human resources, legal, ICT, procurement and facilities, and oversight of third-party service providers and shared service centres.
Requirements: Advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in public administration, business administration, international relations, law, finance, management or a related field (a first-level degree with two additional years of experience may be accepted). At least 15 years of progressively responsible executive experience in organizational management, corporate administration, strategic planning, financial stewardship or governance in an international organization, public sector institution or large NGO; at least 7 years of senior managerial experience overseeing multi-disciplinary operational portfolios; proven track record leading large-scale organizational change within the UN common system or international public sector. Fluency in English is required; working knowledge of another UN official language is desirable.
Closing date: 25 November 2026
HOW TO APPLY:
Please submit your application, along with a motivation letter, as soon as possible after the vacancy is posted and well before the deadline stated in the vacancy announcement (25 November 2026). UNITAR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.
https://unitar.org/vacancy-announcements/deputy-executive-director-d2/438