SENIOR RELATIONS AND LIAISON ASSISTANT, G7

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities. UN-Habitat is the focal point for all urbanization and human settlement matters within the UN system. UN-Habitat works with partners to build inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities and communities. UN-Habitat promotes urbanization as a positive transformative force for people and communities, reducing inequality, discrimination and poverty. UN-Habitat’s Global Knowledge and Advocacy Division (GKAD) is responsible for strategic planning, programmatic direction and operationalization of UN-Habitat's focal point role for the New Urban Agenda in the UN system; knowledge management; data and reporting; innovation; resource mobilization; and strategic partnerships. This position is located in the Events Unit, Communications and Media Section, of the Global Knowledge and Advocacy Division (GKAD) at the Nairobi duty station and provides support across the organization. The Section communicates UN-Habitat’s key messages to stakeholders and partners, creates awareness on urban issues and promotes UN-Habitat’s work and knowledge globally. The post aligns with the broader strategy to make UN-Habitat more effective in convening governments, cities, UN agencies, and partners through high-level events that advance sustainable urban development. It supports meaningful stakeholder engagement, clear communication, and the coordination of event agendas in line with key priorities such as the SDG 11, while also facilitating dialogue, partnerships, and follow-up actions that help translate global urban policy commitments into practical implementation. Within delegated authority, the Senior Relations and Liaison Assistant will be responsible for the following duties:

• Assists the Head of Office in establishing and maintaining constructive, cooperative working relationships with host country authorities, government ministries, diplomatic missions, and UN Secretariat departments, agencies, funds, and programmes relevant to UN-Habitat's mandate on sustainable urbanization and human settlements. • Facilitates UN-Habitat's compliance with Host Country Agreements, Memoranda of Understanding, and applicable diplomatic protocols; supports senior management in addressing provisions relating to organizational entitlements and UN staff privileges and immunities. • Maintains primary contacts with national, regional, and local government officials; coordinates follow-up on pending policy, regulatory, and operational matters that may affect UN-Habitat's programme delivery and host country relations. • Collects, registers, and maintains up-to-date information on government, local authority, and international developments including urban policy reforms, national housing strategies, land governance changes, and UN reform processes that may have a political or operational impact on the office's relationship with the host government. • Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with civil society organizations, NGOs, private sector partners, educational institutions, professional associations, and media entities; projects and fosters the image and mandate of UN-Habitat at national, regional, and local levels. • Liaises directly with government partners and implementing counterparts to provide requested information, share programme updates, and ensure timely follow-up on pending issues related to urban development, housing, and human settlements programming. • Prepares a broad range of diplomatic, protocol, and official correspondence including Notes Verbales, official letters, aide-mémoires, and briefing notes for submission to or receipt from host country authorities and UN counterparts. • Drafts institutional speeches, press releases, meeting talking points, and meeting reports for senior UN-Habitat officials; incorporates data analysis and visualization tools such as dashboards, charts, and summary analytics to support reporting and informed decision-making. • Supports the organization of high-level visits, bilateral meetings, outreach programmes, and institutional events; coordinates logistics, briefing materials, and protocol arrangements for delegations, government counterparts, and UN dignitaries. • Manages external queries and information flows by identifying and anticipating required action; ensures timely and accurate responses to requests from government partners, diplomatic missions, UN entities, and the public. • Assists the supervisor in the preparation and facilitation of workshops, training sessions, seminars, and other meetings related to UN-Habitat's thematic areas, including urban resilience, affordable housing, land rights, and municipal governance. • Supervises and manages assigned team members, providing guidance, oversight, and quality control of work outputs; mentors junior staff in protocol, liaison practices, and stakeholder engagement. • Drafts routine correspondence and reports, prepares tables, background material, and documentation for use in discussions, briefing sessions, inter-agency coordination meetings, and donor engagements. • Assists with the collection and analysis of data as well as preparation of data presentations and reports for information sharing, responding to queries, knowledge management, planning and decision making. • Assists with visualizations and updating information material such as web pages or brochures. • Performs other duties as assigned.

PROFESSIONALISM: Ability to perform a broad range of administrative functions, e.g., budget/work programme, human resources, database management, etc.; ability to apply knowledge of various United Nations administrative, financial and human resources rules and regulations in work situations; ability to perform analysis, modelling and interpretation of data in support of decision-making; shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of work. TEAMWORK: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. PLANNING & ORGANIZING: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.

Completion of high school diploma or equivalent is required. Supplementary training in International Relations, Law, Public Administration, Diplomacy, Foreign Affairs, Business Administration or a related field is desirable.

Not available.

A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in liaison, protocol, external relations, public affairs, communication or related fields supporting senior management within an international organization, diplomatic mission, or similar institution is required. The minimum years of relevant experience is reduced by two (2) years for candidates who possess a first-level university degree. Experience in policies, procedures and operations related to the administration of privileges in the UN System or similar international organization is required. A minimum of two (2) years of experience within the United Nations Common System or similar international organization is desirable. Experience in drafting, reviewing and editing official correspondence within an international organisation similar to the United Nations is desirable. One (1) year or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Appointment against this position is for an initial period of one year and any extension will be subject to availability of funds. The appointment and renewal thereof are subject to the availability of the post or funds, budgetary approval or extension of the mandate. This position is subject to local recruitment pursuant to staff rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules. All staff in the General Service and related categories shall be recruited in the country or within commuting distance of each office, irrespective of their nationality and of the length of time they may have been in the country. A staff member subject to local recruitment shall not be eligible for the allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment. External candidates will be considered only when no suitable internal candidate from the duty station is identified. The candidate is responsible for any travel expenses incurred to take-up the appointment. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Internal Applicants: When completing the form, ensure ALL fields, ALL professional experience and contact information are completed and up to date. This information is the basis for the hiring manager to assess your eligibility and suitability for the position and to contact you. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. All applicants are strongly encouraged to apply on-line as soon as possible after the job opening has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the job opening. Online applications will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided. If you do not receive an e-mail acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. In such cases, please resubmit the application, if necessary. If the problem persists, please seek technical assistance through the Inspira "Contact Us" link.

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.