Program Associate, Sustainable Development Initiatives, New York

The salary range for this position is $50,000 - $59,000.

Position Overview
 
The United Nations Foundation is a public charity that advocates for the United Nations and connects people, ideas, and resources to help the UN solve global problems. The United Nations Foundation links the UN’s work with others around the world, mobilizing the energy and expertise of business and nongovernmental organizations to help the UN tackle issues including climate change, global health, peace and security, women's empowerment, poverty eradication, energy access, and U.S.-UN relations.
 
The UN Foundation’s Sustainable Development Initiatives Team contributes to and supports global policymaking at the UN, particularly on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It does so by convening UN Member States, think tanks, civil society, and other actors; connecting the best ideas, policy expertise and research to the UN; and serving as a resource to the wider UN community and outside actors so that they can advocate more effectively and contribute to global policy-making processes and implementation. The team also informs, advises, and develops the UN Foundation’s contributions to major policy debates within the broader UN community, and identifies additional opportunities for the UN Foundation to support the UN on an ongoing basis. The team provides advice and support to teams throughout the Foundation.
 
The Program Associate, Sustainable Development Initiatives is a part of the UN Foundation’s New York Office team, providing analysis and administrative support for the Foundation’s work on the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development, UN strengthening, and other policy issues, as well as general UN tracking.

This is a full-time permanent position. This position is based in New York, NY.

Position Overview

Provide logistical support and execute activities, roundtable convenings, receptions, meetings, and other events in New York, Washington, DC, and abroad for the Sustainable Development Initiatives team. 

• Track and analyze UN meetings, major debates, and briefings on a range of UN topics related to the Sustainable Development Agenda, financing for development, civil society engagement, UN reform, the future of multilateralism, and other issues to inform UNF’s work.  Provide timely updates and analysis for internal colleagues and external partners as needed.
• Attend and analyze events and meetings on UN topics hosted by think tanks, Member States, and civil society organizations as directed, and provide timely updates and analysis for colleagues internally. 
• Review and analyze reports and studies, news analysis, and content on UN and the SDGs.
• Liaise with permanent missions to the UN, UN staff, key partners and think tanks, and others on internal and external meetings, activities, invitations, and events at the UN and advise other teams on their engagement with UN staff and diplomatic missions.
• Assist Senior Director and the rest of the team with scheduling, organizing, and executing travel, expense reports, and program management support.
• Handle administrative tasks, as needed, and other logistics.
• Provide support for core UN Foundation functions in New York, as well as activities to support UNF’s relationship with the UN community.
• Draft and support the preparation of policy and background memos for senior staff as well as presentations, talking points, reports and other written materials for meetings and events, as needed.
• Provide research, analysis, and writing support as needed.
• Stay updated on UN and global calendar events and advise on UNF coverage. 
• Create content and assist with social media and communications activities.
• Responsible for the timely entry of partner contacts and activity information.
• Maintain comprehensive database of member state, UN, and external contacts, invitation lists, and relationships of the policy team.
• Other duties as assigned.

Selection Criteria

• Bachelor's degree in political science, international affairs, policy, journalism or related field and some related work.
• Minimum 2 years of related professional experience.
• Exceptional organizational and logistical skills.
• Exceptional oral and written communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to liaise with high-level diplomats and other prominent partners highly preferred.
• Exceptional research, analytical and writing skills and desire and ability to quickly learn new ideas, digest policy issues, and research, and translate that into policy guidance, written updates, and briefings.
• Strong editing, interpersonal, and oral communication skills.
• Ability to understand and navigate relationships with diplomatic missions and the offices of s