Program Associate, Professional Training

**ABOUT SDSN**

The UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) has been operating since 2012 under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General. SDSN mobilizes global scientific and technological expertise to promote practical solutions for sustainable development, including the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Climate Agreement. We aim to accelerate joint learning and promote integrated approaches that address the interconnected economic, social, and environmental challenges confronting the world.

SDSN works closely with United Nations agencies, multilateral financing institutions, the private sector, and civil society. It is directed by Professor Jeffrey D. Sachs and operates through offices in New York, Paris, and Kuala Lumpur.

**ABOUT THE SDG ACADEMY**

The SDG Academy is the education and training division of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), with the mandate of promoting transformative education through the creation and curation of high-quality content on sustainable development, through the sharing of innovative pedagogies and training models, and by providing open access to learning resources for a global audience. The Academy brings together the world’s foremost experts on sustainable development, from fields as varied as early childhood development, public health, food systems, and macroeconomics - to offer a comprehensive core curriculum around the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), equipping the next generation of sustainable development practitioners to take on the complex challenges facing our planet.

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The SDG Academy is seeking a dynamic and experienced Program Associate to support the ambitious expansion plans of the SDG Academy. This role provides a unique opportunity to manage the complex process of growing training programs for professionals working across a variety of fields. Initially, the Program Associate will support the launch of a training program designed to upskill workers in the construction sector in Europe. The project, BuildSkills Academy, is a partnership among several European organizations, agencies, and higher learning institutions, working to establish more sustainable practices within the construction sector. In addition to managing this grant, further training initiatives, across diverse fields, will be explored and pursued.
- Background on the BuildSkills Academy:_ Moving economies towards circularity is the undisputable strategic course of EU for achieving sustainable economic growth - a challenge of high complexity requiring a critical mass of professionals to be able to create and lead systemic change. During times of transition, the needs for new skills and competences for scaling up and orchestrating digital and circular solutions on all levels of the socio-economic systems become evident leading to professionals’ necessity to adapt and re-shape their expertise to support the circular transition in a bottom-up approach.

The Academy for Transitional Skills in the Build environment (BuildSkills Academy) will bridge the existing knowledge gap and will equip professionals with the skills and competences needed for driving transformation in construction sector - a sector responsible for large-scale resource depletion and significant environmental impact.

**PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES**

Administration
- Support administrative processes such as EU grant requirements for documentation, financial reporting, effort reporting, etc.
- Basic administrative tasks, as mandated by a small team (e.g. purchase requisitions, procurement forms, invoicing)
- Occasional other requests made by SDG Academy leadership

Project Development
- Co-lead the development of professional training initiatives, with a particular focus on Europe.
- Recruit new partnerships, both in the public sector and private sector, in the area of upskilling for the SDGs
- Produce concept notes, slide decks, etc. for new projects on the horizon
- Seek out new grant opportunities

Project Management
- Serve as the primary liaison to the BuildSkills Academy network, meeting all deliverables described in the grant agreement
- Support the current array of SDG Academy professional training initiatives
- Liaise with university partners, content teams, production teams, and technical teams as needed in new projects

Coordination of Working Groups / Communities of Practice
- Lead/support the establishment of several potential upcoming working groups linked to professional training initiatives
- Develop strategies to maximize outputs among partners

Relationship Management
- Liaise internally with relevant colleagues at the SDSN Secretariat on areas of overlap and support, including the SDSN communications team
- Maintain and manage communications with experts, key strategic partners, and potential partner organizations

**QUALIFICATIONS, EDUCATION, AND EXPERIENCE**
- Masters degree in sustainable development, education, engineering, or rela