The Security Sector Reform Standing Capacity (SSRSC) expands the capability of the SSR Unit (SSRU) in the Department of Peace Operations (DPO) to respond to requests for support from field operations and national authorities in non-mission settings consistent with United Nations (UN) SSR policies, guidance and best practice. The rapidly deployable officer expert would deploy independently or as part of a team with staff from UNHQ in the framework of technical assessment and support missions. He/she may also join police and rule of law experts engaged in mission start-up, planning, transition or drawdown processes, to ensure a coherent approach to these inter-linked areas of work when an SSR process is constituted.
The Senior Programme Officer (SSRSC) will deploy in response to requests for support from DPO and DPPA-led missions, from country teams in non-mission settings and if possible, also in response to requests from other partners including through the Inter-Agency SSR Task Force and the Global Focal Point (GFP). The Senior Programme Officer (SSRSC) will spend approximately 75% of their time deployed to field assignments. When deployed to the field, the Senior Programme Officer (SSRSC) will report within the client’s reporting structure and will work in close collaboration with the Standing Police Capacity (SPC) and the Justice and Corrections Standing Capacity (JCSC) to ensure a coherent approach to shared objectives in SSR processes. The Senior Programme Officer (SSRSC) will be a resource for the Global Focal Point on Rule of Law and will liaise with PBSO as appropriate to combine specialist expertise with programmatic funding available from the PBF.
This position is located in the SSRSC which is a tenant unit of the United Nations Global Service Center (UNGSC), Brindisi, Italy. The Senior Programme Officer (SSRSC) will report to the Chief, SSR Unit, Office of the Rule of Law and Security Institutions, DPO at Secretariat Headquarters on all substantive issues. On administrative issues the Senior Programme Officer (SSRSC) reports to the Director of the GSC.
The Senior Programme Officer (SSRSC) will be responsible for the following duties:
• Leads and manage other SSR staff who form part of the SSRSC;
• Leads the development of work plans for the SSRSC;
• Leads and oversees the reporting of the SSRSC to SSRU
• Directs SSRSC staff in the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programmes, operations, policy development of direct service to the field clients
• Articulates problems and issues to be addressed in field settings and proposes options for corrective actions based on best practice and in line with existing standards and guidance; liaises with relevant parties; identifies and initiates follow-up actions.
• Ensures implementation of gender mainstreaming guidelines by assessing the implications for men and women of any planned action, including legislation, policies or programmes, in all areas and at all levels.
• Identifies issues and trends that may require further evaluation or research by or with the SSR Unit at Headquarters;
• When responding to requests for support, conducts survey initiatives; guides design of data collection instruments; reviews, analyzes and interprets responses, identifies problems/issues and prepares conclusions.
• Designs and conducts training workshops, seminars, makes presentations on assigned topics/activities.
• Leads field missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties and drafting mission summaries.
• Participates in joint missions with members of the Standing Police Capacity and/or Justice and Corrections Standing Capacity when appropriate to ensure a holistic approach to the issues that are the subject of the request for support from the field.
• Participates or designates SSRSC staff to participate in missions of the Global Focal Point for Rule of Law.
• When not deployed, carries out debriefings on deployments, drafts after-action reviews, participates in training and other professional development activities, contributes to the development of lessons learned and best practices studies as well as training programmes.
• Works closely with GSC administrative colleagues to ensure current, accurate accounting of all funds made available for use to support the work of the SSRSC, provides financial and narrative donor reports when required, ensures accurate and timely contributions to the budget preparation and budget performance reports of the GSC as required.
• Develops proposals to mobilize resources from donors to support the work of the SSRSC, liaises with donors in collaboration with SSRU.
• Manages the SSRSC RBB in collaboration with UNGSC
• Serves as an effective spokesperson and establishes collaboration and partnerships with key officials at all levels inside and outside the Organization.
• May perform other duties as required.
•PROFESSIONALISM: Ability to identify key strategic issues, opportunities and risks. Ability to generate and communicate broad and compelling organizational direction. Ability to communicate clearly links between the Organization's strategy and the work unit's goals. Demonstrated ability to provide innovative technical leadership by performing and/or overseeing the planning, development, and management of operation. Demonstrated ability to negotiate and apply good judgment. 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.
•COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
•PLANNING AND 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.
•LEADERSHIP: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow; Empowers others to translate vision into results; Is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; Establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; Anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; Drives for change and improvement, does not accept the status quo; Shows the courage to take unpopular stands; Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.
•MANAGING PERFORMANCE: Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills; monitors progress against milestones and deadlines; regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative; actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; appraises performance fairly.
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business administration, management, economics or a related field. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in project or programme management, technical and/or strategic advisory functions in the area of security sector and defense reform is required.
Experience conducting assessments of security sector institutions and SSR processes and developing recommendations on a wide range of SSR issues for consideration by senior leadership in an international organization and national counterparts is required.
Experience working in peace operations is required.
Experience with budget, human resources and administrative processes in an international organization is desirable.
Experience working in a country team is desirable.
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position(s) advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable.
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
• This position is temporarily available for a period of six (6) months. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment.
• While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post.
• Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station.
• This temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15.
• Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply.Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation.
• Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as "retirement." Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service.
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.
Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side 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.
Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.