The position is located in the Office of the Under-Secretary-General for the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA). The Office of the Under-Secretary-General (OUSG) is headed by the Chief of Office, who reports to the Under-Secretary-General. This position reports to the Chief of Office.
The core functions of the office include monitoring the substantive work-plan of the Department; advising the Under-Secretary-General on departmental policies and guidelines; dealing with specific substantive and administrative policy and management issues; preparing reports and notes on political and managerial issues for consideration by the Under-Secretary-General; liaising with the Executive Office of the Secretary-General and other departments in the preparation of notes and materials for the Secretary-General; managing media relations and corporate communications; strategic planning, and other functions.
The Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs focuses primarily on five action areas in international peace and security, ensuring sound analysis and early warning, preventing conflict and engaging in peacemaking, managing political crises and violent conflicts, sustaining peace, and enhancing partnerships. The Department's mandate is to prevent and resolve conflict through inclusive political solutions.
Within delegated authority, the Political Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties:
• Supports the USG and the Chief-of-Office on specific thematic topics of relevance, political issues and policy coordination as well as on programme, budget and policy issues falling under the purview of the Department;
• Consults with DPPA regional and thematic divisions to identify trends which might affect the political situation and the political impact of regional issues; recommends solutions and possible action by United Nations;
• Coordinates preparation and distribution of background notes, talking points, and speeches within the purview of the Department, and of concern to the General Assembly, Security Council, the Secretary-General and Deputy-Secretary-General;
• Reviews and monitors political developments in particular regions or liaises with the thematic Divisions, or other relevant parts of the peace and security pillar;
• Maintains contacts with other sectors of the UN, other international organizations and governments on coordination and policy matters; briefs representatives and provides, as appropriate suggestions and recommendations;
• Provides up-to-date information to senior officials regarding substantive political or relevant managerial matters and country or regional issues and makes recommendations on actions to take;
• Performs other related duties as required.
PROFESSIONALISM
• Shows ability to complete in-depth studies and reach conclusions on possible causes and solutions to political problems in specific areas and/or countries.
• Shows ability to relate to various issues and perspectives to political, social, economic and humanitarian programmes in affected countries and areas.
• 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.
• Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas 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.
Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in political science, international relations, law, public administration or related field is required. A first-level university degree (Bachelor's or equivalent) in the specified fields in combination with two additional years of relevant qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in international relations, political science, conflict resolution or related fields in an international organization is required.
Experience monitoring political activities and making recommendations related to conflict prevention, mediation, conflict resolution, or other substantive and managerial areas relevant to the work of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding is required.
Experience providing direct substantive or policy support to a senior official in areas related to conflict prevention, mediation, conflict resolution, or other substantive and managerial areas relevant to the work of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs is required.
A minimum of one year of experience in a United Nations field operation or a comparable field setting is required.
Familiarity with United Nations rules and regulations, or similar international organization, including on budgetary, financial or human resources management, is desirable.
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required, fluency in French is desirable. Fluency in another UN official language is desirable.
Evaluation of qualified applicants may include an assessment exercise, which may be followed by a competency-based interview.
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.
For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or underrepresented in the UN Secretariat as of 31 December 2018, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belarus, Belize, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Central African Republic, China, Comoros, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Mozambique, Nauru, Norway, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands, South Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
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.