The United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) was established by the General Assembly in June 2017. The Office has five main functions: (a) provide leadership on the General Assembly counter-terrorism mandates across the United Nations System; (b) enhance coordination and coherence across the more than 40 Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact (former CTITF) Task Force entities to ensure the balanced implementation of the four pillars of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy; (c) strengthen the delivery of United Nations counter-terrorism capacity-building assistance to Member States; (d) improve visibility, advocacy and resource mobilization for United Nations counter-terrorism efforts; and (e) ensure that due priority is given to counter-terrorism across the United Nations System and that the important work on preventing violent extremism is firmly rooted in the Strategy.
This post is located in the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre, within the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism.(UNCCT). The incumbent of this post will report to the Director of the UNCCT and will lead a new Centre of Excellence unit within UNCCT.
Within delegated authority, the Deputy Director will be responsible for the following duties:
- Leads, supervises, and carries out the implementation of the work programme of the UNCCT Centre of Excellence (CoE) unit, ensuring efficient programme and project management in support of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.
- Formulates, implements and manages the substantive work programme of the CoE, determining priorities and allocating resources for the completion of outputs and their timely delivery.
- Co-ordinates and oversees the preparation of terrorism-related research and analysis products for both internal United Nations use and for publication.
- Advises UNCCT and UNOCT leadership on global terrorism trends and challenges.
- Ensures that the outputs produced by the CoE maintain high-quality standards; that reports are clear, objective and based on comprehensive data.
- Guides the co-ordination of the work carried out by the CoE staff .
- Ensures that programmed activities are carried out in a timely fashion and co-ordinated work in the different areas both within UNCCT, UNOCT and with other organizations of the United Nations System, as appropriate.
- Ensures effective programme and project management, through overseeing the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of CoE Programmes of Work and projects.
- Leads and supervises the organization of meetings, seminars, etc., on substantive issues.
- Manages the substantive preparation and organization of such meetings or seminars.
- Leads, coordinates and oversees international counter-terrorism conferences
-- Holds programmatic/substantive discussions with representatives of other institutions; represents the Director and UNCCT, as required.
- Maintains close liaison and coordination with international, regional, and national counter-terrorism centres of excellence and/or research centres; fosters cooperation and consultation with governments, UN Global Compact entities and other partners.
- Reports to intergovernmental bodies on budget/programme performance or on programmatic/ substantive issues, as appropriate.
- Oversees the administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of the CoE, including preparation of budgets, inputs for results-based budgeting, reporting on budget/programme performance, evaluation of staff performance, recruitment and staff selection taking due account of gender and geographic balance.
- Supports the Director in strategizing UNCCT’s fund-raising efforts.
- Fosters teamwork and communication among staff in the unit and across organizational boundaries.
Professionalism: Knowledge of UN, regional and national counter-terrorism policies and mechanisms; demonstrated ability to perform and oversee the analysis of complex human resources, financial or administrative management policy issues; ability to lead interagency processes; demonstrated political awareness and sensitivity; ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with a wide range of senior-level counterparts; ability to demonstrate negotiating skills and to influence others to reach agreement and produce consensus; ability to facilitate high-level meetings. Ability to produce reports and papers on technical issues and to review/edit the work of others. Ability to apply UN rules, regulations, policies and guidelines in work situations. 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. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrated professional competence and mastery of subject matter; conscientious 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 to completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently.
Empowering Others: Delegates responsibility, clarifies expectations and gives staff autonomy in important areas of their work; encourages others to set challenging goals; holds others accountable for achieving results related to their area of responsibility; genuinely values all staff members' input and expertise; shows appreciation and rewards achievement and effort; involves others when making decisions that affect them.
Judgement/Decision Making: Identifies key issues in complex situations and gets to the heart of a problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impact of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others an on the Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying need for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in business or public administration, finance, accounting, law, social sciences or related area. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
A minimum of fifteen years of progressively responsible experience in international relations, political affairs, diplomacy, conflict resolution or related area is required. Five years of experience at the international level is required.
Experience at the international level is required.
Experience in peacekeeping in the field or other field operations in post-conflict situations is desirable.
Experience in leading and managing a large work unit in an international organization is desirable.
Experience in planning multicomponent workshops is desirable.
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
This job opening is advertised to fill a temporarily vacant position during the absence of the regular incumbent for a period of one year or longer. The regular incumbent is entitled to return to this position at the expiry of the temporary vacancy period. If the regular incumbent exercises the right to return, the appointment or temporary assignment or promotion of the candidate selected for this job opening will not be renewed or extended.
The selection process for this job opening will be conducted pursuant to ST/AI/2010/3 on the “Staff Selection System” and include the compliance review process by a review body described in staff rule 4.15. In case of selection, a staff member of the United Nations Secretariat who meets the definition of “internal candidate” in staff rule 4.10 will be placed on a temporary assignment if he or she holds the same grade as the job opening; and a temporary promotion if he or she holds a lower grade than the job opening. If the regular incumbent vacates the position during such temporary assignment or promotion, the selected staff member will be laterally assigned, promoted or transferred to the position without further selection process under ST/AI/2010/3.
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.
An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential.
Staff members appointed to the current position are required to submit a financial disclosure statement upon assignment or appointment and annually thereafter.
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.
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.
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.
The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.
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.