Position description
This position is located in the Office of the Under-Secretary-General (USG) for the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA). The incumbent reports directly to the Chief of Office, OUSG/DPPA. The Office of the USG DPPA is charged with the overall policy direction, supervision and management of the Department. 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.
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, and under the supervision of the Chief of Office, OUSG/DPPA, the Senior Political Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties:
- Advises the Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and the chief of OUSG DPPA on security-related matters, trends, issues and dynamics relevant to DPPA and the special political missions; the implementation of departmental policies and procedures on security and field safety (occupational), crisis and enterprise risk management, organizational resilience management, and other related and relevant issues pertaining to DPPA and the special political missions under its purview;
- Represents DPPA in the Inter-Agency Security Management Network (IASMN) Steering Group and contributes to the reporting to intergovernmental bodies on the implementation of security policies, practices, and issues in special political missions;
- Formulates political affairs strategies, particularly pertaining to crisis management and coordination of security-related issues of relevance to DPPA and the special political missions; develops a vision or direction for work; proposes policy directives and plan of action for immediate and long range solutions to political problems in general and in specific geographical areas, specifically as related to the realm of security trends, dynamics, developments, and the posture of the United Nations and individual special political missions; identifies emerging issues pertaining to the mandates and posture under the purview of DPPA and pertaining to the special political missions; analyses implications and makes recommendations on possible strategies and measures, especially as related to security matters affecting DPPA and the special political missions, as well as pertaining to programme criticality, crisis management and operations, organizational resilience, enterprise risk management, and other relevant processes;
- Plans and implements operational activities related to the work of the DPPA and the special political missions, i.e., conflict prevention and resolution, election administration, political and governance institution-building, civil society support work, etc.; incorporates an integrated approach that includes a rights-based dimension, conflict prevention sensitivity, and a gender perspective into the policy, planning and operational activities of the unit;
- Plans, coordinates and manages programmes, projects and activities requiring interdepartmental and/or interagency involvement and participation;
- Prepares briefing notes and talking points for the Secretary-General, Under-Secretary-General, Assistant Secretaries-General, and other relevant senior officials;
- Designs initiatives; advises on and participates in the negotiation to establish or adjust relevant operations and develops guidelines, terms of reference and operational plans and time frames for new missions;
- Acts as coordinator for complex coordination and support missions;
- Manages, coordinates, organizes and supervises research on a variety of political issues in a region and or country or major conflict, and as thematically related to security-related matters and issues, crisis management, and other relevant topics;
- Performs other related duties as required.
Qualifications
Competencies
- PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of the work of the United Nations and its related bodies concerned with political, economic, social and related matters. Ability to evaluate international political, security and crisis situations in area of assignment. Ability to manage and coordinate many different levels and participants in operations in both the field and UN common system. 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. Able to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management;
- 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 r
responsibility for team shortcomings;
- CLIENT ORIENTATION: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client;
- VISION: Identifies strategic issues, opportunities and risks; clearly communicates links between the Organization’s strategy and the work unit’s goals; generates and communicates broad and compelling organizational direction, inspiring others to pursue that same direction; conveys enthusiasm about future possibilities;
JUDGEMENT/DECISION-MAKING: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and 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 needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.
Education
- Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) degree in political science, international relations, international economics, law, public administration, or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work Experience
- A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in political science, international relations, law, disarmament, security, development management, conflict resolution or related area is required. Experience working on safety and security matters in political and peace operation contexts is required. Experience offering analytical and policy advice on matters at the intersection of security, politics, and crisis response is required. Demonstrable experience working in/on two or more geographic regions is required. A minimum of three years of experience in an immediate front office setting supporting and advising a senior official is required. A minimum of five years of experience in a United Nations or comparable peace operation or field mission is required. A professional background in law enforcement, policing, safety and security, crisis management and related area is desirable. Prior experience and expertise with crisis management, organizational resilience, business continuity and enterprise risk management is desirable.
Languages
- Fluency in English and French (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.
Application instructions
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