Political Affairs Officer

This position is located in the United Nations Operations and Crisis Centre (UNOCC) and the incumbent reports to the Deputy Director. UNOCC provides global situational awareness crisis and risk management services to UN leadership, and facilitates senior-level decision-making.

The UNOCC is a cross-pillar information hub that provides global situational awareness and crisis management support to UN leadership, and facilitates senior-level decision-making. It is a multi-party entity reporting to the ASG for Strategic Coordination of the Executive Office of the Secretary-General (EOSG) and operationally positioned under the Office of the Director for Coordination and Shared Services (ODCSS) between the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) and the Department of Peace Operations (DPO).

The Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) 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.

The Department of Peace Operations (DPO) provides political and executive direction to UN peacekeeping operations around the world and maintains contact with the Security Council, troop and financial contributors, and parties to the conflict in the implementation of Security Council mandates. The Department works to integrate the efforts of UN, governmental and nongovernmental entities in the context of peacekeeping operations. DPO also provides guidance and support on military, police, rule of law, mine action and other relevant issues to other UN political and peacebuilding missions.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Political Affairs Officer will report to the Deputy Director and be responsible for the following duties:

• Monitors political, operational (military/police), security and other relevant developments in assigned peacekeeping operations and acts as communications focal point for UN Headquarters, peacekeeping missions and Permanent Missions in New York.
• Collects, reviews and assesses information on assigned peacekeeping operations from a variety of sources;
• Drafts and edits routine and special situation reports/briefing notes; prepares briefings and updates using visual tools, including for departmental Directors’ Briefings or other meetings; and prepares and updates maps.
• In addition, researches and drafts special reports on selected themes as required.
• Monitors and reports on the overall security situation in peacekeeping operations in cooperation with the Department of Safety and Security Operations Centre.
• Performs other related duties for the Office of the Director as required.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM

• Is able to conduct independent research and analysis, identify issues, formulate options, and present conclusions and recommendations;
• Demonstrates understanding of field mission mandates and associated regional dynamics;
• 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.

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.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in political science, history, international relations, journalism and media, or a related field. A first level university degree, in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional experience in political affairs, humanitarian, human rights, public information, military, police or security operations is required.

At least two years of experience at the international level, are required.

Two years of experience in a field environment, are also required.

Experience in operations, information gathering and analysis, reporting, or crisis management is highly desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by an interview.

Special Notice

• This post is financed by the Support Account for Peacekeeping Operations. Appointment or assignment against this position is for an initial period of one year. The appointment or assignment and renewal thereof are subject to satisfactory performance, availability of the post or funds, budgetary approval or extension of the mandate.
• 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.
• Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professionals programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position.
• The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.
• For this position, applicants from troop and police contributing countries who are found most suitable and recommended for selection will be given due consideration for positions in a peacekeeping operation or Headquarters support account funded position taking into account their contribution to United Nations peacekeeping, in accordance with General Assembly resolutions 66/265 and 67/287. For the latest list of troop- and police-contributing countries, visit the following website: https://peacekeeping.un.org/en/troop-and-policecontributors.
• At the United Nations, 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.

United Nations Considerations

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.

No Fee

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.