ASSOCIATE POLITICAL AFFAIRS OFFICER

This opening expired 3 years ago. Do not try to apply for this job.

UN OCSS - Office of Central Support Services

Open positions at UN OCSS / Open positions at UN
Logo of UN OCSS

Application deadline 3 years ago: Thursday 30 Jul 2020 at 23:59 UTC

Open application form

Contract

This is a P-2 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 2 years of experience, depending on education. More about P-2 contracts and their salaries.

Org. Setting and Reporting This position is located in the UNOCC Research and Liaison Unit, which is part of the UN system’s 24/7 situational awareness and crisis management hub at ODCSS and DPPA-DPO Headquarters. The incumbent reports to the Director of the UNOCC, through the Head of the Research and Liaison Unit. The UNOCC provides rapid situational awareness and analysis of events in the field, in order to enable informed, coordinated and timely decision-making and strategic engagement on operations and crisis management at UN Headquarters (UNHQ) through 24/7 support to senior managers across the UN system. The UNOCC is part of the Office of the Director for Coordination and Shared Services (ODCSS) serving the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affiars (DPPA) and Peace Operations (DPO). ODCSS enables, directs and coordinates departmental efforts to ensure the effective integration and management of both Departments.

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) serves as a center of excellence for peace operations, responsible for preventing, responding to and managing conflict and sustaining peace in countries where peace operations under its purview are deployed, and provides support to other entities on peace and security issues.

Responsibilities The Associate Political Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

* Monitoring, reviewing and researching specific developments in the African Horn, including Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia and Eritrea as well as the Lake Chad Basin and East Africa. * Contributing to conflict and thematic mapping, trend analyses and the development of written profiles. Identifying opportunities where additional analysis could enhance understanding of a given situation or theme. * Assessing and evaluating crisis/security developments by highlighting incidents and trends (conflict mapping) that may affect ongoing and potential peace operations and political missions. * Undertaking research to identify suitable qualitative and quantitative data related to various issues (including political and security developments, human rights, economic, social and humanitarian), and incorporate these into trends and analytic products for use by senior UN leadership. * Supporting the UNOCC in the preparation of integrated analytics for the UNOCC Director’s regular briefings of DPO/ DPPA leadership. * Supporting the UNOCC in the preparation of integrated analytics, infographics and visual materials (including conducting research) for agenda points of meetings of the Secretary-General’s Executive and Deputies Committees. * Liaising with UN missions, other UN Departments and Offices, UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes and Member States. * Briefing top senior officer (EOSG), verbally or in written form, on significant developments. * Developing contacts and fostering collaboration with others and establishing and maintaining effective working relationships. * Utilizing and remaining updated on new data analytics and GIS tools and demonstrate the ability to incorporate such tools into the work of the UNOCC. * Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

Competencies PROFESSIONALISM - Sound understanding of the political, security, social, economic and humanitarian issues affecting the Horn of Africa and East Africa regions. - Excellent analytical (qualitative and quantitative) skills, ability to conduct independent research and analysis, identify issues to be monitored, formulate options and present conclusions and recommendations. - Knowledge of the work of the United Nations. - Ability to identify and analyse political, ethnic, racial, social and economic problems in a country or geographic area. - Prior experience in producing data analytics and data visualization products. - 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.

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 the audience. - Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

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.

Education Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in political science, international relations, international economics, law, public administration or other related. 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 two years of progressively responsible experience in political science, international relations, law, disarmament, security, development management, conflict resolution or related area is required. At least 1 year of experience in political and security analysis, peace and security, economics, development, conflict prevention, human rights, or related fields, in a peacekeeping operation, humanitarian or relief work or international organizations is required. Excellent drafting and communication skills, both oral and written, and the ability to communicate complex issues to a variety of audiences are required. Excellent command of Quantitative analysis, data management and structuring and data visualization is required. Experience in East Africa is desirable.

Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of a second official United Nations language is an advantage.

Assessment Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise.

Special Notice - This temporary position is available for four months, with a possibility of extension.

  • A current staff member who holds a fixed-term, permanent or continuing appointment may apply for temporary positions no more than one level above his or her current grade. However, a current staff member who holds an appointment at the G-6 or G-7 level may also apply to temporary positions in the Professional category up to and including the P-3 level, subject to meeting all eligibility and other requirements for the position. A staff member holding a temporary appointment shall be regarded as an external candidate when applying for other positions, and may apply for other temporary positions at any level, subject to section 5.7 below and staff rule 4.16 (b) (ii). Therefore, a staff member holding a temporary appointment in the General Service or related categories may only apply to positions within those categories. For full information on eligibility requirements, please refer to section 5 of ST/AI/2010/4Rev.1 on Temporary Appointments. In its resolution 66/234, the General Assembly further “stressed that the Secretary-General should not recur to the practice of temporarily filling posts in the Professional and higher categories with General Service staff members who have not passed the General Service to Professional category examination other than on an exceptional basis, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure that temporary occupation of such posts by the General Service staff shall not exceed a period of one year, effective 1 January 2013…” Consequently, eligible candidates in the General Service or related categories for temporary job openings in the Professional category that have not passed the competitive examination may be selected only on an exceptional basis endorsed by the Office of Human Resources Management where no other suitable candidate could be identified.

  • Upon separation from service, including, but not limited to, expiration or termination of, or resignation from, a fixed-term, continuing or permanent appointment, a former staff member will be ineligible for re-employment on the basis of a temporary appointment for a period of 31 days following the separation. In the case of separation from service on retirement, a former staff member will be ineligible for re-employment for a period of three months following the separation. This equally applies, mutatis mutandis, with respect to a former or current staff member who has held or holds an appointment in another entity applying the United Nations Staff Regulations and Rules and who applies for a temporary position with the Secretariat.

  • Subject to the funding source of the position, this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station.

  • 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. An external candidate selected for this position is bound by the prevailing condition of the staff selection system under ST/AI/2010/3, as amended, and ST/AI/2010/4/Rev.1. A staff member holding a temporary appointment who is recruited in the Professional and above categories on a temporary appointment, and placed on a position authorized for one year or longer may not apply for or be reappointed to his/her current position within six months of the end of his/her current service. This provision does not apply to staff members holding temporary appointments and placed on positions authorized for one year or more in duty stations authorized for peacekeeping operations or special political missions.

  • The expression “Internal candidates”, shall mean staff members who have been recruited after a competitive examination under staff rule 4.16 or after the advice of a central review body under staff rule 4.15.

  • Please note that candidates will be required to meet the requirements of Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter as well as the requirements of the position. The United Nations is committed to the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity for all its human resources, including but not limited to respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to whether they have committed, or are alleged to have committed criminal offences and/or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.

  • For information on special post allowance, please refer to ST/AI/1999/17. For more details on the administration of temporary appointments please refer to ST/AI/2010/4/Rev.1.

  • The Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and administrative issuances governing staff appointments can be viewed at: http://www.un.org/hr_handbook/English

    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.

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.

Added 3 years ago - Updated 3 years ago - Source: careers.un.org