ASSOCIATE POLITICAL AFFAIRS OFFICER

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.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 106,558 USD and 144,732 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

Org. Setting and Reporting

The position is located in the SDG Lab of the Office of the Director-General, United Nations Office at Geneva. The incumbent will report directly to the Chef of the Section.

The Associate Political Affairs Officer initiates and participates in designing specific policy solutions and collaborations, and develops and maintains strategic partnerships within UN, public and private sectors at global and national levels to ensure multi-disciplinary and cross-cutting solutions for long-term sustainability.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties:

Strategic stakeholder and partnership engagement: - Contributes to the development and implementation of strategies and innovative approaches to initiate and foster partnerships (financial and non-financial) between the Lab and both public and private sector entities, such as the UN system, other multilateral organizations, member states, academia, civil society, and private sector, in support of advancing the Lab’s new vision and mission on advancing long-term sustainability. - Establishes, grows and maintains relationships with key partners of the Lab, both existing and potential, in alignment with the key strategic priorities of the Lab and facilitates strategic consultations with partners, including financial and non-financial. - Provides input to the senior leadership of SDG Lab on issues related to strategic and innovative partnerships and ensures adequate partnership structure(s) is in place, such as strategic partnership frameworks, and other key tools to leverage external expertise and collaborations for SDG Lab’s core work. - Provides guidance on SDG Lab’s governance structure and works with the Head on the revision, implementation and follow up of such a structure.

Programmatic, policy and strategy design: - Contributes to the creation and design of programmatic, policy and strategy products and processes in support of the implementation of the Lab’s new strategic vision and mission with emphasis on its key focus areas (“new lenses to sustainability”) and strategic approaches, including through the development and application of new methodologies and policy tools. - Explores, co-develops, and tests new ideas, products, and programmatic activities in alignment with the Lab’s new key strategic priorities, taking into account contextual needs. - Works on the design, execution and follow up of collaborative workshops, applying innovation and foresight methods in workshop design. - Contributes to the provision of research and products on emerging themes, topics, and concepts in the areas of innovation for long-term sustainability and social and economic development, especially as they relate to evolving long-term sustainability concepts, future generations and inter-generational equity, as well as the role of culture and values. - Provides technical assistance on policy design to leverage innovation for long-term sustainability to relevant partners among the UN System, member states, non-governmental organizations with a view to inform intergovernmental and interagency processes. - Works with the senior leadership of SDG Lab in preparing input to the UNOG senior management on issues related to innovation, sustainable development, and long-term sustainability, such as through briefing notes and other formats.

Competencies

Professionalism: Knowledge of innovation and foresight methods. A strong understanding of theory, principles, established and emerging approaches to sustainable development, financing for development and related policy and programme design on international and national levels; demonstrates ability to forge and maintain partnerships supporting UN approaches to sustainable development; conceptual, analytical and political skills; ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities; 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 complex and stressful situations; and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of all genders 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 audience; and 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 for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; and uses time efficiently.

Education

An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in international relations, public administration, law, social sciences or related area is required. A first level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Job - Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of two (2) years of progressively responsible experience in international relations, sustainable development, development cooperation, public policy or related fields, including experience in engaging with public and private institutions, is required.

Experience in policy and strategy design and participation in the intergovernmental and interagency collaborations is desirable.

Experience in designing anticipatory and participatory processes is desirable.

Experience providing support to senior UN officials or national government officials is desirable.

Experience in the United Nations and/or national government is desirable.

Experience in working with Permanent Missions and other high-level national delegations to the United Nations, including ministers, heads of delegations/states, is desirable.

Languages

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

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which will be followed by a competency-based interview.

Special Notice

The appointment against this position is limited to service in the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG). Extension of the appointment is subject to extension of the mandate and/or the availability of the funds.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process.

By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions.

Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile 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.