CHIEF OF SERVICE, CIVIL AFFAIRS, D1

Contract

This is a D-1 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 15 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 128,707 USD and 162,415 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

This position is located in Goma in the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). The Chief of Service, Civil Affairs reports to the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General (DSRSG) for Protection and Operations. She/He coordinates the implementation of the Civil Affairs mandate of the mission, including managing the Civil Affairs component both at mission headquarters and field offices, and provides advice to the Head of Mission and senior mission staff on the strategic use of Civil Affairs resources to effectively pursue the implementation of the mission's mandate. The Chief of Service, Civil Affairs also liaises with other international and national partners to promote the peace building process.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Chief of Service, Civil Affairs, will be responsible for the following duties:

Core profile

• Contributes to and shares decision making on policy direction and development of the strategic vision for the overall Mission and UN effort. The incumbent contributes to policy and programme formulation and strategic vision which is executed in multiple phases. S/he is also responsible to identify problems and propose solutions based on thorough analysis.

• Ensures that Civil Affairs work is clearly conceptualized in support of this, in line with the evolving situation on the ground and in accordance with the DPO/DFS Civil Affairs Policy Directive.

• Develops and formulates and implements the substantive work programme of Civil Affairs, in consultation with key partners inside and outside the Mission, taking account of gender considerations and ensuring that the component functions as one part of a coherent overall UN effort to support the peace process.

• Develops new approaches on activities and performance expectations to component staff and oversees the management of programmed activities including the delivery of high-quality outputs and results.

• Designs and institutes effective partnership and information-sharing arrangements with both relevant Mission and non-Mission actors, including the UN Country Team (UNCT). Oversees and ensures effective cooperation and coordination on the ground with all partners by Civil Affairs component staff. Ensures that all Mission and non-Mission partners are clear about the role and contributions of the Civil Affairs component.

• Ensures that the Mission and its mandate is effectively and consistently represented to relevant interlocutors at the sub-national level by the Civil Affairs component (and other Mission actors where appropriate), and that the perceptions and concerns of all sectors of the population are accurately fed into Mission-wide situation analysis and planning processes with full understanding of the complex operations and multiple disciplines.

• Provides the Mission's leadership with high-quality information and consistent analysis concerning conflict dynamics at the sub-national level and progress with or obstacles to the peace process countrywide, including via identification of critical peacebuilding gaps.

• Advocates for, and provides contextual advice to the Mission on, adherence to the principle of local ownership in the execution of its mandate.

• Institutes and oversees the programme management system for Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) in line with the DPO Policy Directive on QIPs; including through setting up project management and approval mechanisms, proposing mission-specific priorities and ensuring impact evaluation.

• Oversees and manages the programmatic/administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of Civil Affairs, including preparation of budgets, reporting on budget/programme performance, evaluation of staff performance, evaluation of candidates, and preparation of inputs for results-based budgeting. Ensures an appropriate balance of skills and specializations is recruited to the Civil Affairs component, in accordance with (and where possible anticipating) evolving requirements over time.

• Fosters team spirit among Civil Affairs staff, ensures they are provided with the requisite guidance and training to fulfil their tasks (including mission-specific induction and skills training), oversees the systematic identification of lessons and good practice and the sharing of these with Civil Affairs components in other Missions, and encourages free and active participation by all component staff in the online Civil Affairs Community of Practice.

• Oversee the implementation of the Standard Operating Procedure on the Administration of Community Liaison Assistants (CLAs)

• Performs other duties as required, in line with the DPO/DFS Policy Directive on Civil Affairs.

Conflict Management

• Provides leadership and vision for the development of a Civil Affairs or (where appropriate) Mission-wide conflict management strategy, including mechanisms for information-sharing, consistent conflict mapping, crisis response and protection of civilians as needed.

• Promotes a culture of peace and reconciliation by identifying appropriate domestic actors and/or processes and designing strategies for the Civil Affairs component to support them at both national and sub-national levels.

• Convenes or oversees support to national level dialogue and negotiation between groups in conflict at the local level. Facilitates, enables, or mediates dialogue where appropriate.

• Forges partnerships with relevant actors to advocate the protection and empowerment of excluded and/or threatened groups in full respect of humanitarian and international law.

• Identifies and coordinates a response to specific conflict drivers countrywide, including by mobilizing a response from other actors where appropriate.

Support the restoration and extension of state authority

• Provides leadership and vision for the development of a Civil Affairs or (where appropriate) Mission-wide strategy to support the restoration and extension of state authority at the sub-national level with a view to; strengthening local ownership of the peace process, building capacity, promoting cooperation between authorities and relevant community and social actors, as well as supporting operations, policy and decision­ making processes as appropriate.

• Forges partnerships with other actors in this area, including the UN Country Team (UNCT) and particularly UNDP.

• Oversees work with national / local authorities and other partners to identify critical support needs of Iocal authorities and to design strategies for responding to them, either through Civil Affairs support or though mobilization of other actors and resources.

• Provides leadership and vision to CLAs through proactive liaison to Field Offices.

Competencies

Professionalism: Substantial knowledge of International Humanitarian and Human Rights Law. Ability to influence others to reach agreement; ability to review and edit the work of others; conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results. Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate with counterparts across both inter office and organizational boundaries. Ability to plan, coordinate and monitor own work plan and those under his/her supervision. 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.

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; Uses time efficiently.

Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments. Delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards. Operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules. Supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments. Takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Leadership: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow; Empowers others to translate vision into results; Is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; Establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; Anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; Drives for change and improvement, does not accept the status quo; Shows the courage to take unpopular stands; 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.

Managing Performance: Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; Makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; Accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills; Monitors progress against milestones and deadlines; Regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; Encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative; Actively supports the development.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in social sciences, political science, international relations, public administration, anthropology, law, economics or related area. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Job - Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of 15 years' experience in Civil Affairs, Political Affairs, Public Administration, or related field with a minimum of 5 years in or in support of a field operation of the United Nations Common System or a comparable international organization, or National or International NGOs, or international bilateral organizations is required.

A minimum of 5 years in a management position with responsibility for developing and implementing a strategic programme with both personnel and resource management responsibilities is required.

Conflict Management: A minimum of 5 years of experience in a position requiring conflict management, facilitation, mediation or negotiation skills, with an emphasizes on analytical and strategic planning functions is required.

Support to restoration and extension of state authority: A minimum of 5 years working on governance, support to core government functions, or related areas is required.

Experience in facilitating structured dialogue events between different parties, and reconciliation activities and processes would be an asset is desirable.

Experience in policy advice in the areas of institution strengthening and governance support in post-conflict settings would be an asset is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in both English and French is required.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise and/or and informal interview.

Special Notice

This position is temporarily available for 364 days. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment.

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.

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.

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

This temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15.

Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation.

Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as "retirement." Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service.

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.

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.

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 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.