PRINCIPAL POLITICAL AFFAIRS OFFICER

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 179,932 USD and 227,056 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 in the headquarters of the Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen (OSESG-Yemen) in Amman. The Principal Political Affairs Officer will report to the Director, Political Affairs.

Responsibilities Within the limits of delegated authority, the Principal Political Affairs Officer will be responsible for performing the following duties:

Management of the Political Affairs Section: •Implements the operational activities related to the work of the office including fostering dialogue, understanding; and cooperation between parties; establishing and strengthening the legitimate authority of national authority in the region, including building the capacity of civil society and organizations; formulating programs related to reintegrate and reconcile all segments of society; and support for good governance, national dialogue and reconciliation. •Incorporates an integrated approach that includes a rights-based dimension, conflict, prevention sensitivity and a gender perspective throughout the office's activities; •Plans, coordinates and manages programmes, projects and activities of the regional office and coordinates with other components of the Mission and external to the Mission as required; •Ensures that the works of all components in the Political Affairs Section are in accordance with the overall political strategy of the Mission; •Monitors and analyzes information and data, managing, coordinating and supervising the preparation of analytical materials and assessments related to political, civil, social, economic and other developments related to the implementation of the mandate; •Supervises, mentors, and evaluates staff within the Political Affairs Section; participating in selection of new staff for the section; coordinating the activities and personnel of all civilian Mission components; •Formulates the programme of work of the Political Affairs Section; •Oversees the development of quick impact projects and their implementation.

Advice and reporting: •Identifies emerging political and socio-economic issues pertaining to the mandate; analyzes implications and makes recommendations on possible strategies and measures; proposes plans of action for immediate and long-range solutions to political problems; •Provides input for the Secretary-General's reports to the Security Council on the activities of the Mission as well as briefings to the Security Council and other such documents; •Prepares various written materials, such as reports, statements, notes on meetings, speeches and briefing notes; •Provides political advice to other components of the Mission.

Liaison: •Provides good offices on behalf of the Special Envoy, as appropriate; •Develops and maintains relations with governmental officials, political actors and leaders of the civil society, as well as regional actors and organizations and the wider UN system, operating within the region.

Performs other duties as required.

Competencies Professionalism: Has ability to identify and analyze the underlying causes of instability (e.g. political, ethnic, sectarian, social, economic) and to provide strategic advice and recommendations to senior officials; Demonstrates sound knowledge of the UN system and understands the roles of substantive components within the Mission; 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 and 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.

Creativity: Actively seeks to improve programmes or services; Offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs; Promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas; Takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas; thinks "outside the box"; Takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things; Is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches.

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 and career aspirations of staff; Appraises performance fairly.

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 An advanced University Degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Political Science, International Relations, Social Science, Law or a related field is required. A first level university degree in combination with additional two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience A minimum of fifteen (15) years of progressively responsible experience in political affairs, diplomacy, international relations, conflict resolution, or a closely related field is required. Excellent and proven management skills is required. Extensive experience in political outreach, facilitation, analysis and reporting is required Experience working in a United Nations common system field operation (inclusive of peacekeeping, political missions and UN agencies, funds, and programmes) in a conflict or post-conflict setting is desirable Experience in political mediation and in negotiations is highly desirable. A minimum of five (5) years of working in the Middle East in different countries is desirable.

Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English (both oral and written) is required. Working knowledge of Arabic is highly desirable.

Assessment Previously rostered candidates are not subject to any further assessment and as such, will not be invited for such an assessment.

Special Notice This "Recruit from Roster" job opening is only open to roster applicants who are already placed on pre-approved rosters, following a review by a United Nations Central Review Body. Only roster applicants who were placed on rosters with similar functions at the same level are considered to be eligible candidates. Eligible applicants receive an email inviting them to apply. Rostered applicants are encouraged to apply only if they are interested and available to take up the position at the duty station/s specified in the Job Opening. Applying to this job opening carries an expectation to accept the offer, if selected.

This job opening is being issued for planning purposes in line with Section 3.2 of ST/AI/2003/8 which requires all entities to ensure that recruitment action to replace a staff member at the D-1 and below level who is approaching retirement age is initiated at least six (6) months prior to the expected date of separation. Consequently the selected candidate would be expected to report for duty on 1 November 2021.

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.