SENIOR HUMAN RIGHTS OFFICER (Cancelled)

Contract

This is a P-5 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 10 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 208,877 USD and 261,770 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 New York Office, in the Equality, Development and Rule of Law Section of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). Under the overall guidance of the ASG for Human Rights in New York, the Senior Human Rights Officer reports to the Director of the New York Office and in collaboration with OHCHR Headquarters in Geneva.

Responsibilities The Senior Human Rights Officer/Chief of Section will be responsible for the following duties:

Team and Leadership Management: - As team leader, ensures overall management, supervision and coordination of the work of the section of the OHCHR New York Office under his/her responsibility; - Promotes the integration of relevant human rights and institution building activities in the programmes of New York-based departments, agencies and programmes; Secures understanding and sustained collaboration for the implementation of agreed OHCHR resolutions and policies at UN Headquarters (UNHQ); - Monitors, plans and oversees the day-to-day management of activities undertaken by his/her Section; - Coordinates the Section's inputs into the work programme of the New York Office, determining priorities, and allocating resources for the-completion of outputs and their timely delivery; - Ensures that outputs produced by the Section to maintain high quality standards; that reports are clear, objective and based on comprehensive data, and that they comply with relevant mandates; - Carries out and oversees administrative tasks of the Section, including preparation of budgets, assigning and monitoring of performance parameters and critical indicators, reporting on budget programme performance, preparation of inputs for results-based budgeting, evaluation of staff performance (ePAS), interviews of candidates for job openings and evaluation of candidates. - Recruits staff for the Section taking due account of geographical and gender balance and other institutional values and policies; - Motivates, guides, develops, coaches and trains staff under his/her supervision; - Fosters teamwork and communication among staff within the team and across organizational boundaries; Creates and maintains an inspiring team environment with an open communication culture.

Substantive Programme Portfolio Implementation: - Provides policy guidance to the Assistant Secretary-General and the Director of the NYO on human rights, legal and political developments, proposing conceptual strategy development and managing the implementation of overall strategies in areas and themes under his/her responsibility; - Identifies emerging issues with significant human rights impact, analyses implications and makes recommendations to influence the development and evolution of the UN’s approach; - Participates in Office and UN system-wide substantive discussions, reinforcing policy coherence and programmatic complementarity; - Establishes and promotes close engagement across the development and peace and security domains; Prepares policy documents on thematic human rights issues; - Ensures that OHCHR-Geneva is appropriately informed in good time on all UNHQ New York-related developments on issues relevant to his/her portfolio; - Formulates, leads, implements and supervises the substantive work programme of the Section determining priorities for the completion of outputs and their timely delivery in close collaboration with OHCHR Geneva as well as other appropriate parts of the United Nations system; - Pursues programmatic/substantive and organizational discussions with representatives of other institutions; - Participates as necessary in international, regional or national meetings and provides programmatic/substantive expertise on human rights related issues; - Provides substantive input into the preparation of position papers and reports for presentation to intergovernmental bodies such as the Security Council, the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and other policy-making organs, as appropriate, particularly those presented in biannual and/or annual reports; - Contributes to the reporting to intergovernmental bodies on budget/program performance or on programmatic/substantive issues, as appropriate, particularly those presented in biannual and/or annual reports; - Performs other related duties as required.

Deputation/Representation: - Assists the Director in the management of the New York Office and deputizes in his/her absence, on a series of specific issues and topics as required. In particular; - Assists the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in New York in presenting and advocating the policies of the High Commissioner and human rights policy making bodies to U.N. departments, agencies and programmes as well as to representatives of Member States and of civil society; - Represents the Organization in meetings of the U.N. Intergovernmental bodies, including the General Assembly and its subsidiary bodies, Executive Committees and other policy making bodies, as required on behalf of the ASG and the Director of the NYO.

Competencies Professionalism: Knowledge of and exposure to a range of human rights issues including approaches and techniques to address and advise on highly sensitive and complex problems in their political, ethnic, racial, gender and socio-economic dimensions. Knowledge of institutional mandates of human rights organizations, prevailing policies and procedures. Ability to evaluate and integrate information from a variety of sources and assess impact on the human rights situation in the region or country of assignment, including the political environment and legal statutes as they pertain to human rights. Ability to complete in-depth studies and reach conclusions on possible causes and solutions to human rights problems in specific societies and systems. Ability to relate and advise on human rights issues and perspectives, including their gender equality dimensions, to political, social, economic and humanitarian programmes in affected countries and areas. 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. 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.

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.

Judgment/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 the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.

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.

Education Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent degree) in law, political science, international relations, social sciences or fields related to human rights. A first level degree (Bachelor or equivalent) in the specified fields with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in human rights, political affairs, international relations, law or related area at the international level is required.

Management experience is required.

Experience in working with thematic human rights questions in inter-governmental and in inter-agency fora is desirable.

Experience with the UN system or any other similar international organizations is desirable.

Experience working on human rights in the field as part of international or regional organization is desirable.

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

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

Special Notice Extension of the appointment is subject to extension of the mandate and/or the availability of the funds.

This position is vacant due to the temporary assignment of the regular incumbent to another office/organization. The selection and extension of appointment of the selected candidate will be contingent on the return of the incumbent who maintains a lien against this post. If the selected candidate is an internal staff member of the UN Secretariat, the selection will be recorded as a temporary assignment.

Staff members of the United Nations Secretariat must fulfil the lateral move requirements to be eligible to apply for this vacancy. Staff members are requested to indicate all qualifying lateral moves in their Personal History Profile (PHP) and cover letter.

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.

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.

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.