SENIOR MISSION PLANNING OFFICER

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 152,777 USD and 191,465 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 the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) in Baghdad. Baghdad is classified as an "E" hardship duty station and a non-family duty station. The incumbent directly reports to the Chief of Staff (CoS). UNAMI is a political mission established by the 2003 UN Security Council Resolution (SCR) 1500 at the request of the Government of Iraq. Pursuant SCR 2631 (2022) UNAMI is mandated to advise and assist the Government and people of Iraq on several fronts. This includes advancing and promoting inclusive political dialogue at the national and local reconciliation, assisting in the electoral process, facilitating regional dialogue between Iraq and its neighbors, and promoting the protection of human rights and judicial and legal reform.

Responsibilities Within delegated authority, and under the guidance of the Chief of Staff, the Senior Mission Planning Officer will be responsible for the following: - Acts as a senior advisor to the Mission leadership on strategic planning issues, including engaging with the host Government, UN partners and external actors in respect of multi-dimensional planning processes. - Facilitates joint and integrated planning between Mission components, UNCT members and other relevant partners in accordance with the Policy on Integrated Assessments and Planning, and senior management guidance. - Leads the preparation of a Mission Plan, or similar initiative, which, building on the vision of the SRSG, translates the mission mandated tasks into a form that fuses objectives, timelines and expected outcomes into a coherent whole, serving as an authoritative guide for the development and implementation of Mission component plans. - Provides advice to Mission components in development of component-level plans, including ensuring coherence with the Mission’s overall strategic direction. - Monitors implementation of the budget, including staffing needs and workplace planning and advises senior management to help ensure that resources are used to support implementation of component plans, mission priorities and Integrated Strategic Framework (ISF). - Provides authoritative advice and technical support enabling UN senior management to develop, implement, and monitor strategies that maximize the individual and collective impact of the UN’s response in the country of deployment, concentrating on mandated tasks and activities required to consolidate peace through a strategic partnership between the Mission and the UN Country Team. - Provides authoritative advice to senior management and programme managers on strategic and operational planning policy, procedures and best practices in line with the UN Policy on Integrated Assessment and Planning (IAP); provides recommendations on design of specific planning tools and mechanisms, in line with policy and best practice, to meet the needs of the Mission and partners. - Ensures the establishment and operation of integrated field coordination structures, including a senior leadership forum, providing policy guidance and technical assistance on joint strategic and operational issues as required. - Coordinates Mission-level support to the Headquarters-based Integrated Task Force or equivalent body and supports Technical Assessment Missions, Strategic Assessment Mission and Strategic Reviews. Serves as a strategy and planning point of contact for Headquarters and facilitates linkages between field-based structures and the Headquarters-based Integrated Task Forces. - With all relevant stakeholders, facilitates the development and implementation of a UN Integrated Strategic Framework for peace consolidation in the country, including in-depth conflict analysis, identification of priorities, roles and responsibilities for the United Nations, and a system for monitoring and evaluation of progress. - Prepares the Mission Results-Based Budget framework and performance reports, and prepares inputs as required for audits, budget monitoring and performance reporting. As directed by Mission leadership, designs and facilitates development of other strategies and plans required for implementation of the Mission’s mandate. - Lead the development, implementation, and review of the UNAMI organizational learning activities, including its Evaluation Policy, incorporating evaluations’ finding as well as other organizational learning processes into policies, procedures, plans, budgets. - Leads and coordinates the work of the Mission planning team. - Supports the CoS, and acts on her/his behalf during the latter’s absence, in the management of the OCOS, including supervision of support staff. In his/her capacity as OiC COS, oversees field office coordination and advises Senior Leadership on substantial, management and operational issues Mission-wide, in support of mandate implementation. - Represents the COS in Leadership forums and chairs leadership and senior management coordination structures, inclusive of Senior Management Team and Senior Leadership Team, and others as needed. - Performs other duties as required.

Competencies Professionalism: Comprehensive understanding of the issues and challenges in volatile conflict or post conflict environments. Proven ability to facilitate and produce integrated strategic plans, strategies, or similar documents. Well-developed understanding of peace and security, development, and humanitarian actors and perspectives. Demonstrated experience with monitoring and evaluation in complex organizational settings. Proven success integrating strategic planning processes with requisite funding, staffing, and other resource requirements. Strong inter-personal skills, including the ability to manage challenging multi-stakeholder analytical and planning processes. Proven ability to build consensus with colleagues and contacts in pursuit of common objectives. 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.

Planning& Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies. Identifies priority activities and assignments. Adjusts priorities where necessary. 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.

Managerial Competencies: Vision: Identifies strategic issues, opportunities, and risks. Clearly communicates links between the Organization’s strategy and the work unit’s goals. Generates and communicates broad and compelling organizational direction, inspiring others to pursue that same direction. Conveys enthusiasm about future possibilities.

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 Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in social sciences, political science, international relations, economics, finance, management, development studies, or a related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with an additional 2 years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Job - Specific Qualification Professional training in the areas of planning, programme management, analysis, facilitation and/or coordination is desirable.

Work Experience A minimum of ten years of relevant progressively responsible experience is required; this should include policy development at the strategic level as well as experience facilitating and coordinating multi-stakeholder planning processes in peace consolidation settings.

At least two years of experience in strategic planning processes as well as in emergency, conflict or post-conflict environments and complex crisis management is required.

Experience working in or supporting UN peace operations or other UN common system field-based organizations, preferably in an integrated setting where working closely with Agencies Funds and Programmes and UN Country Team is required.

Demonstrated experience ensuring compliance with administrative procedures and implementing relevant UN Secretariat policies, strategies, and operations including strategic planning processes, budget and staffing processes is required.

Experience in planning and implementing the reconfiguration/transition of a Mission is desirable.

Experience in leadership and performance management of multi-dimensional and multicultural teams in complex settings, inclusive of experience stepping in for senior officials when needed, is desirable.

Experience of designing and applying monitoring and evaluation tools is desirable.

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

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

Special Notice 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 organisational 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.

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.

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.

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.

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.