SENIOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS 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 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 located within the Regional Disarmament, Information and Outreach Branch of the Office for Disarmament Affairs. The Branch is responsible for promoting, facilitating and strengthening regional cooperation among States and regional and subregional organizations and arrangements, and facilitating the coordination of efforts in matters related to confidence building measures, disarmament, peace and security. It oversees and coordinates the activities and operations of the three United Nations regional centres for peace and disarmament and the Vienna Office. It is responsible for the information and outreach work of the Office, including communications and public information activities, as well as strategic partnership-building on behalf of the Office. The Branch provides substantive and Secretariat support to the Secretary-General’s Advisory Board for Disarmament Matters. The position reports to the Chief of the Branch. For more information, please refer to https://disarmament.unoda.org/.

Responsibilities Under the general direction of the Chief of the Branch, the incumbent:

Advises and makes recommendations to the Under-Secretary-General on matters related to regional disarmament and security by: - Monitoring and analyzing political, security, military and disarmament related developments at the regional and subregional levels, updating the situational awareness of the Office and its leadership and recommending courses of action in accordance with relevant mandates, particularly as they pertain to the Regional Centres; - Keeping abreast of, or contributing to action by the United Nations governing bodies and regional organizations on matters pertinent to regional disarmament; - Drafting, coordinating the drafting, or editing speeches, notes to file, internal or external correspondence, reports of the Secretary-General and other documents related to regional disarmament; - Establishing and strengthening partnerships with a variety of different stakeholders, including host countries of the Office’s Regional Centres, member states and donors, regional and sub-regional organizations, centres of excellence in the field of disarmament, and other UN and non-UN partners; - With the Regional Centres, identifying areas of need and support and/or consider requests for such support at the regional and subregional level by member states and relevant organizations. Make recommendations on such support to the Office and leadership, within the framework of the Office’s relevant mandates and strategic plan.

Guides, coordinates and supports the work of UNODA’s Regional Centres and the Office’s activities in the implementation of its regional disarmament programme and mandates, in accordance with UNODA’s strategic plan by: - Spearheading and coordinating the elaboration of Standard Operating Procedures for the Regional Centres, including in terms of working modalities, substantive reporting, as well as financial, administrative and personnel matters; - Initiating and coordinating the preparation of the Centres’ annual workplans, ensuring consistency with the Office’s strategic plans as well as their respective tailoring to the relevant region; - Maintains regular interaction with the Regional Centres, keeping abreast of developments on the ground and initiatives pursued, while keeping Regional Centres abreast of developments at the global level and related to disarmament multilateral processes and how they might impact the centre's work and plans; - Supporting the Regional Centres in the design of programmes that respond to needs or requests for support at the regional and sub-regional levels, ensuring consistency in programme formulation, coordination of substantive inputs from other Branches, factoring in of ownership and sustainability considerations, and ensuring that opportunities for working through partners on the ground are leveraged; - Supporting and overseeing the formulation of donor mobilization strategies, ensuring consistency in approach and sustainability of the support sought; - Proactively proposing contributions and ideas related to regional disarmament for the Office’s publications as well as strategic communications biennial planning;

Supports the Chief of the Branch in the management of the Branch and in carrying out crosscutting responsibilities assigned to the Branch, by: - Coordinating to the development of the yearly Branch workplan as well as the sub-programme budget; - Acting as focal point for change management processes to be initiated within the Branch, or for Office-wide ones to be implemented by the Branch; - Ensuring UNODA’s website Regional Centre related pages and information are updated on a regular basis and sharing the overall responsibility for substantive quality control of UNODA’s online presence; - Assisting in the performance management of the Branch’s staff; - Sharing responsibilities related to UNODA’s data strategy implementation; - Performing substantive or support secretariat functions intergovernmental processes as may be required; - Performing other duties as may be required.

Competencies Professionalism: Ability to guide and coordinate the work of the Office's three regional centres, ensuring alignment with relevant mandates, ODA's strategic planning documents, and UN-wide policies; provide support and advice to the regional centres on substantive and operational matters, coordinating input from relevant UNODA branches or UN partners, as required. 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.

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.

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 An advanced university degree (Master’s or Doctorate degree, or equivalent) in degree in political science, social sciences, international relations, international security, law, public administration, international economics or related fields is required. A first-level degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in the specified fields of studies 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 political affairs, diplomacy, conflict resolution, international relations, international security, disarmament or related field is required.

Practical experience working in the field of disarmament, arms-control or non-proliferation is required.

Practical experience in coordinating all aspects of projects or programmes in the field, including design, resource mobilization, implementing partners, financial and substantive reporting is required.

Experience in cooperating with regional or sub-regional organizations is desirable.

Experience in supporting intergovernmental processes or meetings of States Parties is desirable.

Experience working with or in a United Nations common system field operation (inclusive of peacekeeping, political missions and UN agencies, funds, and programmes country offices) or similar international or non-governmental 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 and/or Spanish is desirable. Knowledge of another United Nations official language is an advantage.

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

Special Notice 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.

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.

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.

For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or underrepresented in the UN Secretariat as of 31 March 2023, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Comoros, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu.

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.

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.

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.