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 ordinarily located in Kathmandu at the United Nations Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific (UNRCPD), which is part of the Regional Disarmament Branch of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs. However, this position is temporarily assigned to New York.

The UN Regional Centre is mandated to provide, on request, substantive support for initiatives and other activities mutually agreed upon by the Member States of the Asia-Pacific region for the implementation of measures for peace and disarmament through the appropriate utilization of available resources. The incumbent reports to the Chief of Branch.

Responsibilities Under the general guidance of the Chief of the Regional Disarmament Branch, the incumbent will be responsible for, but not limited to, the performance of the following duties:

Promote, enhance and support regional and sub-regional efforts towards disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation in Asia and the Pacific region by: a. Assessing proposals and requests for assistance, support to and/or cooperation from relevant stakeholders, including Member States, regional arrangements, relevant academic or other institutions on activities (conferences, seminars, workshops, training, research and studies) and recommending appropriate actions; b. Conceiving substantive projects including mainstreaming a gender perspective; c. Elaborating corresponding resource mobilization strategies and carrying out fund-raising with I nterested Governments, inter- governmental bodies, foundations, and academic and other r esearch institutes in support of the Centre's activities; d. Undertaking outreach activities in support of the programme of work of the Centre; e. Coordinating all substantive and technical aspects of the execution of approved projects, in cooperation with relevant stakeholders, including Governments and other entities sponsoring the projects; f. Providing substantive inputs to the preparation of the biennial programme plan and the biennial proposed programme budget in relation to section 4/subprogramme 5 on regional disarmament;

Build the capacity of relevant actors in the region by: a. Identifying and selecting appropriate beneficiaries; b. Developing and providing training and advisory services, including workshops, training curricula and manuals; c. Establishing institutional links with Governments, regional/sub-regional organizations, academic and other research institutions, as well as NGOs; d. Building a network of specialists and experts in relevant regional and sub-regional matters;

Provide substantive support to the High Representative by: a. Drafting briefing notes and talking points on regional/sub-regional developments; b. Drafting required reports of the Secretary-General to UN-bodies; c. Providing substantive contributions to ODA's reports and publications, including the Disarmament Yearbook; d. Liaising with States of the regional group and advising them on their elaboration of the annual GA resolution;

Direct, supervise and manage the operation of the Regional Center by: a. Mobilizing necessary resources for the sustainable operation of the Center, including core funding; b. Elaborating annual and medium-term work programmes within the framework of section 4/sub-programme 5 of the biennial budget; c. Managing accurate and timely reporting to headquarters on the implementation of the various stages of the projects, including financial reporting; d. Drafting briefs, press releases, reports and/or publications on all completed projects; e. Reporting on budgetary, administrative and OIOS matters, including IMDIS, cost plans and progress report on relevant trust fund, as well as quarterly travel plans; f. Undertaking appropriate measures and action to recruit necessary staff to assist in execution of projects and make recommendations to HQ through Chief of the Branch, on selection of staff; g. Providing effective leadership, guidance and coaching of staff, including building an effective staff base, fostering teamwork, managing staff performance and designing opportunities for training and knowledge/skills transfer; h. Overseeing and managing the Center's website and databases.

Competencies Professionalism: Expert knowledge in disarmament and arms control issues; Demonstrated ability to plan and execute disarmament and non-proliferation related programmes as well as to mobilize resources; proven negotiating skills; in-depth knowledge of the Asia and the Pacific region; strong analytical skills combined with sound political judgment in resolving a wide range of issues and problems. Excellent public speaking and representational skills. Proven record of building and managing teams. Shows pride in work and in achievements. Demonstrates professional competency and mastery of the subject matter. Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results. Is motivated by professional rather than person concerns. Shows consistence when faced with difficult problems and challenges. Remains calm in stressful situations.

Planning & 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.

Client Orientation: Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; Identifies clients' needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients' environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; Keeps client informed of progress or setbacks in projects; Meets timeline for delivery of product or services to client

Leadership: Empowers others to translate vision into results; be 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; provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives 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.

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, Management, 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 10 years of practical experience at the national and/or international levels in disarmament and related international security issues is required.

Demonstrated experience in resources mobilization and project management is required.

Experience with the Asia and Pacific region is desirable.

Languages English and French are the working languages of the UN Secretariat. For this post, fluency in oral and written English is required. Working knowledge of another UN Official Language is desirable.

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

Special Notice - This position is temporarily available for six (6) months. 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.

• 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.

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.