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 150,560 USD and 188,686 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 Kathmandu, Nepal at the United Nations Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Asia and the Pacific (UNRCPD), part of the Regional Disarmament, Information and Outreach Branch of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs. The Director of the Centre is to manage the overall operations of the Centre in the implementation of its mandate, which is to provide substantive support for initiatives and other activities in the field of peace and disarmament in the Asia-Pacific, through establishing and strengthening partnerships with Member States and other stakeholders in the region, and mobilization and management of necessary resources. The incumbent reports to the Chief of Branch. For more information, please refer to https://www.un.org/disarmament.

Responsibilities Under the general guidance of the Chief of the Regional Disarmament, Information and Outreach Branch, the incumbent will be responsible for the performance of the following duties:

1) Direct, supervise and manage all aspects of the operations and activities of the Regional Center by: - Developing an annual strategic workplan, with a vision and direction for the Center’s work. - Mobilizing necessary resources and support for the sustainable operation of the Center, including core funding. - Managing the financial and human resources of the Center. - Ensuring accurate and timely reporting on the implementation of the various stages of the projects, including financial reporting. - Providing substantive inputs to the preparation of the biennial programme plan and the biennial proposed programme budget within the framework of section 4/sub-programme 5 of the biennial budget. - Reporting on budgetary, administrative and OIOS matters, including cost plans and progress report on relevant trust funds, as well as quarterly travel plans. - 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. - Overseeing the Center's website and databases ensuring compliance with OICT guidance, and the centre's communication strategy. - Incorporating an integrated gender approach into all policy, planning and operational activities of the Centre. - Representing ODA at round tables, seminars, and conferences, preparing notes and talking points for ODA senior officials and advising on regional developments, preparing required reports to UN-bodies and contributing to ODA publications, and advising on relevant UNGA annual resolutions.

2) Promote, enhance, and support regional and sub-regional efforts towards disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation in Asia and the Pacific region by: - Developing policy directives and plans of action for immediate and long-term solutions to issues in the region. - Identifying needs and emerging issues pertaining to the mandates of the Regional Centre. - Analyzing implications and makes recommendations on possible strategies and measures and, against this, assessing proposals and requests for assistance. - Building partnerships with relevant stakeholders in support of ODA’s objectives, strategic plan, and mandates. This includes establishing institutional links with, and mutually reinforcing partnership between Governments, regional organizations, academic institutions, and NGOs, and building a network of experts, with a view of more sustainable initiatives.

3) Support the development and oversee the implementation of substantive projects and programmes in the region, or of regional components of global ODA initiatives, by: - Building the capacity of relevant actors in the region by identifying and selecting appropriate beneficiaries. - Advising on the development, developing and, as relevant providing, training and advisory services, including workshops, training curricula and manuals. - Elaborating resource mobilization and fund-raising strategies, diversifying the donor base, in consultation with ODA management. - Coordinating all substantive and technical aspects of the execution of approved projects and programmes, in cooperation with relevant stakeholders, including Governments and other sponsoring or implementing entities. - Ensuring the effective monitoring of the projects as well as the timely reporting to donors. - Ensuring an all of ODA approach to programme design, in line with ODA’s strategic plan. - Ensuring interdepartmental and/or interagency involvement in the programme life cycle, as relevant.

Competencies Professionalism: Expert knowledge in disarmament and arms control issues; 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: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow: empowers others to translate vision into results; is 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; drives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. 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.

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 Political Science, International Relations, Management, Law or a related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional 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 or related international security issues is required.

Experience in resources mobilization and project management is required.

Experience working in the Asia and the Pacific region 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 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 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 and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or underrepresented in the UN Secretariat as of 30 June 2022, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, China, Comoros, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Norway, 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, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, 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. 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.