Senior Social 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.
Salary for a P-5 contract in New York
The international rate of 110,869 USD, with an additional 88.4% (post adjustment) at this the location, applies. Please note that depending on the location, a higher post adjustment might still result in a lower purchasing power.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.
More about P-5 contracts and their salaries.Org. Setting and Reporting This position is located in the Indigenous Peoples and Development Branch/Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (IPDB/SPFII), in the Division for Inclusive Social Development (DISD) of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA). The Senior Social Affairs Officer reports to the Chief of IPDB/SPFII. The IPDB/SPFII advocates for and facilitates the implementation within the UN system of the recommendations of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues; promotes awareness of indigenous issues within the UN system, governments, and the broader public; and serves as a source of information and a coordination point for advocacy efforts that relate to the Permanent Forum's mandate, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and ongoing issues that arise concerning indigenous peoples. The SPFII also coordinates advocacy and implementation of the system wide action plan on indigenous peoples.
In this context the P5 Senior Social Affairs Officer in DESA/DISD/IPDB-SPFII is expected to play a lead role in identifying significant socio-economic and indigenous issues to be addressed; deliver high quality empirical research results; develop well-reasoned, innovative suggestions and approaches to deal with complex policy/technical and sensitive issues; effectively lead and manage major reports, projects and work teams; deliver outputs in a timely manner, in accordance with overall objectives and policies; and form strong partnerships with relevant parties to help meet organization's objectives with respect to overall policy initiatives and coordination on indigenous issues. For more information on DESA/DSPD/SPFII visit: www.un.org/indigenous.
Responsibilities Within delegated authority, the Senior Social Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties:
Social Analysis - Serves as focal point for collaboration on major issues/topics; provides authoritative technical and policy advice and assistance to inter-governmental and non-governmental bodies, Member State officials, international and other organizations on planning, evaluating and implementing strategies, policies and programmes which impact socio-economic development at global, regional or national levels. - Monitors the performance of institutional mandates/actions plans; coordinates the implementation of the system wide action plan on Indigenous Peoples; influences the development and evolution of the UN approach to social development issues; makes substantive contributions to the design and implementation of significant policy and programme changes to address country, regional, global social-economic concerns, including gender considerations. - Takes the lead in establishing partnerships with other experts and stakeholders (e.g. governments, research institutes, academia, UN system and other international organizations, NGOs, the private sector, etc.) to discuss emerging topics related to indigenous issues and social development, exchange views on latest findings, policy guidelines, new models of development, etc. - Writes and/or supervises preparation of a variety of studies, reports, etc. on social and socio economic issues related to indigenous peoples for publication within the UN system and in academic journals and other publications; supervises the collection, analysis and dissemination of information on indigenous peoples. - Represents the organization at national and international fora and presents institutional views/policies; coordinates and chairs and/or contributes substantively to sectoral seminars, general training programmes, workshops and expert group meetings.
Intergovernmental Support - Coordinates provision of substantive services to inter-governmental and expert bodies (e.g. the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council, the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues etc); facilitates the negotiation process and promotes constructive dialogue and collaboration; coordinates and facilitates the establishment of and liaison with various groups in civil society; oversees the preparation of analytical reports and other documentation for such bodies. - Manages the work unit's contribution to the preparation and management of meetings of intergovernmental bodies. - Represents the organizational unit at international, regional and national meetings on socio economic and indigenous issues.
Technical Cooperation - Develops and maintains relations with senior officials of member governments and ensures a response to requests for advice and/or assistance on social issues and policies. - Negotiates with donor and recipient governments on technical assistance programmes and projects. - Leads or participates in technical cooperation missions.
Programme Support - Contributes to the personnel and financial management of the work unit, to include the development and implementation of work plans and budgets. - Carries out and supervises key programme activities, including key missions and other initiatives; supervises professional and support staff in preparation of documents and reports on indigenous issues, as required and/or mandated by the legislative bodies; plans and allocates work assignments; coaches, mentors and evaluates staff; patticipates in recruitment, selection and training of new staff and in the development of training programs. - Performs other duties as required.
Competencies - Professionalism: Ability to advise senior management and other senior officials of approaches and techniques to address highly complex/sensitive issues. Recognized expertise in the field with demonstrated capacity for intellectual leadership. Ability to undertake conceptual and strategic analysis. Ability to thoroughly analyze and evaluate critical matters pe1iaining to a broad spectrum of socio-economic issues. Ability to demonstrate original and creative thinking. Ability to use independent judgment and discretion in advising on and handling major policy, project and other issues/problems. Strong negotiating skills and ability to influence others to reach agreement on difficult issues. Ability to work under extreme pressure. Excellent knowledge of relevant institutional mandates, policies and guidelines. Seasoned knowledge of the institutions of the UN system. 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 audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
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.
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 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 degree), in sociology, economics, other social science or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with additional two years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work Experience A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience on indigenous issues at national, regional or international level is required .
Experience providing support to intergovernmental processes, including support to intergovernmental negotiations, is required .
Field experience in developing countries and country or region-specific knowledge is desirable.
Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Spanish, French or Russian is desirable. Knowledge of another UN 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 - This position is temporarily available until 31 December 2023, with the possibility of extension. 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.
Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station.
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.
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.
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.