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.

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 Executive Office of the Secretary-General (EOSG).

The EOSG, under the guidance of the Secretary-General (SG), work as a team pursuing in a cohesive and coherent manner, the SG’s vision, priorities and policies for his second mandate in office. It seeks alignment of the United Nations family with the SG’s vision, priorities and policies. It is guided by the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity and of achieving gender and regional balance among staff.

All EOSG unit will support the EOSG senior officials, as appropriate, depending on the tasks at hand, regardless of which senior official they formally report to, and will work together through a matrix team approach, as necessary, to ensure EOSG leads by example on integration and cross-pillar work.

The Secretary-General launched the United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy (UNDIS) in June 2019 to bring about lasting and transformative change in the work of the UN on disability inclusion. The Disability Inclusion Team works on the coordinated implementation of the Strategy across the Un system.

With in-depth understanding of disability inclusion and mainstreaming disability in policies, the Senior Social Affairs Officer leads the Disability Inclusion Team, is part of the Sustainable Development Unit (SDU) in the EOSG and works under the overall guidance of the SDU Director and reports directly to the Deputy Director of the Unit. This position is temporary and initially for a year only.

Responsibilities Within delegated authority, the Senior Social Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties: - Oversee the coordinated implementation of the United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy (UNDIS) within the UN system, in the context of the Decade of Action for the delivery of the SDGs; - Support the Secretary-General and Deputy Secretary-General advance their vision on disability inclusion and related areas in line with the pledge of the Sustainable Development Goals of leaving no one behind. - Coordinate and guide the Disability Inclusion Team for provisioning of technical assistance to strengthen disability inclusion across the Organization and to foster greater coherence of approaches, policy and actions within the United Nations system; - Convene UNDIS focal point networks to facilitate systemwide coordination on disability inclusion and sharing of learnings and good practices across entities and country teams; - In line with UNDIS, guide the Disability Inclusion Team on development of projects and plans aimed at strengthening the capacity of UN entities and country teams on disability inclusion and the achievement of the SDGs; - Coordinate the development of resources and tools to mainstream disability in programmes and operations to support entities and country teams to implement the UNDIS; - Monitor the implementation of UNDIS and the commitments by UN entities and country teams as per the UNDIS accountability framework, and provide periodic updates and briefings to the senior management on progress, relevant thematic and sectorial insights as well as gaps and challenges; - Oversee the reporting on UNDIS by collecting and analyzing reports and policies from UN entities and UN country teams and support strengthened accountability on disability inclusion across the UN system, in line with UNDIS; - Support senior management and SDU colleagues to mainstream disability into the work of the Office/Unit, including preparation and review of briefing notes, remarks and reports; - Engage with key inter-agency coordination mechanisms to address challenges to disability inclusion that require system-wide solutions and support these mechanisms/networks to take measures to implement the UNDIS; - Undertake outreach with key external stakeholders, particularly member states and organizations of persons with disabilities to mobilize support on disability inclusion, including the implementation of UNDIS; - Coordinate and support advocacy and communication efforts for disability inclusion in accordance with the vision of the Secretary-General and the Deputy Secretary-General. - Participate in wider efforts aimed at the achievement of the SDGs and ensure consistency with other streams of work within the Sustainable Development Unit and the EOSG, in particular support the work on older persons. - Supervise and guide members of the Disability Inclusion Team, including development of the Team’s action plan in consultation with team members, tracking delivery of activities and budget utilization, timely preparation and submission of reports.

Competencies Professionalism: Strong analytical and writing skills with proven skills in policy advice and problem identification/solving; Ability to advise senior management and other senior officials of approaches and techniques to address highly complex/sensitive issues. Ability to undertake conceptual and strategic analysis. Ability to demonstrate original and creative thinking as well as use of new technologies. Ability to use independent judgment and discretion in advising on and handling policy, project and other issues/problems. Strong negotiating skills and ability to influence others to reach agreement on difficult issues. Ability to work under pressure. Excellent knowledge of relevant institutional mandates, policies and guidelines – including on disability. Knowledge of the institutions of the UN system. Shows pride in work and in achievements and is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives as well as shows commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of work. 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.

Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

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.

Managerial Competencies:

Building Trust: Provides an environment in which others can talk and act without fear of repercussion; manages in a deliberate and predictable way; operates with transparency; has no hidden agenda; places confidences in colleagues, staff members and clients; gives proper credit to theirs; follows through on agreed upon actions; treats sensitive or confidential information appropriately.

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), in sociology, economics, other social science or related field.

Work Experience A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in working in areas of social inclusion, human rights or any other relevant field is required.

At least three years of experience in working on the rights of persons with disabilities is required.

Knowledge of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and other relevant human rights instruments is required.

Experience in providing technical assistance on disability inclusion to stake-holders at headquarters and country level is required.

Experience of developing knowledge and practice resources, reports and tools on disability inclusion is desirable.

Experience in gender mainstreaming is desirable.

Experience of managing and tracking budgets is desirable.

Languages Fluency in English (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is an asset.

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.

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.

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 disability. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

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.