SOCIAL AFFAIRS OFFICER

Contract

This is a P-3 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 5 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 140,639 USD and 184,155 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 Programme on Ageing Section (PAS) of the Social Inclusion and Participation Branch (SIPB) of the Division for Inclusive Social Development (DISD), Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA). The Social Affairs Officer will report to the Senior Social Affairs Officer in the Programme on Ageing Section. The Branch undertakes substantive functions on social development in relation to populations at greatest risk of being left behind (persons with disabilities, older persons and youth) as well as on the issue of families; and promotes the strengthening of, and policy support for, social development for the implementation of development agendas, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This includes organizing and contributing to publications and parliamentary documents; providing substantive support to intergovernmental bodies; and the organization of expert group meetings, seminars and workshops. More information on DISD’s work is available at https://www.un.org/development/desa/dspd.

Responsibilities Within delegated authority, the Social Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

Social Analysis •Participates in the analysis of social development issues related to older persons and ageing at the global, regional and national levels; undertakes empirical research and analysis of trends and developments and related policy issues relevant to the unit/departmental mandate, projects and initiatives; recommends proposals for inclusion in reports to intergovernmental bodies, member states, etc. •Develops indicators and methodologies for review and evaluation of specific topics. •Supports the monitoring of the implementation of the outcome of the Second World Assembly on Ageing and the Madrid Plan of Action on Ageing; provide substantive contributions to the development of policy recommendations and identification of emerging issues including gender perspective and other cross-cutting themes. •Liaises with officials of governments, representatives of national, regional and global organizations, organizations of the UN system, and provides substantive contribution and support to the coordination of activities on ageing within the United Nations system, including through the Interagency Group on Ageing (IAGA). •Assists in the planning, organizing and servicing of technical and ad hoc expert group meeting; drafting reports and preparing summaries of meetings, etc. •Represents the work unit at international and other meetings; organize and participate in working groups, meetings, conferences, consultations with other agencies and partners on social and economic development related matters. •Prepares/contributes to the preparation of various written reports, documents and communications, e.g. drafts reports or sections of analytical reports, studies, background papers, parliamentary documents, briefings, correspondence, etc.

Intergovernmental support •Provides substantive support to intergovernmental processes dealing with social development issues related to ageing by: preparing inputs for reports to intergovernmental bodies; following intergovernmental meetings and preparing summary reports; preparing inputs to statements by members of the bureau and Secretariat staff to such meetings; assisting in the organization of panels, round tables, etc. on social development issues for intergovernmental processes. •Assists with providing substantive support to the GA Open-ended Working Group on Ageing (OEWG-A).

Technical Cooperation •Assists in the substantive contribution to technical cooperation activities, when required, and participates in missions. •Contributes to the preparation of material for the approval of regional, country or sectoral technical cooperation projects. •Monitors, backstops and assesses the implementation of technical cooperation programmes and projects.

General •Performs other related duties as required, including a variety of administrative tasks necessary for the final delivery of the work unit’s services. •Undertakes on-the-job and other training activities, both internally and externally.

Competencies •Professionalism: Knowledge and practical application of theories and concepts related to social development and social policy, including ability to use approaches and techniques to address difficult problems. Strong analytical capacity and the ability to identify, analyze and articulate difficult issues/problems. Ability to use sound judgment. Strong research skills, including ability to evaluate and integrate information from a variety of sources using standard methodologies and analytical techniques, draw conclusions and assess impact on the social development and policy issues. Ability to provide guidance to new/junior staff. 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.

•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

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 two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in socio economic development, policy analysis, sociological research or related area is required.

Experience in social development issues is required.

Experience in intergovernmental work, particularly providing substantive support to the intergovernmental process, is required.

Experience with drafting reports and parliamentary documentation is required.

Experience with social research on ageing 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 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 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.

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 31 January 2022, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, 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, 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, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu, Viet Nam.

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.