Senior Political Affairs Officer, P-5

Position description

The position is located in the Peacebuilding Commission Support Branch in the Peacebuilding Support Office (PBSO) in the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA). The incumbent will report directly to the Chief of the Branch. Established in 2005, the Peacebuilding Support Office (PBSO) helps to sustain peace by fostering international support for nationally owned and led peacebuilding efforts. The Office assists and supports the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC), manages the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) on behalf of the Secretary-General, and works to enhance system-wide coherence and partnerships with UN and non-UN actors in support of building and sustaining peace in relevant countries. The Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) focuses primarily on five action areas in international peace and security, ensuring sound analysis and early warning, preventing conflict and engaging in peacemaking, managing political crises and violent conflicts, sustaining peace, and enhancing partnerships. The Department’s mandate is to prevent and resolve conflict through inclusive political solutions.

Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Chief of the Branch, the incumbent will be responsible for the following:

Guidance and Supervision of Country Support Unit

• Provides guidance to desk officers and ensures effective backstopping to the various desks, including support to the PBC Chair, Chairs of the Country Configurations and PBC members;
• Leads the formulation of Unit annual work plans and their regular monitoring, and contributes to the elaboration of the work plan of the Branch;
• Coordinates the day-to-day work of the Desks, ensuring timely and effective implementation of work plans;
• Leads and coordinates the development of tools of engagement of the PBC with countries on its agenda and periodic review exercises, as well as the development of methodologies for tracking progress in the peacebuilding process;
• Leads and/or coordinates the development of high quality policy papers, briefs and discussions papers for consideration;
• Contributes to the reporting to intergovernmental bodies such as PBC, General Assembly, Security Council, ECOSOC and other bodies.
• Performs duties relating to the administrative effectiveness of the Branch.

Monitoring Political Situations

• Monitors the overall trends in the countries on the agenda of the PBC, with a view to identifying opportunities and emerging threats to the peacebuilding process, and recommend appropriate course of action to the Chair and/or to the leadership of PBSO;
• Contributes to and support the process of the identification of possible candidate countries for inclusion on the agenda of the PBC; monitor the key peacebuilding issues and support the PBSO leadership in their dealings with those countries;

Establishing/Strengthening Partnerships

• Identifies opportunities of strategic partnerships between regional or global stakeholders and the PBC and takes the lead in establishing or strengthening them;
• Takes lead in strengthening related partnerships with other UN entities, including PBSO’s participation in inter-agency for a and mechanisms;
• Supports PBSO’s leadership in their dealings with the UN leadership at country level;
• Participates in national, regional or international meetings, as necessary.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Ability to analyze and identify peacebuilding challenges and offer proposals for addressing such challenges in the countries and regions under the consideration of the PBC; Ability to integrate knowledge of country- and region- specific contexts with broader policy and operational objectives; Understanding of inter-agency and inter-governmental processes relating to peacebuilding; Ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; Ability to negotiate and seek and reach agreement in inter-agency and intergovernmental processes; Ability to improve processes and procedures relating to PBC engagement with countries under its consideration. Shows pride in work and in achievements; 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 clam in stressful situations; demonstrates professional competence and master of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results.
• 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 formal to match the audience; Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
• 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.
• 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 improvement; 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.
• 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 international relations, political or social sciences, public or business administration, development studies, or 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 ten years of progressively responsible professional experience in political science, international relations, development management or related area is required. Experience in the provision of substantive advice and support to Member States is required. Experience in international or multi-lateral organization including supporting intergovernmental or political processes is required. Experience in working on political issues, policy and in devising political strategies for senior-level officials is required. Experience in managing and supporting complex political operations involving a wide array of national and international stakeholders in conflict or post-conflict settings is required. A minimum of two years of experience in the field, in particular in UN peace operations or complex settings, is required.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in English, (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of French is desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

Application instructions

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