Senior Political Affairs Officer

Position description

This post is found within the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) at Headquarters in New York. New York is classified as a “H” hardship duty station and a family duty station. Under the overall supervision of the Director of the Security Council Affairs Division, the incumbent reports directly to the Chief of the Security Council Practices and Charter Branch.

Within delegated authority, the Senior Political Affairs Officer, reporting to the Chief of Branch the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties: • Provides substantive guidance and expert advice of the constitutional and procedural developments in Security Council practice, develops direction for the work and plan of action for the timely and accurate preparation of the Repertoire of the Practice of the Security Council; ensures quality control, promotes uniform high standards across all parts of the publication and captures lessons learned; identifies emerging issues pertaining to the mandates of the Branch, analyses implications and makes recommendations on possible strategies and measures; draft studies for the repertory of practice of United Nations organs, covering the relevant periods by cross referencing to the Repertoire. • Plans and implements the operational activities related to the work of the Branch, incorporates a gender perspective into the policy, planning and operational activities of the Branch. • Prepares statements to the legislative bodies (i.e. the Sixth Committee the Charter Committee, et al). • Plans, coordinates and manages projects and activities requiring interdepartmental and/or interagency involvement and participation. • Prepares briefing notes and talking points for the Secretary-General, Senior Advisers, Under-Secretary-General/Assistant Secretary-General, and Member States, as requested. • Contributes to the design and implements, as appropriate, more efficient and accurate means of collecting information of relevance to the Security Council by leveraging new technologies. • Provides briefings to Member State representatives, academics and public groups on procedural and constitutional issues related to the Security Council, as requested; prepares documentation on the work and practice of the Security Council of relevance to specific groups such as troop and police contributing countries; advises on the Security Council’s application of the Charter and its own Provisional Rules of Procedure in support of the UN Security Council members, as requested and as appropriate. • Participates in developing and delivering capacity building and information sessions for new Council members. • Monitors and reports on the debates in the General Assembly in connection with the reform of the Security Council and improvement of its working methods. • Leads and directs a work team; plans and allocates work assignments; coaches, mentors and evaluates staff; participates in recruitment and selection of new staff and in the development of training programs. • Manages coordinates organizes and supervises research on a variety of political issues pertaining to the work of the Security Council including, consideration of questions under the responsibility of the Security Council for the maintenance of international peace and security; provisional rules of procedure and related developments; purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations; relations with United Nations organs; consideration of the functions and powers of the Security Council; etc. • Represents the Branch at round tables, seminars and conferences. • Formulates the programme of work, budget and medium-term plan of the Branch and participates in the overall approval of the programme of work, and administrative matters concerning the Branch; coordinates and oversees work of colleagues and Branch. • Performs other related duties as required.

• Professionalism: Knowledge of the work of intergovernmental bodies, including the United Nations, the Security Council and its subsidiary bodies. Ability to provide guidance on procedural and constitutional issues related to the Security Council. 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. • 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: • Managing Performance: Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills; monitors progress against milestones and deadlines; regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative; actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; appraises performance fairly. • 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.

Qualifications

A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in political science, international relations, law, disarmament, security, development management, conflict resolution or related area is required. Experience in providing substantive guidance and expert advice on the constitutional procedural developments on/to UN legislative bodies and subsidiary organs is required. Experience in managing a team for the drafting of policy documents and/or analytical reports is required. Experience in researching and drafting case studies in the ambit of international peace and security is desirable.

Application instructions

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