Policy and Best Practices Officer, P-3

Position description

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located within the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), Duty Station, Juba. The Policy and Best Practices Officer reports to the Mission Chief of Staff through the Senior Mission Planning Officer.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority and under the supervision of the Mission Chief of Staff and the Senior Mission Planning Officer, who also serves as the Head of the Strategic Planning Unit, the Policy and Best Practices Officer will carry out the following duties:

• Promote and facilitate organizational learning and knowledge sharing within the mission, and between the mission and other missions and UNHQ.
• Promote the integration of lessons learned, good practices and other operational knowledge into work processes, guidance, training and planning scenarios.
• Develop and maintain a network of policy and best practices focal points within the Mission in cooperation with the Force and UNPOL Policy and Best Practices Officers.
• Promote the active use throughout the mission of the DPO knowledge sharing tools and systems, such as the Policy and Practice Database, end of assignment reports, surveys of practice, after-action reviews, practice notes and lessons learned studies, in cooperation with the Policy and Best Practices Officers from the Force and Police components.
• Initiate and coordinate outreach activities, conduct training workshops, seminars, etc.; make presentations on policy, organizational learning and knowledge management issues, including through support to the integrated induction training.
• Facilitate and/or generate good practices and lessons on various mission work processes, operational responses, organizational systems, mandate implementation, etc. Facilitate and support as required the conduct of programmatic evaluations.
• Collect, store and share learning materials originating in the mission with UNHQ and other missions through the Policy and Practice Database, Communities of Practice and other channels and information sharing fora.
• Prepare and share with mission leadership syntheses of lessons learned and recommendations documented in the mission’s knowledge sharing reports, as required.
• Develop, on behalf of the mission management, an appropriate mechanism for considering and following up on Mission-level recommendations generated by knowledge production and sharing mechanisms, including audits and evaluations.
• Organize follow-up action as required on studies undertaken, seminars or workshops on mission specific best practices and lessons learned activities.
• Provide other learning and research services to the mission as required.
• Support the establishment of a mission-wide system of guidance development based on lesson learned and good practice.
• Take an active part in the network of Policy and Practice Officers in Peace Operations and liaise regularly with the Policy and Best Practices Services at UN headquarters, including through dissemination of lessons learned and guidance materials from other missions with staff, as relevant.
• Support the Chief of Staff and other senior mission managers upon request, with the development, review, approval and dissemination of mission specific guidance including the development and implementation of a mission-specific guidance development process.
• Support the Chief of Staff and other senior mission managers in identifying gaps in existing official guidance, including through needs assessments, and developing guidance where needed based on identified gaps.
• Facilitate Mission inputs to UNHQ draft guidance as needed.
• Collect, store and share guidance materials originating in the mission with UNHQ and other missions through the Policy and Practice Database, Communities of Practice and other channels and information sharing forums.
• Support alignment of DPO-DOS policy development priorities with mission guidance development priorities.
• In consultation with the Chief of Staff and the senior mission leadership and assisted by the Policy and Best Practices Service at UN Headquarters, support coordination of and/or implement policy reviews and studies.
• Liaise with UN partner organizations, national and international organizations and academic institutions on all issues related to policy/guidance development.
• Perform other, related duties as required.

Competencies

• Professionalism: 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. 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.
• Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; Identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in international relations, business administration, management, public administration, law, development studies or related fields. 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

• At least five years of progressively responsible experience in international affairs and peace and security, preferably in the area of knowledge management, organizational learning or policy development, is required. Knowledge of relevant UN and peacekeeping policies and procedures is desirable. Experience in drafting guidance and organizational learning products (after-action reviews, practice notes, lessons learned studies, etc.) is desirable. Experience with leading or facilitating organizational learning and change management initiatives is desirable. Experience in programme management or evaluation is desirable.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required.

Application instructions

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