Senior Political Affairs Officer, P-5

Position description

Org. Setting and Reporting

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 and in support to the Chief of Branch, the Senior Peacebuilding Officer shall manage a team of officers of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) Support Unit and will be responsible for the following duties:

• Support to the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC): Provide substantive and technical support to the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC); undertake in-depth analysis and recommendations on thematic, organizational and procedural issues which are critical for the strategic direction of the PBC and seek to ensure better links with national and regional policies of member states;
• Provide advice on key topics for discussion;
• Monitor the implementation of the annual Forward Agenda and work programmes of the PBC as it pertains to the countries and regions assigned Coordinate the engagement of the UN system partners and external experts in developing and reviewing concept notes, background papers and related material, as required;
• Serve as the focal point within the Office for PBC relations and interactions with UN principal organs, regional groups and individual member states, and other stakeholders;
• Follow-up discussions and decisions made by the three UN principal organs with implications to the work of the PBC; Serve as the focal point for PBC members’ enquiries on substantive, process and procedural matters; coordinate the drafting of and assist the Chairperson in the consultations on the annual PBC report as well as preparation for consideration of the report by the General Assembly and Security Council;
• Provide advice on the institutional development of the Commission including its working methods;
• Support and strengthen the process of dialogue and partnership with regional intergovernmental bodies; review and disseminate notifications and documentation for meetings and activities of the PBC to its members and relevant UN departments and entities;
• Clear all official correspondence from the PBC Chairperson and the head of PBSO to Member States and UN principal organs; liaise with DGACM on all support requirements for the PBC’s scheduling of meetings and release of official documents; assist in laying out a communications and visibility strategy for the PBC;
• Support to the UN Secretariat/System: Develop and coordinate office-wide inputs to relevant Secretary-General’s reports to the General Assembly and Security; develop PBSO’s inputs for the broader preparation of the Secretary-General’s meetings with relevant interlocutors and statements at relevant events; serve as the PBSO focal point for briefings to UN system mechanisms on the work of and processes involving the PBC;
• Manage the activities/staff of the PBC Support Branch: Assists the Branch Chief, in Planning and management of activities undertaken by the Branch; manages, supervises and ensure that work programmes and programmed activities are carried out in a timely fashion; co-ordinates the work carried out by the Branch and provides programmatic and substantive reviews of drafts prepared by others; ensures that outputs produced by the Branch maintain high quality standards; that reports are clear, objective and based on comprehensive data; manages, guides, develops and train staff under his/her supervision; evaluation of staff performance (PAS), interviews of candidates for job opening and evaluation of candidates.

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 inter-governmental 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 format 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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