Org. Setting and Reporting
The Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) is responsible for providing leadership, operational support and oversight of the United Nations security management system (UNSMS) globally. As a global leader in security risk management principles, UNDSS enables the safe and effective delivery of United Nations programmes and activities in the most complex and challenging environments, while maximizing precious resources. To this end, the work of the Department is aligned under a clear mission, to enable United Nations system programme activities through trusted security leadership and solutions. The Director leads and manages the Division of Partnerships and Specialized Support (DPSS) with responsibility for the overall smooth functioning of the Division and the delivery of outputs. The Director reports to the Assistant Secretary-General (ASG) for Safety and Security under the overall guidance of the Under-Secretary-General (USG). This is a unique opportunity to join a diverse, dynamic and exciting organization gaining unique and valuable experience where security provides great value. Besides the opportunity to gain new skills and further advance security expertise, this position offers a fulfilling environment that gives you satisfaction by contributing directly or indirectly to peace and security, human rights, and achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. For more information on the Department, and how we make an impact on the world in enabling the achievement of SDGs, visit: https://www.un.org/undss/
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Director is responsible for the following: As a UNDSS senior leader: • Contributes to the formulation of the Department’s strategies and policies as part of the senior leadership team and acting in an advisory capacity to the ASG and USG; contributes to the overall management of the Department’s integrated activities and operations. • Contributes to achievement of the Department’s strategies and priorities, and implementation of the Department’s programme of reform. • Liaises, consults and maintains ongoing relationships with stakeholders and other organizational units within the Department. • Fosters teamwork and communication among staff in the Division and across organizational boundaries, proactively working across divisions and sections. Substantive responsibilities under DPSS: • Oversees the preparation of SG Reports within UNDSS and leads the Department’s role in relation to GA, SC, and other intergovernmental briefings and negotiations. • Coordinates and manages the expert teams responsible for key enablers, covering policy and strategic partnerships, resource mobilization, training, close protection coordination, physical security, critical incident stress management, road safety, and information management to enable UNDSS operational activities and those of the United Nations Security Management System (UNSMS). • Leads the coordination and development of policies, standards and best practices in relation to the work of the UN Security Management System, working closely with the inter-agency security management system. Leadership and management of DPSS: • Leads, directs and manages the Division of Partnerships and Specialized Support to provide integrated strategic and operational support across UNDSS, to enable delivery of its mandate and mission. • Formulates and implements the substantive work programme of the Division, determining priorities and allocating resources for the timely and effective achievement of results. • Provides leadership to the development of innovative and/or change management programmes. • Oversees the management of the Division’s results-aligned workplan, ensuring that programmed activities are implemented; coordinates work within the Division and Department, and with other Departments, agencies, funds and programmes. • Ensures that the outputs produced by the Division are high quality; that reports are clear, objective and based on comprehensive data. • Leads on the programmatic/administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of the Division, including preparation of budgets and reports to intergovernmental bodies, assigning and monitoring of performance parameters and critical results indicators, reporting on budget/programme performance, preparation of inputs for results-based budgeting, effective evaluation of staff performance (PAS) with integrity and with a view to upholding standards and values, and ensuring implementation of the Department’s gender and diversity strategies in relation to the Division’s work. • Oversees the workforce planning and timely recruitment of staff for Division taking due account geographical and gender balance and other institutional values. • Manages, guides, develops and trains staff under their supervision • Performs other duties as required.
Competencies
• Professionalism: Expert knowledge in modern management tools and people management practices; strong strategic planning experience and skills; demonstrable vision and ability to challenge existing approaches and innovate; ability to manage, coordinate and provide different support activities in an integrated fashion while considering multiple client needs in a dynamic operating environment; ability to demonstrate management expertise in a multi-disciplinary and decentralized organization; 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. • 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. • Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable. • 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 improvements; 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; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing. • 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 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 public policy and administration, business administration, law, political/social sciences, international relations, or a related area. A relevant first-level university degree in combination with a minimum of two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Job – Specific Qualification
Not available.
Work Experience
Over fifteen years of progressively responsible experience in public or business administration; management; international relations; and/or political, humanitarian, security, or development affairs is required. A minimum of five years of this experience in senior leadership and management at the international level, managing large, multi-dimensional and multi-functional teams in an international or multilateral context is required. Experience managing intergovernmental or inter-agency processes, supporting policy and programme development, and managing projects is required. Experience in strategic planning, programme development, and resource mobilization, with particular emphasis in mobilizing and managing extrabudgetary funds is required. Experience in providing authoritative advice to senior officials on cross-cutting strategic issues is required. At least three in the past ten years serving in field operations, in conflict or recently post-conflict settings, is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is desirable. Note: Fluency equals a rating of “fluent” in all four areas (speak, read, write and understand). Knowledge of equals a rating of “confident” or “fluent” in at least two of the four areas.
Assessment
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
Special Notice
• This position is available through 31 March 2026 (with the possibility of an extension), during the absence of the regular incumbent. The regular incumbent is entitled to return to this position at the expiry of the temporary vacancy period. If the regular incumbent exercises the right to return, the appointment or temporary assignment or promotion of the candidate selected for this job opening will not be renewed or extended. • The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. • The United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) is taking efforts to improve gender parity, including full implementation of the UN-wide, and Departmental Gender Strategies. We are committed to providing an inclusive culture and exciting opportunities for women in the security and operations field. • Applying to this job opening carries an expectation to accept the offer, if selected. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. • Staff members of the United Nations Secretariat must fulfil the lateral move requirements to be eligible to apply for this vacancy. Staff members are requested to indicate all qualifying lateral moves in their Personal History Profile (PHP) and cover letter. • Staff members appointed to the current position are required to submit a financial disclosure statement upon assignment or appointment and annually thereafter. • An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. • The selection process for this job opening will be conducted pursuant to ST/AI/2010/3 on the “Staff Selection System” and include the compliance review process by a review body described in staff rule 4.15. • 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 Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and administrative issuances governing staff appointments can be viewed at: http://www.un.org/hr_handbook/English • For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or under-represented in the UN Secretariat as of 31 March 2024, are strongly encouraged to apply: Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, China, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Germany, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Libya, Liechtenstein, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Nauru, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu.
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. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile 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.