Position description
Org. Setting and Reporting
The Department of Peace Operations (DPO) provides political and executive direction to United Nations peacekeeping operations around the world and maintains contact with the Security Council, troop and financial contributors, and parties to the conflict in the implementation of Security Council mandates. The Department works to integrate the efforts of United Nations, governmental and non-governmental entities in the context of peace operations. This position is located in the DPO Office of Rule of Law and Security Institutions (OROLSI), Justice and Corrections Service (JCS). JCS serves as a centre of expertise on justice, corrections and related rule of law areas within the United Nations Secretariat and supports the work of justice and corrections components in United Nations peace operations and other United Nations entities. It assists host countries to deliver essential justice and prison services, strengthen criminal justice systems, and facilitate rule of law reforms. The incumbent will report to the Chief of Service.
Responsibilities
Reporting to the Chief of JCS (D-1) or his/her delegate, the Judicial Affairs Officer (P-4) will undertake the following functions:
Mission Planning and Support
- Provide mission support to United Nations Missions on their rule of law, justice and corrections mandated tasks;
- Provide technical support and strategic guidance across all peacekeeping operations on criminal accountability including for crimes against peacekeepers and crimes again civilians;
- Provide strategic advice and support to the Department of Peace Operations and Member States on justice and corrections matters in peacekeeping;
- Provide rule of law, justice and corrections support to new, evolving or transitioning peace operations;
- Liaise with external and internal Department of Peace Operations partners on the rule of law including the Global Focal Point for Rule of Law towards coordination, effectiveness, and sustainability of United Nations support to host state authorities.
Policy and Guidance
- Assist the Chief of Service or his/her delegate in the administration of the Service, including the development of workplans and budgetary documents;
- Draft, review and edit correspondence and other documents for the Chief of Service and other senior officials in Headquarters and in the field;
- Contribute to the development of policies, guidance, and project proposals for donor funding;
- Organize briefings, conferences and training events.
Staffing and Human Resource Management
- Support all aspects of recruitment for professional staff, support staff and interns for the Service, and support the recruitment for counterparts in field missions;
- Support all aspects of selection, recruitment and deployment of Government Provided Personnel (GPP) and other seconded personnel, including by identifying and mobilizing specialized expertise;
- Ensures consideration of gender and diversity in all aspects of staffing and human resource management, and contributes to efforts to promote department and organizational strategies towards gender equality, diversity and integration;
- Supervise Justice and Corrections personnel as required;
- Assists with other tasks as requested by the Chief of Service or his/her delegate.
Competencies
Professionalism:
- Demonstrated knowledge of judicial and legal system issues, including knowledge of criminal law and relevant international human rights standards and their relationship and linkages to the broader post-conflict recovery/developmental framework and initiatives;
- Ability to proactively seek and recommend sound policy initiatives;
- Conceptual and strategic analytical capacity, including ability to identify and articulate issues that require a coordinated United Nations response;
- Judgment in applying technical expertise to a wide range of complex and unusual problems and in developing innovative and creative solutions;
- Knowledge of institutional mandates, policies and guidelines pertaining to judicial affairs and knowledge of the institutions of the United Nations system;
- Conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results;
- 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 the audience;
- Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
Commitment to continuous learning:
- Keeps abreast of new developments in own occupation/profession;
- Actively seeks to develop oneself professionally and personally;
- Contributes to the learning of colleagues and subordinates;
- Shows willingness to learn from others;
- Seeks feedback to learn and improve.
Managerial Competencies:
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;
- Demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.
Education
- An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law, criminology, public administration, or a related field is required. A first-level university degree in any of these fields, with a bar qualification or equivalent, in combination with two additional years of relevant legal experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
Work Experience
- A minimum of seven years of experience as a practicing lawyer, prosecutor, judge, legal expert, corrections expert, or rule of law expert is required;
- Significant experience providing technical assistance for the development or reform of rule of law, justice, or corrections institutions in a transitional, development or post-conflict setting outside the incumbent’s country of origin is required;
- A minimum of one year experience working in the headquarters of a regional or international organization is required;
- Significant experience drafting strategic documents and reviewing the written work of others is required;
- Significant experience providing support for criminal accountability efforts or the investigation and prosecution of serious crimes in post-conflict settings is desirable;
- Experience managing an international team is desirable;
- Experience working in the front office of a senior official is desirable.
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.
Application instructions
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