Position description
Org. Setting and Reporting
The Anti-Racism Office (ARO) was established by the UN General Assembly in the Office of the Under-Secretary-General for Management Strategy, Policy and Compliance to oversee, coordinate and monitor the implementation of the Strategic Action Plan on Addressing Racism and Promoting Dignity for All (SAP). The mandate of the ARO is to dismantle racism within the UN Secretariat and promote a zero-tolerance approach to racism and racial discrimination by promoting open dialogues, effective training and knowledge provision, policy analysis and review as well as racial justice through enhanced reporting and proficient adjudication of racial discrimination cases.
The Senior Programme Management Officer (Anti-Racism) will be based at the ARO and will operate under the leadership of the Director of the ARO.
The Senior Programme Management Officer is responsible for leading the Advocacy pillar of ARO’s the three-pronged approach, which addresses (i) Anti-Racism Advocacy, (ii) Anti-Racism Transparency and (iii) Anti-Racism Accountability.
The Senior Programme Management Officer oversees, coordinates, and monitors the operational activities on anti-racism advocacy and awareness raising related to the implementation of the Strategic Action Plan by incorporating an inclusive approach that tackles interpersonal, institutional, and systemic racism.
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Senior Programme Management Officer will be responsible for the following duties:
Policy and Strategic Management
- Provide guidance to the Director on the strategic development and management of activities on the anti-racism advocacy related to the implementation of the Strategic Action Plan on addressing racism and racial discrimination at the UN global Secretariat.
- Plan and implement the operational activities related to the work of the Anti-Racism Office on advocacy by incorporating an inclusive approach that tackles transformation in interpersonal, institutional, and systemic forms of racism and racial discrimination.
- Conceptualize and support the implementation of organizational change processes pertaining to cultural transformation towards racial equity across the UN Secretariat as envisioned in the Strategic Action Plan.
- Coordinate and provide substantive knowledge, guidance and advice on anti-racism advocacy to the work of implementing departments, the Anti-Racism Advocates and other relevant stakeholders across the UN Secretariat.
- Provide advocacy, coaching and support to senior leadership across the Organisation on the implementation Strategic Action Plan at entity level.
- Establish impactful partnerships with the relevant stakeholders to support a sustained commitment to combat racism in the Organisation.
- Produce and contribute to reports and other documents on the implementation of the Strategic Action Plan.
- Ensure effective utilization, supervision and development of staff, and provide mentorship to junior staff to support professional development.
- Manage issues, suggest solutions, communicate with relevant parties, initiate follow-up actions, and escalate to senior management and governance bodies as required.
Programme Management
- Strategic Communications: conceptualize and develop a robust anti-racism communications strategy to raise awareness and increase knowledge to promote an anti-racism culture in the Organisation by:
- Developing and shaping strategic messaging for anti-racism communication materials to support personnel across the global Secretariat through diverse channels and platforms (e.g., digital platforms, newsletters, internal events);
- Conducting research and analyzing current needs for continuous crafting of compelling content that raises awareness, promotes understanding, and inspires anti-racism action;
- Managing collaborations with the Department of Global Communications and other relevant stakeholders to amplify the organization’s anti-racism message.
- Effective Learning & Development: support the development of impactful learning and training programs on anti-racism, catering to diverse learning styles and levels of knowledge by:
- Identifying key anti-racism themes and topics for training and learning that are relevant to the organizational context;
- Coordinating and providing substantive knowledge to the work of relevant departments in developing content for learning resources on anti-racism as well as integrating anti-racism principles into existing learning and training initiatives;
- Conducting ongoing evaluations and refining learning and training programmes based on evolving trends and feedback from stakeholders.
- Constructive Dialogue & Knowledge Sharing: Coordinate the mainstreaming of anti-racism dialogues across the Organisation in collaboration with the United Nations Ombudsman and Mediation Services, the Anti-Racism Advocates, the Racial Justice Focal Points and other entities within the global Secretariat by:
- Organizing and facilitating regular discussions, forums, and workshops on relevant anti-racism topics in collaboration with relevant stakeholders;
- Fostering safe and inclusive environment spaces for dialogue and knowledge sharing on anti-racism issues;
- Encouraging peer-to-peer discussions among staff members from diverse backgrounds.
- Cultural Exchange & Understanding: organize and promote staff participation in cultural exchange programmes and events that celebrate diversity and tolerance through:
- Organizing and promoting staff participation in cultural exchange programs and events that celebrate cultural diversity, tolerance, mutual understanding and respect;
- Partnering with Staff Unions and other relevant actors to organize and promote staff participation in cultural cultural diversity fairs and celebrations of international human rights days and other multi-cultural events.
• May perform other duties as required.
Competencies
- Professionalism: Knowledge of anti-racism advocacy, awareness raising, and training programmes. Ability to identify key strategic issues, opportunities and risks. Ability to generate and communicate broad and compelling organizational direction. Ability to communicate clearly links between the Organization’s strategy and the work unit’s goals. Demonstrated ability to provide innovative technical leadership by performing and/or overseeing the planning, development, and management of operation. Demonstrated ability to negotiate and apply good judgement. 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;
- 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;
- 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;
- 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;
- 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 social sciences and humanities (sociology, anthropology, psychology, international development, media studies and communications, or related disciplines) is required. A first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in combination with two additional years of relevant work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work Experience
- A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in programme management and coordination, advocacy and communications, policy development or related areas is required;
- At least three (3) years of experience working in the area of anti-racism and racial discrimination is required;
- At least three (3) years of managerial and coordination experience is required;
- Experience conceptualizing and supporting the implementation of organizational change processes pertaining to combating racism and racial discrimination is desirable;
- Experience in supporting strategic messaging and content development for communication and training/learning materials is desirable;
- Experience in building and maintaining effective collaborative partnerships is desirable;
- Experience in conducting dialogues on anti-racism, cultural diversity and tolerance is desirable;
- Experience organizing cultural exchange programmes and events is desirable.
Languages
- English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.
Application instructions
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