Senior Political Affairs Officer, P-5

Position description

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Central and Southern Africa Division (CSAD) of the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations (DPPA-DPO). The incumbent leads the Central Africa Team, and reports to the Deputy Director of the Division. 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. The Department of Peace Operations (DPO) serves as a center of excellence for peace operations, responsible for preventing, responding to and managing conflict and sustaining peace in countries where peace operations under its purview are deployed, and provides support to other entities on peace and security issues.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Senior Political Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

• Formulates political affairs strategies related to Central Africa; develops a vision for the work of the Central Africa Team; proposes policy directives and plans of action for immediate and long-range solutions to political problems in Central Africa and the region; identifies emerging issues pertaining to the work of the team; analyses implications and makes recommendations on possible strategies and measures.
• Plans and implements the operational activities related to the work of the Central Africa team, especially regarding conflict prevention and resolution, post-conflict rehabilitation, constitutional support and elections, political and governance institution-building, and civil society support work; incorporates an integrated approach that includes a rights-based dimension, conflict prevention sensitivity, and a gender perspective into the policy, planning and operational activities of the team.
• Plans, coordinates and manages programmes, projects and activities requiring interdepartmental and/or interagency involvement and participation.
• Prepares and oversees the preparation of briefing notes and talking points for the Secretary-General, Senior Advisers, Under-Secretary-General/Assistant Secretary-General.
• Oversees the backstopping of the United Nations Office for Central Africa (UNOCA), including by providing strategic and operational guidance.
• Leads and directs the work of the Central Africa Team; plans and allocates work assignments; coaches, mentors, and evaluates staff; participates in recruitment and selection of new staff and the development of training programs.
• Acts as coordinator for complex coordination and support missions, including strategic and technical assessment missions.
• Manages, coordinates, organizes and supervises research on a variety of political issues in Central Africa and the region.
• Represents the Central Africa Team at round tables, seminars and conferences.
• Responds to or prepares responses to comments, statements, queries of parties.
• Coordinates the support of other UN Departments and entities to UN operations in Central Africa, including civilian, military and humanitarian operations.
• Formulates the programme of work, budget and medium-term plan of the team and participates in the overall approval of the programme of work, and administrative matters concerning the Division; coordinates and oversees the work of colleagues and the team.
• Develops and maintains relations with senior government officials and advises them on issues and policies of mutual concern.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Competencies

• PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of the work of intergovernmental bodies, the work of the United Nations and its related bodies concerned with political, economic, social and related matters. Ability to evaluate international political situations in area of assignment. Ability to manage and coordinate many different levels and participants in operations in both the field and UN common system. 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.
• 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.
• ACCOUNTABILITY: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within the 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.
• MANAGING PERFORMANCE: Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills; monitors progress against milestones and deadlines; regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative; actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; appraises performance fairly.

Education

• Advanced university degree in political science, international relations, international economics, law, public administration, or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in place of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

• A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in political science, international relations, law, disarmament, security, development management, conflict resolution or related area is required. Experience in political analysis, as well as in strategic or programme planning, is required. Experience of management in multicultural settings, including coordination of interdisciplinary teams, is required. Experience working on peace, security and political issues in Central Africa is desirable. Headquarters-level work experience backstopping a political mission with the United Nations or another international organization is desirable.

Languages

• English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position(s) advertised, fluency in both oral and written English is required. Fluency of French is required. Knowledge of another official United Nations language is an advantage.

Application instructions

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