Deputy Chief, Judicial Affairs, P5

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), the Deputy Chief (P-5) will undertake the following functions:

• Provide advice and expertise to senior management at Headquarters and senior leadership of United Nations peace operations on rule of law issues, including on the strategic direction of the Organization’s rule of law work and the establishment of justice and corrections components of peace operations;
• Assist the Chief of JCS in the management and administration of the Service, ensuring that all outputs produced by JCS meet high-quality standards, and that programmed activities are carried out in a timely fashion and in close coordination with other relevant actors within and outside the United Nations system; serve as officer-in-charge in the Chief’s absence;
• Oversee the planning of, and support to, justice and corrections components of United Nations peace operations, including the provision of operational guidance and strategic advice;
• Provide policy guidance to JCS personnel and senior staff of United Nations peace operations on strengthening the rule of law in conflict, post-conflict and other fragile settings;
• Contribute to the implementation of the gender strategy of the Department and the Organization, as well as to other efforts to promote gender equality, diversity and integration;
• Engage with Member States and United Nations legislative bodies on rule of law matters in conflict, post-conflict and other fragile settings;
• Provide briefings to military, diplomatic, academic and NGO audiences and participate in conferences, seminars and meetings;
• Develop and maintain high-level partnerships within the United Nations system and with external agencies to encourage integrated and well-coordinated rule of law support to host countries of United Nations peace operations;
• Advise the Chief of JCS on recruitment, personnel and budgetary matters;
• If and when necessary and subject to available funding, participate in field visits to (1) design justice and corrections components as part of new or evolving United Nations peace operations; and (2) review existing justice and corrections components to provide recommendations on how to increase the effectiveness and impact of their activities;
• Serve on various committees, working groups and task forces, as required; promote the work of the United Nations; and represent the Organization in meetings, conferences and seminars.

Competencies

Professionalism:

• Demonstrated in-depth knowledge of the strategic direction of peace operations and understanding of the political, social and economic environment and their impact on the implementation of a mission’s mandate;
• Extensive knowledge of judicial, legal and correctional system issues, including knowledge of criminal law and relevant international human rights standards, at the technical and strategic level and their relationship and linkages to peace operation priorities and the broader developmental/post-conflict recovery framework and initiatives;
• Proven ability to produce reports and papers on technical issues and to review and edit the work of others;
• Extensive knowledge of the institutions of the United Nations system and respective institutional mandates;
• Extensive knowledge of policies and guidelines related to the rule of law;
• Ability to stay calm in stressful situations.

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 joining responsibility for team shortcomings.

Creativity:

• Actively seeks to improve programmes or services;
• Offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs;
• Promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas;
• Takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas; thinks “outside the box”;
• Takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things;
• Is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches.

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;
• 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.

Vision:

• Identifies strategic issues, opportunities and risks;
• Clearly communicates links between the Organization’s strategy and the work unit’s goals;
• Generates and communicates broad and compelling organizational direction;
• Inspiring others to pursue that same direction;
• Conveys enthusiasm about future possibilities.

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in one or more of the following disciplines: law, international affairs, social sciences, management or in a related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Bar qualification is desirable. Graduation from a certified prison or corrections academy or other similar training institution is desirable.

Work Experience

• A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in law, the rule of law or the justice or corrections sector is required. This must include at least two years providing strategic guidance and technical assistance for strengthening rule of law, legal, judicial or corrections institutions in a developmental, transitional and/or post-conflict setting outside the applicant’s home country;
• Significant management experience, including experience managing teams of persons from diverse professional and cultural backgrounds is required;
• Significant experience with United Nations budgetary processes, human resources and workforce planning is required;
• Significant experience working in a peace operation is desirable;
• Experience writing and publishing articles relating to rule of law, justice or corrections is desirable.

Languages

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

Application instructions

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