Job Opening
| Organization: | United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan |
| Posting Title: | SENIOR MISSION PLANNING OFFICER, P5 |
| Job Code Title: | SENIOR MISSION PLANNING OFFICER |
| Department/Office: | United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan |
| Duty Station: | KHARTOUM |
| Posting Period: | 01 October 2021 – 30 October 2021 |
| Job Opening Number: | 21-Political Affairs-UNITAMS-165000-R-Khartoum (M) |
| Staffing Exercise | N/A |
Org. Setting and Reporting
The position is located in the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS). The United Nations Security Council adopted resolution 2524 (2020) authorizing the mandate of UNITAMS, which is to assist the political transition, progress towards democratic governance, protection and promotion of human rights and sustainable peace; support peace processes and the implementation of future peace agreements, assist peacebuilding, civilian protection and rule of law, in particular in Blue Nile and South Kordofan (the Two Areas) and Darfur; and support the mobilization of economic and development assistance and the coordination of humanitarian assistance.
The position is based in Khartoum and is located in the Office of The Chief of Staff. The incumbent will report to the Chief of Staff.
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Responsibilities
Within the limits of delegated authority, the Senior Mission Planning Officer will be responsible for performing the following duties:
Partnerships, Planning and Programming
– Acts as a senior advisor to the Mission leadership on strategic planning issues, including engaging with the host Government, UN partners and external actors in respect of multi-dimensional planning processes.
– Facilitates joint and integrated planning between Mission components, UNCT members and other relevant partners in accordance with the Policy on Integrated Assessments and Planning, and senior management guidance.
– Leads the preparation of a Mission Concept, or similar initiative, which, building on the vision of the SRSG, translates the mission mandated tasks into a form that fuses objectives, timelines and expected outcomes into a coherent whole, serving as an authoritative guide for the development and implementation of Mission component plans.
– Provides advice to Mission component, including police, military and civilian components, in development of component-level plans, including ensuring coherence with the Mission’s overall strategic direction.
– Working closely with the Integrated Office of the DSRSG/RC/HC, monitors use of Mission resources including staffing and programmatic funds, and advises senior management to help ensure that resources are used to support implementation of component plans, mission priorities and the Integrated Strategic Framework (ISF);
– Facilitates interface with the host Government on Mission planning issues including progress against Security Council benchmarks, transition strategy, nationalization of functions, etc;
– Working closely with the Integrated Office of the DSRSG/Resident/Humanitarian Coordinator, provides authoritative advice and technical support enabling UN senior management to develop, implement, and monitor strategies that maximize the individual and collective impact of the UN’s response in the country of deployment, concentrating on mandated tasks and activities required to consolidate peace through a strategic partnership between the Mission and the UN Country Team.
Analysis, Advice and Reporting
– Working closely with the DSRSG/RC/HC Integrated Office, provides authoritative advice to senior management and programme managers on strategic and operational planning policy, procedures and best practices including the UN Policy on Integrated Assessment and Planning (IAP); provides recommendations on design of specific planning tools and mechanisms, in line with policy and best practice, to meet the needs of the Mission and partners.
– Ensures the establishment and operation of integrated field coordination structures, including a senior leadership forum, providing policy guidance and technical assistance on joint strategic and operational issues as required.
– Coordinates Mission-level support to the Headquarters-based Integrated Task Force or equivalent body and supports Technical Assessment Missions, Strategic Assessment Mission and Strategic Reviews. Serves as a strategy and planning point of contact for Headquarters and facilitates linkages between field-based structures and the Headquarters-based Integrated Task Forces.
– With all relevant stakeholders, facilitates the development and implementation of a UN Integrated Strategic Framework for peace consolidation in the country, including in-depth conflict analysis, identification of priorities, roles and responsibilities for the United Nations, and a system for monitoring and evaluation of progress.
– Prepares the Mission Results-Based Budget framework and performance reports, and prepares inputs as required for audits, budget monitoring and performance reporting. As directed by Mission leadership, designs and facilitates development of other strategies and plans required for implementation of the Mission’s mandate.
– Leads and coordinates the work of the Mission planning team.
– Where applicable, stands in for the Chief of Staff. Performs other duties as required.
Competencies
Professionalism:
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.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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in social sciences, political science, international relations, economics, finance, management or development, or a related field. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Professional training in the areas of planning, programme management, analysis, facilitation and/or coordination is an asset.
Work Experience
A minimum of ten years of relevant progressively responsible experience is required: this should include policy development at the strategic level as well as experience facilitating and coordinating multi-stakeholder planning processes in peace consolidation settings.
Experience in leading/developing partnerships with host Governments is required.
Experience of managing small teams is required.
At least two years of experience working in support of a field operation of the United Nations Common System or a comparable international organization is required. Experience in a conflict or post-conflict setting is desirable. Experience working in or on the Horn of Africa is desirable.
Demonstrated experience implementing relevant UN Secretariat policies, procedures and operations, including mandated development planning, budget and human resources processes, is required. Experience of designing and applying monitoring and evaluation tools 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 another UN official language is desirable.
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Assessment
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
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Special Notice
The United Nations Secretariat maintains rosters of qualified and available candidates to fill anticipated job openings in peacekeeping operations, special political missions, and other field operations.
The purpose of this job opening is to generate a list of qualified candidates for inclusion in the Senior Planning Officer, Political Affairs, P-5 roster. The entire assessment process takes an average of six months; all applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of their application (whether successful or unsuccessful) within 14 days of the conclusion of the process. Successful candidates will be placed on the roster and subsequently will be invited to apply for field mission vacancies open only to roster members. Roster membership does not guarantee selection.
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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.
The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.
Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side 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.
