Job Opening
| Vacancy No | UNITAMS-JO-El Fasher-2022-76 |
| Posting Title | SENIOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS OFFICER, P5 |
| Job Code Title | SENIOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS OFFICER |
| Department/Office | United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan |
| Duty Station | KHARTOUM |
| Posting Period | 15 March 2022 – 13 April 2022 |
| Job Opening Number | 22-Political Affairs-UNITAMS-176543-R-Khartoum (R) |
| Staffing Exercise | N/A |
Org. Setting and Reporting
This position is based at the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS). The United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 2524 (2020) and 2579 (2021) mandating UNITAMS to support Sudan’s political transition, progress towards democratic governance, the protection and promotion of human rights and lasting peace; to support peace processes and the implementation of future peace agreements; to support peace building, and the rule of law, particularly in the Blue Nile, South Kordofan, Darfur, the East and and others as needed; and to support the mobilization of economic and development aid and the coordination of humanitarian aid.
The position is based in Khartoum and is based in the Peace Support Division of the Officer of Support to the Political Transition (OSPT). The incumbent will report to the Director of the OSPT.
Responsibilities
Within the scope of delegated authority, the Senior Political Affairs Officer is responsible for carrying out the following duties:
• Identify, analyze and monitor political developments and emerging issues with respect to the implementation of the mission’s mandate; Assess implications and make recommendations to senior management on possible policies, strategies and other measures to address issues of concern and to advance mandated objectives
• Plans and implements the strategic activities related to the Section’s work in support of peace talks and the implementation of existing peace agreements, i.e. disarmament, demobilization and reintegration, conflict prevention and resolution, peacebuilding, post-conflict rehabilitation, political and governance institution building, civil society support work, etc.; Monitors and reports on progress; uses an integrated approach that incorporates a rights-based dimension, conflict prevention sensitivity and a gender perspective into the unit’s policy, planning and operational activities; support facilitation and mediation efforts as requested. Strong analytical and drafting capacity and substantive knowledge of power-sharing, regional autonomy, and federalism arrangements in peace processes or other transitional contexts;
•Prepares briefing notes and talking points for mission leaders and other senior staff. Responds to/prepares responses to comments, statements and requests from parties.
•Develops and maintains relationships with senior government officials, armed movement signatories, political parties, civil society, women’s groups, and other key stakeholders and advises them on issues and policies of common interest; Liaises with INGO and UN presences on coordination and policy matters;
• Leads and directs a work team; plans and distributes work orders; Coaches, mentors and assesses employees; participates in the recruitment and selection of new employees. Leads, coordinates, organizes and monitors the work of the team. Designs peace initiatives in collaboration with national and local interlocutors, other political affairs staff and the peacebuilding advisor. Advises and participates in negotiations establishing operations and develops policies, terms of reference and operational plans and timeframes for new operations. Plans, coordinates, and manages programs, projects, and activities that require mission and/or interagency involvement and participation. Represents department/office/mission at roundtables, seminars and conferences;
• Works with the United Nations country team to identify areas of programmatic engagement and ensure integrated and coherent United Nations support. Committed to mobilizing resources and promoting peace dividends;
• Performs other related tasks as needed.
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. Understanding of UN role in preventive diplomacy, good offices, mediation and conflict resolution; 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.
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 audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
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.
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
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 political science, international relations, international economics, law, public administration, or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work Experience
A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in political affairs, conflict resolution, international relations, civil affairs, diplomacy, or a related field is required.
A minimum of three (3) years of leadership experience in multi-cultural settings, including management and coordination of multi-disciplinary teams as a political officer or representative of an organization engaged in political related work, is required.
A minimum of five (5) years of experience in outreach, facilitation, analysis, advising national level officials and stakeholders is required.
A minimum of two (2) years of experience in a conflict or post-conflict setting is required.
Experience working on peace process negotiations in Africa is desirable.
Experience working on implementation of peace process and peacebuilding issues is desirable.
Languages
French and English are the working languages of the UN Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of Arabic is desirable.
Assessment
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
Special Notice
This position is open for recruitment for an initial period of one year and extension of the appointment is subject to Extension of the mandate and/or the availability of the funds.
The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.
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.
