Job Description
| Department/Office: | United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan |
| Posting Title: | CHIEF OF STAFF, D1 |
| Job Code Title: | CHIEF OF STAFF |
| Duty Station: | KHARTOUM |
| Posting Period: | 20 January 2021 – 02 February 2021 |
| Job Opening Number: | 21-Political Affairs-UNITAMS-148437-F-Khartoum (M) |
| Staffing Exercise | N/A |
United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity
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, Sudan and is located in the Office of the Chief of Staff. The incumbent will report to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General.
Responsibilities
Within the limits of delegated authority, the Chief of Staff, will be responsible for performing the following duties:
Management:
•Ensures the effective direction and integrated management of all the mission’s activities in line with the strategic vision and guidance of the SRSG.
•Oversees the internal management of the mission on behalf of the SRSG, including the development of, advice on and promotion of policies on management issues, including risk management.
•Facilitates the translation of policy intent and high-level direction of mission leadership into viable tasks and works with components to ensure their effective implementation.
•Directs and oversees core integrated processes and mechanisms that enable the integrated delivery of the mission’s mandate, including programme management, reform/change management, information management and crisis management.
•Supports the coordination of field offices, ensuring the implementation of a well-articulated policy for the reporting and management of substantive staff within field offices, as well as regular meetings between heads of field offices and mission Headquarters.
•Oversees the activities of all entities located in the Office of the Chief of Staff.
•Serves as the focal point in the Office of the SRSG for all sensitive personnel and management issues, as well as for contacts with the Office of Internal Oversight Services and the Resident Auditor.
•Serves as interface between the Office of SRSG and the Division of Mission Support on all personnel matters and oversees the recruitment of senior mission management appointments.
Planning and budgeting:
•Oversees Mission-wide planning processes, ensuring coherence is maintained between mandated tasks, component plans/concepts of operations and, where appropriate, United Nations-system-wide integrated planning processes (such as Integrated Strategic Frameworks), as required by policies, guidelines and best practices on planning, in particular the Policy on Integrated Assessment and Planning, and risk management, and incorporates mandated cross-cutting issues, such as gender mainstreaming, and supervises and provides managerial guidance to mission planning staff to this effect.
•Ensures the proper conduct of processes critical to the delivery of mandate implementation,
particularly strategic planning, policy coordination and senior level decision-making; ensures a clear understanding between substantive priorities and support capacities; and, liaises with all components to advise and ensure the use of best practices for achieving the objectives and priorities of the mission.
•In coordination with the Chief Mission Support, ensures an integrated approach to the results-based budget process, including alignment with strategic and operational plans and adequate provisions to meet resource requirements, and oversees the process as it relates to substantive mission components.
•Periodically reviews, with the mission leadership team, the delivery of component work plans, identifying necessary adjustments to mission plans and/or revised assumptions, as appropriate.
•May introduce new approaches in operational planning to ensure the smooth delivery of the Mission’s mandate.
Policy:
•Provides guidance and oversees compliance with United Nations policies, standards and procedures.
•Coordinates the development and implementation of cross-cutting and management policies among the various components of the Mission and liaises with the United Nations Country Team on the same, when required, and in coordination with the Deputy SRSG/RC/HC, as appropriate.
•Ensures that advice and information on cross-cutting issues is coordinated with all relevant components of the Mission prior to submission to the SRSG.
Reporting, communications and information management:
•Ensures effective functioning of coherent communications structures and systems and serves as the focal point for communication with United Nations Headquarters in New York.
•Oversees mission-wide, integrated procedures and systems for information analysis and management, including intra-mission information sharing, reporting requirements, security classification, records management and publication of Intranet content.
•Oversees the establishment and proper functioning of integrated analysis and mission planning capacity.
•Oversees the implementation of knowledge management approaches throughout the mission, such as handover notes, after-action reviews and end-of-assignment reports.
Protocol:
•In close consultation with the SRSG and the Chief Mission Support, facilitates discussions between the mission and national authorities on issues related to the mission’s functions.
•Advises the SRSG on protocol matters and supervises and provides guidance on the
•preparation and coordination of official visits.
•Performs other related duties as required.
Competencies
PROFESSIONALISM: Ability to provide seasoned effective specialized advice in a broad range of human resources, financial, logistical, and administrative areas to the Head of Mission, Headquarters and senior mission staff; ability to ensure adequate preparation of reports or rationale with respect to key logistic and administrative decisions; strong negotiation and conflict-resolution skills. Demonstrates specific knowledge related to the start-up of new UN peace operations. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of the 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: Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, ability to defend and explain difficult issues with respect to key decisions and positions to staff, senior official and members of inter-governmental bodies; ability to communicate complex management decisions; ability to prepare written reports that are clear, concise and meaningful. 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.
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.
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.
PLANNING AND 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.
Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in one of the following disciplines: international relations, political science, business administration, public administration, management, law, or military studies. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work Experience
A minimum of fifteen (15) years of progressively responsible experience in areas such as: political, social, civil, military or legal affairs; public or business administration; or management is required.
A proven track record of leadership and management in multicultural settings, including coordination of interdisciplinary teams is required.
Experience serving in a senior advisory or managerial capacity in support of or in a field operation of the United Nations Common System in Africa or a comparable international organization is required.
Experience in both inter-agency and programme management and/or planning and analysis is required.
Experience in preparing budgetary documents for the United Nations legislative bodies or similar in a comparable international organization is desirable.
A minimum of five (5) years’ experience in the United Nations system or a comparable international organization is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English is required.
Assessment
Previously rostered candidates are not subject to any further assessment and as such, will not be invited for such an assessment.
Special Notice
The selected candidate is expected to start as soon as possible.
Please note that due to the ongoing situation with COVID-19 and the travel restrictions imposed by national authorities, selected candidates may be required to start the assignment/appointment remotely, in agreement with the hiring manager, and until further notice.
This “Recruit from Roster” job opening is only open to roster applicants who are already placed on pre-approved rosters, following a review by a United Nations Central Review Body. Only roster applicants who were placed on rosters with similar functions at the same level are considered to be eligible candidates. Eligible applicants receive an email inviting them to apply. Rostered applicants are encouraged to apply only if they are interested and available to take up the position at the duty station specified in the Job Opening. Applying to this job opening carries an expectation to accept the offer, if selected. 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. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential.
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.
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