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Job Opening
Posting Title: Political Affairs Officer, P3

Job Code Title: POLITICAL AFFAIRS OFFICER

Department/Office: Field Missions

Duty Station: Field Locations

Posting Period: 13 February 2018 - 14 March 2018

Job Opening Number: 18-Political Affairs-FMADFS-92514-P- (M)

Staffing Exercise N/A

United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity

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Org. Setting and Reporting

These positions are located in the United Nations field Peacekeeping Operations and Special Political missions. Typically
Political Affairs Officers are deployed in Mission HQs (typically the capital city) and sub-national levels (outside the
capital) in regional field offices and report to a Head of Regional Office and/or Chief/Director of Political Affairs.

Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Political Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties: (These duties are
generic and may not be carried out by all Political Affairs Officers).

Political Analysis and Advice - Identify, analyse and monitor political developments, trends and emerging issues in the
country or region assigned, according to the assigned portfolio and/or applicable 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.
Reporting and Information Management - Prepare summary and analytical reports including, but not limited to, situation
reports, reports, briefing notes, options papers, code cables and input for the reports of the Secretary- General to the
Security Council, General Assembly or other bodies. - Prepare contextual information materials, such as background
notes, political profiles and databases of relevance to the assigned portfolio; Manage information to ensure its
accessibility and utility.

Planning, Coordination and Facilitation - Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with UN Common System
colleagues and counterparts, Government representatives, civil society actors, military and law enforcement actors,
academic and research institutions, and other national and international partners on information-sharing, policy and
coordination matters.- Consult and cooperate with partners to develop strategies and plans of action to address political
challenges, in pursuit of shared objectives; Monitor, evaluate and report on implementation. - Support preparations for
official meetings, events and visits, including through the provision of Secretariat services and by drafting talking points
and speeches for senior UN officials; Participate in fact-finding –and other- missions; Prepare written summaries of
meetings/visits and assist with follow-up activities, as appropriate.

Management/Administration - Contribute to the formulation and implementation of the unit's programme of work. -
Support planning and budgetary processes for current and future field operations. - Perform other relevant duties as
required.

Competencies
PROFESSIONALISM – Demonstrates professional competence and in depth knowledge of political affairs. 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. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and
men in all areas of work.

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.

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 joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

Education
An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in political science, international relations, social sciences,
law, public administration, or a related area is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional
years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience
A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in political affairs, civil affairs, security and disarmament
affairs, human rights, rule of law, diplomacy, or a related field is required. A minimum of one year working at the
international level on conflict or post conflict political affairs related analysis, advice and reporting is required. Field
experience in a conflict or post-conflict country is desirable.

Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised fluency in
English or French, with a good working knowledge of the other language is required. Knowledge of another United Nations
official language is an advantage.

Assessment
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based
interview.

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 deepen the roster of qualified P3 Political Affairs candidates particularly those with
English and French language skills. Fluency in English with a good working knowledge of French or fluency in French with
a good working knowledge of English is required for these positions.
Please note that Political Affairs positions include conflict and post-conflict locations in non-family and/or hardship duty
stations. Political Affairs staff may also be housed in camp environments. An updated list of missions and additional
information on working in the field can be found at http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/about/dfs/.

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.

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 or sexual abuse, or crimes
other than minor traffic offences, 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.

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.

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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