DIRECTOR, POLITICAL AFFAIRS - UNITED NATIONS : Job Details

Org. Setting and Reporting This position is located in the Office of the Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations. The incumbent reports directly to the Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations.The Office for the Peacekeeping Strategic Partnership was established by the General Assembly in its resolution A/RES/67/287. The functions of the Office include the following: (a) Strengthening the peacekeeping partnership by assisting in identifying gaps that have an impact on the delivery of mandates by United Nations peacekeeping missions by making recommendations on systemic issues relating to United Nations peacekeeping operations; (b) Making recommendations to ensure the safety, security and welfare of, and the Organization's provision of adequate support services to, uniformed field personnel; (c) Working closely with troop- and police-contributing countries and senior leadership, both in the field and at Headquarters; (d) Making recommendations to incorporate lessons learned. The Director of the Office reports directly to the Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations. The Director of the Office interacts closely with the Department of Operational Support (DOS) by providing advice and support to the Under-Secretary-General for Operational Support, on matters pertaining to peace operations, including through coordination with DOS offices. Responsibilities The functions of the Director for Peacekeeping Strategic Partnership shall include:a. Strengthening the peacekeeping partnership by assisting in identifying gaps which impact delivery of mandates by UN peacekeeping missions by making recommendations on systemic issues relating to UN peacekeeping operations;b. Making recommendations for ensuring safety and security, welfare, and the Organizations' provision of adequate support services to field uniformed personnel;c. Working closely with troop and police contributing countries and senior leadership, both in the field and at Headquarters;d. Making recommendations to incorporate lessons learned and best practices from peacekeeping missions into peacekeeping operations;e. Coordinating, consulting, and conducting dialogue between the Office of the Director, Strategic Peacekeeping Partnership and troop- and police-contributing countries in the execution of its work; and,f. Leading, directing and managing the Office of the Director for Peacekeeping Strategic Partnership. Competencies Professionalism:Knowledge of the operational and managerial dimensions of United Nations peacekeeping. Ability to produce reports and papers on technical issues and to review and edit the work of others. 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.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.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.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.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 or equivalent) in international relations, strategic studies, security studies, defence, military science, criminal justice, law enforcement, policing, public administration, public policy, political or social sciences, or related area. A first level university degree with a combination of relevant academic qualifications and experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. The candidate must be a graduate of a Military/War Defence College or certified Police Academy or other law enforcement training institution, which may be considered in lieu of first level/advanced university degree. Job - Specific Qualification Not available. Work Experience Fifteen years of progressively responsible experience in military and/or police service, including at least one year of leadership experience in a military/police component of a United Nations peacekeeping operation, at a level equivalent to a civilian Director position or above, is required.Previous military or police service in the rank of major general or police equivalent is required.Four years of experience at the rank of Major General or police equivalent is desirable.Experience working at UN Headquarters is desirable.Experience in addressing organizational systemic issues, including but not limited to, safety and security, welfare, and provision of adequate support services for uniformed personnel, is desirable. Languages English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in both oral and written English is required. Knowledge of French is highly desirable. Knowledge of another official United Nation Language is an advantage. Assessment Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview. Special Notice 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.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.An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. All staff at the D2 Level and above are required to submit a financial disclosure statement upon appointment and annually thereafter.This post is financed by the Support Account for Peacekeeping Operations. Extension of appointment will be subject to budgetary approval.In accordance with General Assembly resolution 67/287 paragraph 27, the candidate selected for this position will be from a troop or police contributing country, taking into account the level of national contributions to peacekeeping operations. The incumbent can no longer be on active national military or police service.To preserve the independent functions of the Office of the Peacekeeping Strategic Partnership, the selected candidate will be offered a one year appointment that may be extended for three additional one year terms for a maximum total period of four years in this position.During the period of their appointment and following their separation from the Organization, the selected candidate may not apply to or be appointedto any other position with the Organization.The recommendation or selection decision for this position shall be void if the recommended or selected candidate does not obtain a clearance according to ST/SGB/2005/7 on designation of staff members performing significant functions in the management of financial, human or physical resources.Staff members of the United Nations Secretariat must fulfil the lateral move requirements to be eligible to apply for this vacancy. Staff members are requested to indicate all qualifying lateral moves in their Personal History Profile (PHP) and cover letter.At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity.All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs.The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. 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.Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process.By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c).Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised.This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions.Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on Manuals in the Help tile 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.