Job: ASSOCIATE POLITICAL AFFAIRS OFFICER, P2 (Temporary Job Opening)

Closing date: Sunday, 28 May 2017

Posting Title: ASSOCIATE POLITICAL AFFAIRS OFFICER, P2 (Temporary Job Opening)

Job Code Title: ASSOCIATE POLITICAL AFFAIRS OFFICER

Department/ Office: Department of Political Affairs

Duty Station: NEW YORK

Posting Period: 23 May 2017-29 May 2017

Job Opening number: 17-POL-DPA-79138-J-NEW YORK (R)

Staffing Exercise ID: N/A

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

Special Notice

Notes: This position is currently available until 30/09/2017 with possibility of extension.

A current staff member who holds a fixed-term, permanent or continuing appointment may apply for temporary positions no more than one level above his or her current grade. However, a current staff member who holds an appointment at the G-6 or G-7 level may also apply to temporary positions in the Professional category up to and including the P-3 level, subject to meeting all eligibility and other requirements for the position. A staff member holding a temporary appointment shall be regarded as an external candidate when applying for other positions, and may apply for other temporary positions at any level, subject to section 5.7 below and staff rule 4.16 (b) (ii). Therefore, a staff member holding a temporary appointment in the General Service or related categories may only apply to positions within those categories.

For full information on eligibility requirements, please refer to section 5 of ST/AI/2010/4Rev.1 on Temporary Appointments. In its resolution 66/234, the General Assembly further 'stressed that the Secretary-General should not recur to the practice of temporarily filling posts in the Professional and higher categories with General Service staff members who have not passed the General Service to Professional category examination other than on an exceptional basis, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure that temporary occupation of such posts by the General Service staff shall not exceed a period of one year, effective 1 January 2013…' Consequently, eligible candidates in the General Service or related categories for temporary job openings in the Professional category that have not passed the competitive examination may be selected only on an exceptional basis endorsed by the Office of Human Resources Management where no other suitable candidate could be identified.

Upon separation from service, including, but not limited to, expiration or termination of, or resignation from, a fixed-term, continuing or permanent appointment, a former staff member will be ineligible for re-employment on the basis of a temporary appointment for a period of 31 days following the separation. In the case of separation from service on retirement, a former staff member will be ineligible for re-employment for a period of three months following the separation. This equally applies, mutatis mutandis, with respect to a former or current staff member who has held or holds an appointment in another entity applying the United Nations Staff Regulations and Rules and who applies for a temporary position with the Secretariat.

Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as 'retirement.' Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service.

Subject to the funding source of the position, this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station.

While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post. An external candidate selected for this position is bound by the prevailing condition of the staff selection system under ST/AI/2010/3, as amended, and ST/AI/2010/4/Rev.1. A staff member holding a temporary appointment who is recruited in the Professional and above categories on a temporary appointment, and placed on a position authorized for one year or longer may not apply for or be reappointed to his/her current position within six months of the end of his/her current service. This provision does not apply to staff members holding temporary appointments and placed on positions authorized for one year or more in duty stations authorized for peacekeeping operations or special political missions.

The expression 'Internal candidates', shall mean staff members who have been recruited after a competitive examination under staff rule 4.16 or after the advice of a central review body under staff rule 4.15.

Please note that candidates will be required to meet the requirements of Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter as well as the requirements of the position. The United Nations is committed to the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity for all its human resources, including but not limited to respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to whether they have committed, or are alleged to have committed criminal offences and/or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.

For information on special post allowance, please refer to ST/AI/1999/17. For more details on the administration of temporary appointments please refer to ST/AI/2010/4/Rev.1.

The Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and administrative issuances governing staff appointments can be viewed at: http://www.un.org/hr_handbook/English

Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply.

Staff members are not eligible to apply for the current temporary job opening if they are unable to serve the specified duration of temporary need before reaching the mandatory age of separation. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation.

Organizational Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Africa II Division of the Department of Political Affairs (DPA), which covers Central, North and West Africa. Under the general supervision of the Director and the Deputy Director of Africa II, the incumbent reports to a Senior Political Affairs Officer/Team Leader.

Responsibilities

Under the supervision of a Team Leader and the general supervision of the Director and Deputy Director of Africa II Division, the incumbent serves as Desk Officer for a number of countries and Special Political Missions covered and/or supported by the Team.

The incumbent

• Monitors and assesses political developments in Central, West and North Africa, conducts research and carries out analysis and studies on complex political situations affecting the regions to provide the Secretary-General and other senior UN officials with early warning and policy options for conflict prevention, conflict resolution and peace building.
• Prepares, in coordination with the Team Leader, briefings, talking points, reports, weekly updates and inputs to OASGI, OUSG and EOSG.
• Drafts correspondence, notes, memoranda, and responses to queries for the review of the Team Leader.
• Develops and maintain professional relationships, which support and facilitate the work of the Team Leader, including representatives of national governments and international organizations, and other concerned partners, including consultants, business executives, and academics.
• Arranges and participates in fact-finding missions
• Attends meetings and consultations of the Security Council and the General Assembly on issues relevant to the region;
• Contributes to the backstopping of Special Political Missions; assists in the development and implementation of budget proposals and projects and other administrative tasks, as necessary.
• Assist in other assignments as requested by the Team Leader.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Knowledge of the work of the United Nations, in particular the Department of Political Affairs; proven competence, integrity and reliability in performance; proven analytical skills, with ability to identify problems (political, social, economic) affecting a country or a geographic area; conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; and, knowledge of issues related to the countries under the Division's area of responsibility, in particular Central, North and West Africa.
• 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.
• 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

• A first-level university degree in political science, international relations, international economics, law, public administration or other related area is required.

Work Experience

• At least two years of progressively responsible experience in international relations, political analysis and political research are required.
• Experience drafting briefing materials and talking points as well as reports and official correspondence is required.
• Experience providing support to senior officials is desirable.
• Previous experience providing support to a peace operation in Africa is desirable.
• No experience is required for candidates who have passed the YPP, NCRE or G to P examinations.

Languages

• English and French are the two working languages of the United Nations Secretariat.
• For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English and French is required.
• Knowledge of another UN language is desirable.

Assessment

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

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, including but not limited to, respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to, whether they have committed or are alleged to have committed criminal offences or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.

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 At-a-Glance on 'The Application Process' and the Instructional Manual for the Applicants, which can be accessed by clicking on 'Manuals' hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The screening and 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, including but not limited to, their education, work experience, and language skills, according to the instructions provided on inspira.

Applicants will be disqualified from consideration if they do not demonstrate in their application that they meet the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations.

Applicants are solely responsible for providing complete and accurate information at the time of application: 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 a reference-checking process to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at midnight (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.

For more info: https://unjobs.org/vacancies/1495602853212