Org. Setting and Reporting

This post is specific to the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and the incumbent will report directly to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG).

Responsibilities

Within limits of delegated authority and under the supervision of the SRSG, the incumbent will head the Office of Political Affairs and be responsible for performing the following duties:
Coordination and Facilitation: Provide substantive support to the SRSG in implementing the Mission’s mandate; Keep the SRSG informed on all matters requiring his personal attention, assist in formulating options as to how those matters might be handled, and ensure appropriate follow-up, as directed; Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with Mission components, the authorities, the broader UN family, donors and other national and
international partners on coordination and policy matters; Organize and manage the SRSG’s meetings and UNMIK events, prepare written summaries and conduct follow-up activities, as appropriate; Coordinate/draft correspondence for the SRSG’s signature.

Political Analysis, Advice and Reporting: Identify, analyze and monitor political developments and emerging issues with respect to the implementation of UNMIK’s mandate; Assess implications and make recommendations on possible policies, strategies and other measures to address issues of concern, to provide immediate and long-range solutions to political problems and to advance mandated objectives; Monitor, evaluate and report on implementation; Coordinate/draft summary and analytical reports including, but not limited to, situation reports, briefing notes, notes to file, code cables and input for the reports of the Secretary-General to the Security Council.

Outreach and Partnerships: Provide substantive and practical support to the SRSG in the context of transition from post conflict to sustainable development; Assist the SRSG and Mission senior management in the co-ordination of activities with developmental partners, including the agencies, funds and programmes of the UN Kosovo Team, as well as with regional organizations and bilateral development agencies; seek opportunities and identify risks, develop functional synergies between the Mission and its partner organizations.

Management: Assist in formulating and managing the implementation of the Mission’s programme of work, ensuring that activities are in accordance with the mandate and maintain an emphasis on fostering an inclusive, national dialogue on critical issues; Supervise, mentor, and evaluate staff; Participate in the selection of new staff. Perform other relevant duties as requested by the SRSG.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of Kosovo/Serbia political situation, as well as familiarity with current dynamics and processes in the Balkans, gained from experience working with regional issues; Strong communication and analytical skills, as well as political acumen. 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.
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.
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 degree) 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 years of progressively responsible experience in political affairs,
diplomacy, conflict resolution, or related field is required.

Extensive experience in political outreach, facilitation, analysis, advice and reporting is required.

At least two years of experience working in a UN field operation or other international
organization or nongovernmental organization is required.

At least two years in political outreach and strategic communications, in politically sensitive environments (such as faced in conflict or post-conflict environments), including experience in combating or addressing misinformation, disinformation, incitement or hate speech is required.

Experience in leading intergovernmental negotiations, managing member-state engagement,
developing host country agreements, and servicing intergovernmental processes is desirable.

Experience working on the Balkans region for the United Nations or other international
organization is desirable.

Experience in a supervisory capacity requiring programme management and/or complex
project is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language is desirable.

Assessment

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

Special 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/s specified in the Job Opening. Applying to this job opening carries an expectation to accept the offer, if selected.

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.

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.