Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) with duty station Kinshasa. Reporting to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG), the Chief of Staff (COS) is responsible for ensuring the integrated and coherent functioning of the Mission across all areas, components and locations. S/he oversees the core mechanisms and processes that enable the integrated delivery of the mission’s mandate, in particular strategic and operational planning, policy coordination, senior-level decision-making and information management.

Responsibilities

Within limits of delegated authority, the Chief of staff will be responsible for the following functions: • Ensure the effective direction and integrated management of the Mission’ s activities representing the mission authoritatively, in line with the SRSG’s strategic vision. • Facilitate the translation of the Mission leadership’s policy intent and high-level direction into viable tasks and priorities across all mission areas and components. • Periodically review progress and recommend necessary adjustments to enable effective implementation of the Mission’s mandate. • Ensure the establishment of core integrated processes and mechanisms that enable the integrated delivery of the mandate, including, working closely with the DSRSG/RC/HC, through partnership with the UN Country Team and strong engagement and close coordination with the Integrated Office (IO). • Oversee Mission-wide planning processes, ensuring coherence between mandated tasks, component plans/concepts of operations and UN system-wide integrated planning processes (such as Integrated Strategic Frameworks) and with UNHQ, as required by policies, guidelines and best practices on planning, in particular the Integrated Mission Planning Process (IMPP). • With the Director of Mission Support, engender a clear understanding across Mission components between substantive priorities and support capacities. • Ensure an integrated approach to the results-based budget process, including alignment with strategic and operational plans and adequate provisions to meet resource requirements, and oversee the process as it relates to substantive Mission components, in line with the mandate. • Oversee the internal management of the Mission on behalf of the SRSG, including through the development of necessary policies and procedures, taking into account relevant Headquarters policy and best practices and ensure resolution of conflicting demands. • Ensure effective functioning of coherent communications structures and systems and serve as the principal focal point for communication with UN Headquarters in New York. • Holds the overall management responsibility for the staff working in the immediate office of the SRSG and for ensuring that the SRSG receives the required support to carry out her functions. • Serves as the focal point in the Office of the SRSG for all sensitive personnel and management issues. • Interface with the Director of Mission Support on all personnel matters, and oversee senior staff selection processes. • Oversee the Joint Operations Centre (JOC), the Joint Mission Analysis Centre (JMAC), Legal Affairs Office (LAO), Strategic Planning Cell (SPC), Conduct and Discipline Section, Board of Inquiry Unit and Protocol Unit. • Serves as crisis coordinator when appointed by the SRSG and ensures a timely and coherent approach to a whole of mission effort to address the crisis. Provides guidance to the Chief of the Conduct and Discipline Team on all matters relating to conduct and discipline issues in respect of all categories of personnel, including related recommendations on disciplinary or administrative actions. • In close consultation with Mission leadership, facilitate discussions between the Mission and national government on issues related to the Mission functions; advocate and represent mission views. • Oversee the provision of necessary legal advice to the SRSG as required. • Advise the SRSG on protocol matters and supervise and provide guidance on the preparation and coordination of official visits. • Performs other related work as required.

Competencies

Professionalism: Strong interpersonal skills. Ability to provide effective seasoned specialized advice in a broad range of Human Resources, Financial, Logistical and administrative areas to Head of Offices/Mission, to Headquarters and senior mission staff. Ability to ensure adequate preparation of reports or rationale with respect to key logistics and administrative decisions; strong negotiation and conflict-resolution skills. 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; Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honors commitments; delivers outputs within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility of delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable. 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. 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) in Business or public administration, international relations, international law, social sciences or 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.

Job – Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

At least fifteen years with a master’s degree or seventeen years with a bachelor’s degree of progressively responsible experience in such areas 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. Senior management experience in the UN Common System, including UN Secretariat or its field missions and/or UN Funds and Programmes, is required. Experience coordinating inter- agency and operational planning and analysis is required. Experience ensuring compliance with UN administrative procedures is required. Field experience is required. Field experience in Africa is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English and French is required.

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 and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

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.