Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located within the United Nations Security Sector Reform (SSR) Unit in the Office of Rule of Law and Security Institutions (OROLSI), Department of Peace Operations (DPO), United Nations Headquarters. The Coordination Officer (SSR) reports to a Team Lead/SSR Officer and/or the Chief of the SSR Unit and/or his/her delegate.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Coordination Officer will be responsible for the following duties: • Coordinate responses to queries and requests for SSR support from assigned United Nations (UN) peacekeeping operations, special political missions and non-mission settings, as well as other departments, agencies and field offices. • Coordinate with regional partners and engage with SSR chiefs/advisors, senior SSR practitioners/policy makers and senior Mission leadership, as well as relevant UNHQ entities and Member States,, including the Inter-Agency Security Sector Reform Task Force, to ensure holistic SSR support to UN entities. • Assist in the development and roll-out of the Unit’s SSR and leadership workstream, including potentially work on communication, guidance, training, coaching and mentoring projects. • Assist in the annual C-34 consultation process and other priority peacekeeping-related processes and initiatives, when required. • Assist in developing and strengthening partnerships in the area of SSR with regional / multilateral partner organizations. • Review, develop and consolidate good practices, knowledge, lessons learned and insights on SSR from various sources and contribute to UN SSR knowledge management and communications. • Participate in field and technical assessment missions, including provision of guidance to external consultants, government officials and other parties. • Assist in policy and guidance development, including the production of CROSSROADS guidance modules. • Participate in the development, implementation and evaluation of assigned programmes/ projects; identify issues to be addressed and propose corrective actions; liaise with relevant parties; and track follow-up actions. • Assist in the roll-out of SSR sensitization and training modules for UN personnel. • Assist in the development of job profiles for SSR Officers and assessment of applications for technical clearance. • Organize and prepare high-quality written outputs, e.g. policies, guidance material, background papers, talking points, analyses, sections of reports (e.g. relevant reports of the Secretary-General) and studies, inputs to publications, etc. • Provide substantive support to conferences and meetings. • Perform other duties as required.

Competencies

Professionalism: Significant knowledge of security and / or defence / police sector reforms (concepts, terminology, research and policy literature, etc.), in particular in the area(s) of specialization (e.g. governance, oversight and accountability of the security sector; institutional development, sustainable development or other relevant area) and ability to apply technical expertise to identify, assess and resolve a range of difficult issues/problems. Experience in the design and implementation of SSR programmes / projects. Proven strengths in policy and operational-level coordination. Ability to conduct research and data collection using various methods, including ability to evaluate and integrate information from a variety of sources and assess impact on the SSR activities in assigned country/area. Ability to work with a wide range of technical experts including police, military, public administrative and judicial actors and to support interdisciplinary / interdepartmental teams and task forces, and manage multiple tasks simultaneously. Ability to apply good judgment in the context of assignments given. Shows pride in work and in achievements. Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matters; 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. Planning & 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

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in security sector management, public administration, governance, international relations, international law or a related field. 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

A minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional experience in programme or project management, policy development or coordination in the area of peace and security is required. Experience providing technical SSR support to government counterparts in a conflict or post-conflict setting is desirable. Previous experience in a United Nations peacekeeping or special political mission or in other international or regional organizations is desirable. Experience providing technical support in the area of SSR to UN country presences is desirable. Experience in political analysis related to conflict-affected countries is desirable. Experience advising and/or supporting senior management is desirable. Experience developing policy and guidance is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is required. Knowledge of Arabic is desirable. Knowledge of other UN official languages is an advantage.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

• This position is temporarily available until 31 August 2025. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment. • 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. • Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professionals programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position • Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station. • This temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15. • 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.Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation. • 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. • 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. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. • 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.

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.