Org. Setting and Reporting

The position is located in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). The position is based in Juba and is located in the Electoral Affairs Division as part of the UN Integrated Electoral Assistance Team. The Electoral Officer reports to the Principal Electoral Affairs Officer.

The United Nations Security Council adopted resolution 2567 (2021) deciding that UNMISS’s mandate is designed to advance a three-year strategic vision to prevent a return to civil war in South Sudan, to build durable peace at the local and national levels, and to support inclusive and accountable governance and free, fair, and peaceful elections in accordance with the Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R- ARCSS). Furthermore, Security Council Resolution 2677 (2023) called on the UNMISS to provide technical assistance, to include capacity-building, and logistical support for the electoral process, as appropriate, in coordination with the United Nations Country Team and regional and international partners as well as security support to facilitate the electoral cycle, consistent with the R-ARCSS.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Electoral Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

• Support the UN Integrated Election Assistance Team in implementing its mandate and activities.
• Provide advice and contribute to capacity building of counterpart(s) of the national electoral authorities, including assisting in the establishment and support to field offices.
• Maintain a close working relationship with, and advise, the South Sudanese electoral authorities throughout the planning and implementation of the various electoral operations and related activities.
• Recommend and facilitate the implementation of specific programmes and activities aimed at strengthening the technical and operational capacity of the electoral authorities.
• Coordinate programmes and activities at national and state level in the following areas, as required: electoral planning and operations, civic & voter education, electoral training, institution strengthening and capacity building.
• Ensure that all electoral field operations are conducted effectively by addressing policy guidance and logistics, and other electoral needs in a timely manner.
• Ensure that regular reports on electoral developments and issues are produced in timely manner.
• Draft periodic reports on electoral and political developments in close collaboration with relevant colleagues.
• Ensure timely implementation of electoral operations.
• As directed by the Principal Electoral Affairs Officer, provide oversight to the day-to-day operations and administration of the electoral office.
• Provide project and programme management support, including budget management and monitoring, in addition to reporting of results to national counterparts, donors and UN bodies as directed by the Principal Electoral Affairs Officer.
• Assist the national electoral authorities in developing and maintaining regular and impartial communication with political parties, media organizations, academia, faith-based organizations, civil society organizations, including women, youth and persons with disabilities groups.
• Establish and maintain professional and productive partnerships with national counterparts and other key stakeholders in the electoral process.
• Liaise and meet regularly with relevant stakeholders, such as the National Elections Commission, Political Party Council, and other relevant stakeholders on elections related matters in relation to, for instance, political parties and candidate registration, voter registration, district delimitation, electoral campaigning, observer accreditation, polling, counting and result tabulation).
• Monitor the impact of domestic and international norms and processes on female participation and provide advice to the Electoral Management Body on appropriate corrective measures.
• Carry out research activities to support the development and preparation of briefing and training material, comparative experiences, and other technical papers.
• Supervise and manage the performance of staff assigned to the area of responsibility, as requested by the Principal Electoral Affairs Officer.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Understanding of and ability to evaluate electoral processes; knowledge of all aspects of electoral processes and their technical and political implications. Strong analytical and evaluative skills combined with good judgement. Understanding of peacekeeping operations. Ability to place the significance of electoral processes in a political context. Some management 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. Commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of peace operations.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) degree in Political Science, International Relations, Law, Public Administration, or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in elections and related areas is required.

At least three (3) years of experience in supervising, implementing, supporting or advising on electoral processes is desirable.

Electoral experience in or in support of field operation of the United Nations Common System or a comparable international organization is desirable.

Experience in managing projects is desirable.

Experience in bilateral or multilateral negotiations is desirable.

Experience in government institution is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of a second UN language and local 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 subject to local recruitment pursuant to staff rule 4.4 of the United Nations Staff Rules. Applicants for positions in the General Service and related categories must be authorized to work for the United Nations in the duty station where the position is located. Eligible applicants selected from outside the duty station are responsible for any expenses in connection with their relocation to the duty station. Staff members subject to local recruitment are not eligible for allowances or benefits exclusively applicable to international recruitment.

Qualified women that meet the requirements of this job opening are particularly encouraged to apply and will be given full consideration in accordance with the United Nations efforts to increase women participation in its workforce.

This post is located in Juba. Please note that anyone selected will be required to report for duty in that location on the agreed date and will also be expected to arrange their own accommodations. There is no UN provided accommodation. If the selected candidate is unable to report to the identified Duty Station, the contract will be considered void.

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.