Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located within the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), Duty Station, Juba. The Policy and Best Practices Officer reports to the Mission Chief of Staff through the Senior Mission Planning Officer.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority and under the supervision of the Mission Chief of Staff and the Senior Mission Planning Officer, who also serves as the Head of the Strategic Planning Unit, the Policy and Best Practices Officer will carry out the following duties: • Promote and facilitate organizational learning and knowledge sharing within the mission, and between the mission and other missions and UNHQ. • Promote the integration of lessons learned, good practices and other operational knowledge into work processes, guidance, training and planning scenarios. • Develop and maintain a network of policy and best practices focal points within the Mission in cooperation with the Force and UNPOL Policy and Best Practices Officers. • Promote the active use throughout the mission of the DPO knowledge sharing tools and systems, such as the Policy and Practice Database, end of assignment reports, surveys of practice, after-action reviews, practice notes and lessons learned studies, in cooperation with the Policy and Best Practices Officers from the Force and Police components. • Initiate and coordinate outreach activities, conduct training workshops, seminars, etc.; make presentations on policy, organizational learning and knowledge management issues, including through support to the integrated induction training. • Facilitate and/or generate good practices and lessons on various mission work processes, operational responses, organizational systems, mandate implementation, etc. • Facilitate and support as required the conduct of programmatic evaluations. • Collect, store and share learning materials originating in the mission with UNHQ and other missions through the Policy and Practice Database, Communities of Practice and other channels and information sharing fora. • Prepare and share with mission leadership syntheses of lessons learned and recommendations documented in the mission’s knowledge sharing reports, as required. • Develop, on behalf of the mission management, an appropriate mechanism for considering and following up on Mission-level recommendations generated by knowledge production and sharing mechanisms, including audits and evaluations. • Organize follow-up action as required on studies undertaken, seminars or workshops on mission specific best practices and lessons learned activities. • Provide other learning and research services to the mission as required. • Support the establishment of a mission-wide system of guidance development based on lesson learned and good practice. • Take an active part in the network of Policy and Practice Officers in Peace Operations and liaise regularly with the Policy and Best Practices Services at UN headquarters, including through dissemination of lessons learned and guidance materials from other missions with staff, as relevant. • Support the Chief of Staff and other senior mission managers upon request, with the development, review, approval and dissemination of mission specific guidance including the development and implementation of a mission-specific guidance development process. • Support the Chief of Staff and other senior mission managers in identifying gaps in existing official guidance, including through needs assessments, and developing guidance where needed based on identified gaps. • Facilitate Mission inputs to UNHQ draft guidance as needed. • Collect, store and share guidance materials originating in the mission with UNHQ and other missions through the Policy and Practice Database, Communities of Practice and other channels and information sharing forums. • Support alignment of DPO-DOS policy development priorities with mission guidance development priorities. • In consultation with the Chief of Staff and the senior mission leadership and assisted by the Policy and Best Practices Service at UN Headquarters, support coordination of and/or implement policy reviews and studies. • Liaise with UN partner organizations, national and international organizations and academic institutions on all issues related to policy/guidance development. • Perform other, related duties as required.

Competencies

Professionalism: 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. 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.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in international relations, business administration, management, public administration, law, development studies or related fields. 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 five years of progressively responsible experience in international affairs and peace and security, preferably in the area of knowledge management, organizational learning or policy development, is required. Knowledge of relevant UN and peacekeeping policies and procedures is desirable. Experience in drafting guidance and organizational learning products (after-action reviews, practice notes, lessons learned studies, etc.) is desirable. Experience with leading or facilitating organizational learning and change management initiatives is desirable. Experience in programme management or evaluation is desirable.

Languages

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

Assessment

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

Special Notice

Extension of the appointment is subject to Extension of the mandate and/or the availability of the funds or extension of the mandate. 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. 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.

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.