Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located within the Committee, Policy and Legal Affairs (CPLA) Section, United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), in Vienna, Austria. The incumbent will work under the direct supervision of the Chief, CPLA Section, and under overall guidance of the Director, UNOOSA. For more information about UNOOSA, please visit the website: www.unoosa.org

Responsibilities

CPLA is responsible for assisting the Director discharge the responsibilities of the Secretary-General under the United Nations Treaties and Principles on Outer Space and related resolutions, among which is the maintenance of the United Nations Register of Objects Launched into Outer Space. Within assigned authority, the Scientific Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties: • Maintain the United Nations Register of Objects Launched into Outer Space; and support the maintenance of digital and online components of the Register, including related portals and tools for treaty implementation. • Receive and verify technical information provided by Member States on space objects and events under international space law and relevant documents; ensure the effective and timely dissemination of received technical information; respond to technical queries from editors, translators and other stakeholders relating to received information; and engage with Member States on resolution of such queries. • Provide effective and timely technical advisory services to Member States on the practical implementation of treaty obligations. • Keep abreast of the near-Earth and deep-space space object population to assess the effectiveness of global treaty implementation; utilise orbital data and off-the-shelf software to model and produce graphical visualisations of orbital trends and events, such as population growth, general orbital analysis, manoeuvre and conjunction modelling, trajectory and impact predictions; Collect and analyse data on space activities to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making by UNOOSA senior management. • Provide substantive support for UNOOSA’s programme on space sustainability by providing advice on technical matters relating to, among other things, space situational awareness, space traffic management and satellite operations. • Support the Secretaries of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), its Subcommittees and other subsidiary bodies through the provision of technical knowledge, as required. Provide substantive technical contributions to reports and background papers on treaty implementation for submission to COPUOS and its subsidiary bodies. • Organize and provide substantive support to expert meetings, training courses, technical advisory missions, events to promote signature and ratification of the UN treaties on outer space activities, and other activities relating to space object registration; and maintain a master list of national space object registration focal points. Represent UNOOSA at activities promoting the implementation of the UN treaties on outer space activities; and prepare and deliver presentations on space object registration and other related topics. • Develop technical training materials on treaty implementation for use by new and emerging spacefaring countries; and proactively engage with those countries on space object registration and treaty implementation in coordination with other capacity-building activities of UNOOSA. • Serve as UNOOSA’s focal point to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on issues relating to the launch and/or re-entry of nuclear-powered space objects or other high-interest space objects under the Joint Radiation Emergency Management Plan of the International Organizations Emergency Preparedness and Response; respond to technical queries from the IAEA Incident and Emergency Centre on space-related issues; and represent UNOOSA at meetings related to the Inter-Agency Committee on Radiological and Nuclear Emergencies (IACRNE). • Perform other work-related duties as required.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Has knowledge, understanding and experience of theories, concepts and practices relevant to space situational awareness, space traffic management and satellite operations. Has understanding of the work of the United Nations and/or relevant international and regional organizations. Is able to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. 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. • 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. • Technological Awareness: Keeps abreast of available technology; understands applicability and limitation of technology to the work of the office; actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks; shows willingness to learn new technology.

Education

An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in a field relating to space engineering is required. A first-level university degree in similar fields combined 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 work experience in operational activities or research and development in space-related entities or industry is required. Work experience in the area of space situational awareness or in designing, operating or utilizing satellites and space systems is required. Work experience in organizing capacity-building activities is desirable. Work experience preparing technical reports and documents is desirable. Work experience providing technical assistance is desirable. Work experience in international or national licensing, authorization and registration of space objects is desirable. Experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another United Nations official language is an advantage.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise and a 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. Applicants, who successfully go through a competitive recruitment process and are recommended for selection and/or inclusion in the roster of pre-approved candidates for subsequent job openings at the same level and with similar functions, may have their application information and roster status shared with other UN Organizations. Such applicants may be contacted by other UN Organizations for similar job openings, subject to the confirmation of their interest. Placement on the roster is no guarantee of a future selection. 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 and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Vienna is classified in the H category (family duty station). For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or under-represented in the UN Secretariat as of 30 November 2024, are strongly encouraged to apply: Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, China, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Germany, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Libya, Liechtenstein, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Nauru, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu.

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.