Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Electoral Assistance Division of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs in New York. The incumbent reports to the Deputy Director.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Senior Political Affairs (Electoral) Officer will be responsible for the following duties In Headquarters: • Formulates political affairs strategies in the electoral field and adequate responses to Member States’ requests for electoral assistance; develops a vision or direction for work and creates the conditions to allow this direction to be implemented. • Plans and coordinates programmes and activities requiring interdepartmental and/or interagency involvement and participates in the set up of large electoral operations. • Prepares briefing notes and talking points for the Secretary General, Senior Advisors, Under Secretary General/Assistant Secretary General for meetings with Heads of State, foreign ministers and other high-level interested parties. • Advises Special Representatives/Envoys of the Secretary-General, Heads of Offices, Senior UN Officials, in the course of election-related good offices missions • Designs and effects electoral initiatives; advises on and participates in the negotiation to establish electoral operations, and develops guidelines, terms of reference and operational plans and time frames for new operations. • Conducts and directs research, initiates and carries out in-depth analysis and studies on diverse and sensitive international issues especially with regards to electoral processes. • Follows up on current electoral trends and political and security problems related to geographical assignment. • Proposes plan of action for immediate and long range solutions to electoral problems in general and in specific geographical areas; identifies emerging issues pertaining to the mandates of the unit or division; analyses implications and makes recommendations on possible strategies and measures to improve the work of the Electoral Assistance Division. • Designs and develops significant policy and program changes to address evolving needs of Member States in the electoral field. • Formulates the programme of work, budget and medium-term plan of the unit and participates in the overall approval of the programme of work, and administrative matters concerning the Division; coordinates and oversees work of colleagues and unit. • Develops and maintains relations with officials at the highest levels of governments and advises them on issues and policies of mutual concern. • Acts as a senior trainer in courses. • Designs and formulates technical assistance projects in support of electoral management bodies. • Oversees the periodic updating of the Single UN Roster of Electoral Experts • Advises, supports and helps coordinate the conduct of elections as required. • Follow-up on discussions in the ACABQ and the Fifth Committee pertaining to the budget of electoral components of UN peace operations • Leads electoral needs assessment missions in complex countries to assess government requests for electoral assistance. • Performs other related duties as required. In the field: • Leads electoral needs assessment missions in complex countries to assess government requests for electoral assistance. • Designs and formulates technical assistance projects in support of electoral management bodies. • Acts as Head of mission of large UN electoral operations as required. • Manages, coordinates, organizes the conduct of elections as required. • Performs other related duties as required. Work implies frequent interaction with the following: Officers in peacekeeping operations and/or DDA and DPA, UNDP, DPKO, OCHA, DPI, UNOPS, UNV Under Secretary General/Assistant Secretary General, Force Commander, and other senior UN Officials especially Resident Coordinators of UN system; Special Envoys of the Secretary General Senior staff of specialized agencies, representatives of non-governmental organisations, regional intergovernmental organisations, delegations, etc; Representatives of Governments/Permanent Missions to the UN Electoral Management Bodies Media Representatives Academic community, institutes, and foundations. Results Expected: Provides authoritative advice and counsel to senior UN officials, national and international officials; develops strategies in the electoral field to ensure that electoral operations are conducted in as peaceful, genuine and credible an environment as possible, and that technical assistance extended by the UN System will concretely assist in the peaceful, legitimate, and smooth hand over of power from one government to the next. When so mandated by the sovereign organs of the UN, oversees legitimate, credible, and efficient electoral assistance operations.

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. 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. Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable. 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. 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 conflict by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; Drives for change and improvement: does not accept the status quo; Shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Managing Performance: Makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; Monitors progress against milestones and deadlines; Regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; Encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative; Actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; Appraises performance fairly.

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 the advanced university degree.

Job – Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience at national and international levels in advisory and managerial positions in electoral assistance, or related area of which at least seven years of experience in electoral assistance is required. United Nations electoral field experience in a peace operation and/or a UN agency is required. Experience in managing a team of different backgrounds is required. Experience advising UN Senior Officials is required.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in both oral and written English is required; and knowledge of French is desirable. Knowledge of another official United Nations language 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 20 September 2024. 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. • 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. 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. Staff members of the United Nations Secretariat must fulfil the lateral move requirements to be eligible to apply for this vacancy. Staff members are requested to indicate all qualifying lateral moves in their Personal History Profile (PHP) and cover letter. For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or underrepresented in the UN Secretariat as of 30 Nov 2023, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, 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.