Org. Setting and Reporting

The position is located in the Peacebuilding Commission Support Branch in the Peacebuilding
Support Office (PBSO) in the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA). The
incumbent will report directly to the Chief of the Branch.

Established in 2005, the Peacebuilding Support Office (PBSO) helps to sustain peace by
fostering international support for nationally owned and led peacebuilding efforts. The Office
assists and supports the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC), manages the Peacebuilding Fund
(PBF) on behalf of the Secretary-General, and works to enhance system-wide coherence and
partnerships with UN and non-UN actors in support of building and sustaining peace in
relevant countries.

The Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) focuses primarily on five
action areas in international peace and security, ensuring sound analysis and early warning,
preventing conflict and engaging in peacemaking, managing political crises and violent
conflicts, sustaining peace, and enhancing partnerships. The Department’s mandate is to
prevent and resolve conflict through inclusive political solutions.

Responsibilities

Within the delegated authority, the Senior Peacebuilding Officer shall manage a team of officers of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC) Support Unit and will be responsible for the following duties:

1) Provide substantive and technical support to the work of the Peacebuilding Commission on countries and regions assigned, including in carrying out its advisory role to the Security Council and the General Assembly, and in cooperation with the other Branches in PBSO.
2) Support PBC relations and interactions with UN principal organs, on the basis of countries and regions assigned, as well as relations with regional groups and individual member states; and liaise with representatives of regional and sub-regional organizations as well as International Financial Institutions and civil society organizations in support of PBC engagements in countries and regions assigned;
3) Follow-up on discussions and decisions made by the three UN principal organs, with implications to the work programme and advisory role of the PBC as it pertains to the countries and regions assigned; and support and strengthen the process of dialogue and partnership with regional intergovernmental bodies on countries and regions assigned;
4) Develop and coordinate the drafting of background papers and inputs on the countries and regions assigned, and assist the Chairperson in relevant consultations, including as they pertain to the annual PBC report, as well as the required preparation for the annual presentation of the report to the General Assembly and Security Council;
5) Monitor the implementation of the annual Forward Agenda and work programmes of the PBC as it pertains to the countries and regions assigned, ensuring incorporation of gender considerations
6) Develop and coordinate PBSO’s inputs, on countries and regions assigned, to, senior UN Officials’ meetings with PBC interlocutors, SG’s reports pertaining to countries and regions assigned, and to related statements delivered by senior UN officials at relevant events;
7) Serve as the PBSO focal point for the UN system’s queries on and engagement in the work and processes of the PBC on countries and regions assigned; coordinate the work carried out by the team of officers and review drafts of PBC statements and other documents prepared by team members;
8) Performs other related duties as may be assigned.

Competencies

Professionalism: Shows pride in work and in achievements; 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 clam in stressful situations; demonstrates professional competence and master of subject matter; Ability to analyze and identify peacebuilding challenges and offer proposals for addressing such challenges in the countries and regions under the consideration of the PBC; Ability to integrate knowledge of country- and region-specific contexts with broader policy and operational objectives; Ability to incorporate gender perspectives and ensure the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; Understanding of inter-agency and inter-governmental processes relating to peacebuilding; Ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; Ability to negotiate and seek and reach agreement in inter-agency and inter-governmental processes; Ability to improve processes and procedures relating to PBC engagement with countries under its consideration.

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 the audience; Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

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 conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; Drives for change and improvement; does not accept the status quo; Shows the courage to take unpopular stands; Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Judgement/ Decision-making: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; Gathers relevant information before making a decision; Considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; Takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; Proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; Checks assumptions against facts; Determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; Makes tough decisions when necessary.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in international relations, political or social sciences, public or business administration, development studies, or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible professional experience in political
science, international relations, development management or related area is required.

Experience in the provision of substantive advice and support to Member States is required.

Experience dealing with the policy and practical aspects of peacebuilding work is required.

Peacebuilding experience in the field (with UN or non-UN entities) is required.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in English, (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of French is desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

Staff members of the United Nations Secretariat must fulfill the lateral move(s) requirements to be eligible to apply for this vacancy. Staff members are requested to indicate all qualifying lateral or geographical move(s) in their Personal History Profile (PHP) and cover note.

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.

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.

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.

For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or underrepresented in the UN Secretariat as of 30 November 2022, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, China, Comoros, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Malta, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Norway, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, 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.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side 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.