Org. Setting and Reporting

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

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Senior Political/Electoral Affairs Officer will be responsible for managing the Country Support Cluster in the Electoral Assistance Division (Cluster I) with another co-Team Leader as per the following responsibilities:

• Formulates political affairs strategies in the electoral field and adequate responses to Member States’ requests for electoral assistance;
• Develops a vision or direction for Cluster I work and create the conditions to allow this direction to be implemented.
• Plans and coordinates programmes and activities requiring interdepartmental and/or interagency involvement and participate 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.
• Designs and effects electoral initiatives; advises on and participates in the negotiation to establish electoral operations, and develops guidelines, terms of reference, operational plans and time frames for new operations.
• Manages and organize research, initiates and carry out in-depth analysis and studies on diverse and sensitive international issues especially with regards to electoral processes.
• Proposes action plans 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 workplans, mid-term plans, budgets of the unit and participates in overall approval related to the programme work, and administrative matters concerning the Division;
• Lead, coordinate and oversee the work of colleagues in the cluster; evaluate staff; participate in recruitments and selection of new staff and in development of training programmes;
• Represent the division/office/mission at round tables, seminars and conferences
• Develop and maintain relations with officials at the highest levels of governments and advise them on electoral issues and policies of mutual concern.
• Lead electoral needs assessment missions (NAMs) to assess government requests for electoral assistance;
• Designs and formulates technical assistance projects in support of electoral management bodies (EMBs) and other stakeholders;
• Manages, coordinates, organizes the conduct of elections as required.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Knowledge of unit’s strategic direction and ability to transform it into a results-oriented work programme. Ability to evaluate international political problems. Ability to work in the field providing electoral assistance. Knowledge of all aspects of electoral processes and their technical and political implications. Ability to manage and coordinate multileveled projects. 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. Take 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.

• 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.

Managerial Competencies:

• 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 improvements; 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; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.

• Managing Performance: Delegate the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills; 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 economics, international relations, law, public administration, or related field. A first-level university degree in any of these fields, in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience at national and international levels in advisory and managerial positions in electoral assistance, political science, international relations, law, security, development management, conflict resolution or related area is required.

A minimum of seven years of experience in supervising, assisting, or implementing election programmes, is required.

Experience working in the United Nations Common System or a comparable international organization is required.

Experience advising Senior Officials is required.

Experience as team leader is desirable.

Languages

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

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

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.

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.