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POLITICAL AFFAIRS OFFICER [Temporary]

New York City

  • Organization: UNDPPA-DPO - United Nations Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations
  • Location: New York City
  • Grade: Mid level - P-3, International Professional - Internationally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Social Affairs
    • International Relations
    • Political Affairs
  • Closing Date: Closed

Org. Setting and Reporting

The post is located in the International Meetings & NGO Liaison Team of the Division for Palestinian Rights (DPR), Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) at Headquarters in New York. The incumbent reports to the Team Leader under the overall supervision of the Director of the Division.

The Division for Palestinian Rights (DPR) of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) in the United Nations Secretariat serves as the Secretariat of the United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (CEIRPP).

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Political Affairs Officer will be responsible for the substantive and organizational planning and organization of international meetings, conferences and activities organized under the auspices of the United Nations Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. S/he will also be responsible for maintaining contacts with civil society, including the network of civil society organizations (CSOs) accredited to the Committee and for developing contacts with new organizations and individual experts.

With delegated authority, the Political Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties:
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of developments relating to the question of Palestine, in particular as they relate to the specific tasks for which the staff member is responsible.
• Provisions information and responds to queries.
• Participates in the planning, organization and substantive servicing of international meetings, conferences and activities.
• Liaises with experts invited to international events organized by the Committee on substantive and logistical arrangements of their participation in the events and activities.
• Liaises with representatives of Member States and Observers, UN system entities, intergovernmental and civil society organizations, parliamentarians, academia and the media on all matters relating to the holding of meetings, conferences and activities.
• Assists in coordinating all administrative arrangements for the holding of activities and events at Headquarters and abroad in cooperation with the Executive Office and respective Departments.
• Briefs and advises the Team Leader and the Director on all aspects of the planning and organization of activities and events at Headquarters and abroad.
• Prepares working papers, notes and conference room papers for the Chair and Bureau of the Committee.
• Drafts statements for the Chairman, Rapporteur and other Committee officials in connection with international meetings, conferences and activities of the Committee, and consultations with civil society organizations.
• Prepares final reports of international meetings and conferences.
• Liaises with CSOs worldwide, including those which are accredited to the Committee, with a special emphasis on national, regional and international coordinating mechanisms on the question of Palestine.
• Drafts information materials geared towards CSOs, such as the weekly bulletin “NGO Action News”.
• Contributes to the drafting of the annual report of the Committee to the General Assembly.
• Contributes to drafting project proposals for approval of DPPA extra-budgetary funds, including input on the respective online platforms and reporting on the use of the funds
• The incumbent also acts as back-up to the other Political Affairs Officers in the team, and performs other duties as required.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Possesses knowledge of political issues related to the situation in the Middle East. Is able to analyze developments in the political area. Has proven ability to draft statements, talking points, briefing notes and other documentation on international political issues. 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 calm in stressful situations. Is able to work under pressure, at and away from Headquarters. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

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.

TEAMWORK: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals. Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise and 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.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in political science, international relations, international law or related area. 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 five years of progressively responsible experience in political science, international relations, law, disarmament, security, development management, conflict resolution or related area is required.

Experience in dealing with issues of peace and security while working for an international organization is desirable.

Experience in the political area with a focus on the question of Palestine or Arab-Israeli conflict is desirable.

Experience in servicing meetings under the auspices of an intergovernmental body, at and away from Headquarters, is desirable.

Experience in working with non-governmental and civil society organizations is desirable.

Experience managing or working with social media accounts in the context of official work is desirable.

Experience working with protocol matters 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. Fluency in Arabic 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 for 11 months through 31 Dec 2022. 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.

Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1, candidates recruited through the Young Professionals Programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position.

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or underrepresented in the UN Secretariat as of 30 September 2019, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Central African Republic, China, Comoros, Cuba, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Mozambique, Nauru, Norway, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands, South Sudan, Suriname, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

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.

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.

This vacancy is now closed.
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