MISSION PLANNING OFFICER

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia. The Mission Planning Officer will be based in Bogotá and will report to the Chief of Staff.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Mission Planning Officer will have the following duties and responsibilities:

• Develops and maintains productive collaboration with mission components, bilateral and multilateral donors, UNCT members and other stakeholders.
• Assists the UN senior management to develop, implement, and monitor strategies to maximize the individual and collective impact of the UN's response in the country, through the provision of advises on the sound implementation of the Integrated Strategic Framework (ISF), and the conduct of analysis, the formulation of recommendations and the drafting of segments of related plans and documents (UNDAF, Transition planning, and others).
• Lead the extrabudgetary funds team supporting the implementing sections in drafting DPPA Multi-Year Appeal proposals, in implementing, monitoring, and reporting on the approved projects. Support communication and coordination between the Mission, Headquarters, and donors on XB matters. Developed and ensure the proper implementation of in-mission XB coordination, monitoring, and evaluation mechanisms.
• Supports the preparation of the Mission Concept and the mission’s work-plan, which, building on the vision of the SRSG, translates the mission mandated tasks into a form that fuses objectives, timelines and expected outcomes into a coherent whole, serving as an authoritative guide for the development and implementation of mission component plans.
• Provides advice to mission components in development of component-level plans, including to ensure coherence with the Mission's overall strategic direction and planning tools, and provides recommendations on design of specific planning tools and mechanisms, in line with policy and best practice, to meet the needs of the mission and partners.
• Requests, analyses and drafts inputs to the Mission programme budget and performance reports, and prepare inputs as required for audits, budget monitoring and performance reporting.
• Provides substantive and practical support to relevant committees, task forces, clusters, inter-agency coordination groups, steering committees and working groups.
• Serves as focal point to support the Mission’s accountability framework including but not limited to the participation in the review of Senior management Compacts, ST/SGBs, DoA, Business continuity, ERM, ORMS, and Assessment of Internal control; lead the delivery of timely action plans and monitor progress to address and resolve control issues.
• Monitor and evaluate mandate implementation and workplans, prepare position papers, and record policy related decisions.
• Ensures inclusion of gender, ethnic and cross-cutting considerations across all analysis, reporting and related tasks.
• Performs other duties as required.

Competencies

Professionalism: Takes initiative and consistently drives for high quality performance for self and team. Strong inter-personal skills, including the ability to manage challenging multi-stakeholder processes. Values diversity and works effectively with colleagues and contacts in the immediate and wider teams in pursuit of objectives. Facilitates others to solve problems. Anticipates and manages risk. 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.

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 audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities where necessary; 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.

Accountability: Takes ownerships for all responsibilities and hours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, coast 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 shortcoming and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in Political Science, Management or Development, or a related field. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Professional training in the areas of planning, programme management, facilitation and/or coordination is desirable.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven years of relevant, progressively responsible professional experience, including in planning, evaluation, programme management or policy development at a strategic level as well as facilitating and coordinating multistakeholder processes in peace consolidation settings, is required.

Prior experience and familiarity with the budget planning and reporting process including the Results-Based Budget (RBB) framework and performance reporting, as well as the UN system of internal controls, is required.

Comprehensive knowledge of relevant UN policies, procedures and operations is required.

Field experience including at least one year of experience working in one of the above fields in a UN field operation, or similar multi-lateral or non-governmental organization in a conflict, post-conflict or complex setting, is required.

Experience implementing relevant UN Secretariat policies, procedures and operations, including legislative and budgeting processes, is desirable.

Prior experience in extrabudgetary fund management, donor relations and reporting is desirable.

Languages

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

Assessment

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

Special Notice

Appointment or assignment against this position is for an initial period of one year. The appointment or assignment and renewal thereof are subject to the availability of the post or funds, budgetary approval or extension of the mandate.

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. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

#United_for_Gender_Parity. Candidates interested to work for the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia may wish to check out our Realistic Job Preview videos to get an idea of the living and working conditions in different duty stations in Colombia.: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-8SCkVjg-e3073SwTDG1VQf1oLTWfUQ4

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.

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.