Logistics Officer, (COE) [Temporary]

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Memorandum of Understanding and Reimbursement Policy Section (MRPS) of the Uniformed Capabilities Support Division (UCSD) in the Department of Operational Support (DOS).

The Department of Operational Support was established to provide operational advisory services to operating entities across the Secretariat, including other departments, offices-away-from headquarters, field missions, and regional commissions.

The Office of Supply Chain Management (OSCM) includes the Office of the Assistant Secretary-General for Supply Chain Management, Logistics Division, the Procurement Division, the Uniformed Capabilities Support Division, Global Service Centre, Aviation Safety Section and the Enabling and Outreach Service.

UCSD will serve as the single point of entry within the Secretariat for operational and policy matters relating to support and reimbursement to military and police contingents deployed to United Nations (UN) field operations. Reimbursement payments to contributing countries are one of the largest costs of United Nations peacekeeping.

MRPS is responsible for overseeing policies and procedures related to the reimbursement of troop- and police-contributing countries and the verification and control of Contingency Owned Equipment (COE), for providing support to the triennial meetings of the Working Group on COE and the updating of the Manual on Policies and Procedures concerning Reimbursement and Control of Contingent-Owned Equipment of Troop/Police Contributors Participating in Peacekeeping Missions, and for undertaking the quadrennial survey of personnel costs established by the General Assembly in its resolution 67/261. The Section leads negotiations with troop- and police-contributing countries in preparing Memorandum of Understanding (MOUs) to support the deployment of former military and police units.

The incumbent will report to the Chief of Contingent Owned Equipment (COE) and Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Section or designated official.

Responsibilities

Within limits of delegated authority, the Logistics Officer (COE) will be responsible for the following duties:

Stakeholder engagement:
• In coordination with UN Headquarters and mission stakeholders, lead engagement with troop- and police-contributing countries (T/PCC) technical counterparts both remotely and during on-site visits.
• Articulate in both written and verbal form, key findings, issues and opportunities pertaining to the deployment of renewable energy systems by T/PCC and contribute to the technical solutions to reach mutually satisfactory approaches to problems.
• Provide technical assistance to DOS in the consultations with relevant T/PCCs and Member States to evaluate potential renewable energy projects in T/PCC sites and to support implementation of planned project within the COE
framework.
• Provide information to T/PCC on the reimbursement modalities applicable to renewable energy systems, as detailed in the Contingent-Owned Equipment Manual, and on renewable energy operational considerations in general.
• Participate in MOU negotiations between Member States and the United Nations.
• Review draft MOUs and prepare appropriate COE-related comments/recommendations for HQ and field mission staffs, representatives of Permanent Missions to the United Nations.

Project planning and development:
• Compile a portfolio of most promising renewable energy projects for T/PCC sites using available data and considering a range of parameters and determine the renewable energy transition potential of T/PCCs based on the
portfolio developed.
• Coordinate the provision of technical support by DOS to T/PCC for the planning and development of renewable energy projects.
• Provide technical assistance to DOS in the development of contractual agreements between the T/PCCs and the UN for said projects, including in the Memorandum of Understanding negotiation process.
• Provide ad hoc support to Member States considering bi-lateral partnerships pertaining to the deployment of renewable energy systems in UN peacekeeping missions.

Project implementation:
• Coordinate the activities concerning planning and scheduling of renewable energy projects in T/PCC sites including site preparation, installation, commissioning, and associated works (e.g., groundworks, distribution networks).
• Prepare Checkpoint Reports and Progress Reports to be shared with relevant internal and external stakeholders as required.
• Review and identify, in consultation with other appropriate Headquarters (HQ) offices and field missions, the requirement for new or amended COE policies, procedures and guidelines.
• Draft, in consultation with other appropriate HQ offices and field missions, new or amended COE policies, procedures and guidelines.

Training:
• Work with T/PCCs and other Member States who may have capacity to roll-out renewable energy training programmes on the development of training materials and on the organisation of specific trainings.
• Develop and deliver training packages and briefings for HQ and UN field mission personnel, representatives of Permanent Missions to the United Nations and other peacekeeping partners, related to the COE framework
• Review and identify, in consultation with other appropriate HQ offices and field missions, the requirements for COE training packages and briefings.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Knowledge in developing MOU contracts, plans, policies, procedures and programmes. Knowledge of UN financial rules and regulations. Ability to provide technical and procedural advice on a broad range of logistics-related issues. Ability to develop, maintain and supervise management control systems for materials, services and claim. Analytical skills and ability to provide strategic support in examining complex policy issues, identifying pertinent data, and presenting progressive proposals to inter-governmental forums. Demonstrated capacity to support the engagement of senior stakeholders in discussing military and police capabilities. Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities. 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.

• Planning and 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.

• Client Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be "clients" and seeks to see things from clients' point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients' needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients' environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent degree) in logistics, engineering, supply chain management or other relevant field. 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 managing national and/or international logistics support operations, or related area is required.

• Experience in providing technical and procedural advice on logistics is required.

• Experience in the management and negotiation of Memorandum of Understanding (MOUs) related to military or police logistics support operations is desirable.

• Experience working in support of a field operation (inclusive of peacekeeping operations, special political missions, agencies, funds and programmes), is desirable.

• Experience working with business intelligence systems and data analysis tools is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is desirable.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

• This position is temporarily available through 9 November 2023, with a possibility of an extension. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment.

• This post is financed by the support account for Peacekeeping Operations.

• 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.

• The expression "Internal candidates", shall mean staff members who have been recruited after a competitive examination under staff rule 4.16 or after the advice of a central review body under staff rule 4.15.

• A current staff member who holds a fixed-term, permanent or continuing appointment may apply for temporary positions no more than one level above his or her current grade. However, a current staff member who holds an appointment at the G-6 or G-7 level may also apply to temporary positions in the Professional category up to and including the P-3 level, subject to meeting all eligibility and other requirements for the position. In accordance with ST/AI/1999/17 section 2.3, an special post allowance (SPA) may only be granted to one level higher than the personal level of the staff member assigned to higher-level functions in his or her own category, whether the higher-level functions are one or several levels higher than the personal level of the staff member. Staff in the General Service and related categories temporarily placed against a post at the Professional level may receive an SPA to the P-1 or P-2 level.

• For information on special post allowance, please refer to ST/AI/1999/17. For more details on the administration of temporary appointments please refer to ST/AI/2010/4/Rev.1.

• A staff member holding a temporary appointment shall be regarded as an external candidate when applying for other positions,and may apply for other temporary positions at any level, subject to section 5.7 below and staff rule 4.16 (b) (ii). Therefore, a staff member holding a temporary appointment in the General Service or related categories may only apply to positions within those categories. For full information on eligibility requirements, please refer to section 5 of ST/AI/2010/4Rev.1 on Temporary Appointments. In its resolution 66/234, the General Assembly further "stressed that the Secretary-General should not recur to the practice of temporarily filling posts in the Professional and higher categories with General Service staff members who have not passed the General Service to Professional category examination other than on an exceptional basis, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure that temporary occupation of such posts by the General Service staff shall not exceed a period of one year, effective 1 January 2013…" Consequently, eligible candidates in the General Service or related categories for temporary job openings in the Professional category that have not passed the competitive examination may be selected only on an exceptional basis endorsed by the Office of Human Resources Management where no other suitable candidate could be identified.

• 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. An external candidate selected for this position is bound by the prevailing condition of the staff selection system under ST/AI/2010/3, as amended, and ST/AI/2010/4/Rev.1. A staff member holding a temporary appointment who is recruited in the Professional and above categories on a temporary appointment, and placed on a position authorized for one year or longer may not apply for or be reappointed to his/her current position within six months of the end of his/her current service. This provision does not apply to staff members holding temporary appointments and placed on positions authorized for one year or more in duty stations authorized for peacekeeping operations or special political missions.

• The Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and administrative issuances governing staff appointments can be viewed at: http://www.un.org/hr_handbook/English

• 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.

• 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.

• Staff members are not eligible to apply for the current temporary job opening if they are unable to serve the specified duration of temporary need before reaching the mandatory age of separation. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation.

• Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AE2012/2/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 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.

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.