PRINCIPAL POLITICAL AFFAIRS OFFICER, D1

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Office of the Under-Secretary-General of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA/OUSG). The Principal Political Affairs Officer reports directly to the Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs. 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

The Chief of Office is the senior adviser dealing with a variety of political and managerial questions entrusted to the Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs; monitors activities pertaining to the implementation of the mandates entrusted to the USG and the Department, providing substantive and managerial advice as required; maintains liaison between DPPA and other Secretariat Departments, specialized agencies, Special Political Missions and, in particular, the Executive Office of the Secretary-General; liaises and coordinates with the relevant divisions, offices and teams reporting to the USG as well as other parts of the peace and security pillar and the UN system; and advances the continued implementation of reform and change management initiatives. In particular, his/her role is assisting the USG in building DPPA capacity to serve more effectively as the political arm of the Secretary-General and the UN System, in this connection provides advice on a range of managerial and substantive issues: POLITICAL • Assists the USG in the discharge of her overall responsibilities as Head of the Department and focal point in the UN system for mediation, prevention, electoral assistance, peacebuilding and sustaining peace through supporting strategic planning processes and strengthening strategic partnerships in the international peace and security arena, including by managing internal strategy-setting and resource mobilization exercises aimed at ensuring adequate resources to fulfill DPPA mandates not adequately funded by the Regular Budget; • Supports the USG in her capacity as senior advisor to the SG in substantive and managerial matters, including by ensuring improved DPPA input into senior and field appointments processes, • Liaises with SRSGs/Special Political Missions (SPMs), senior managers, other Secretariat departments, and DPPA staff on substantive and strategic issues and with representatives in UN System, specialized agencies, permanent missions, and external partners, including non-UN entities, whose cooperation are essential in the achievement of DPPA's goals, and to improve communication and working relationships with these organizations for better DPPA representation and inputs into Secretariat-wide initiatives; • Support the USG in implementing the Secretary-General’s vision of reform and the prioritization of prevention and sustaining peace, advancing the consolidation of DPPA, and ensuring the integration of the political, strategic, operational and peacebuilding responsibilities of the department. MANAGERIAL • Assists the USG in achieving the human resources, financial management, internal communications, staff relations, and other targets as set out in her Compact with the SG. This includes: (i) closely coordinating and collaborating with the Office of the Director for Coordination and Shares Services (ODCSS); (ii) overseeing relevant systemic, administrative and personnel issues, including support to missions and mission staff; (iii) ensuring optimal use of personnel and financial resources; and (iv) liaising with senior managers and staff on managerial issues related to the mandates entrusted to the USG and DPPA; • As Chief of the Office of the USG, responsible for the management of the Office, working closely with the Executive Office, the front office of the Department of Peace Operations, ODCSS, and other relevant stakeholders; • Oversees management and sharing of information within the Department, across the peace and security pillar, as relevant, and with other entities, as well as oversight on external relations, fundraising, monitoring and evaluation. OTHER: • Represents the Office and the Department in inter-departmental meetings and working groups as appropriate;

Competencies

CORE COMPETENCIES PROFESSIONALISM: Ability to propose creative, alternative and non-traditional approaches to both substantive and managerial issues and processes while abiding by UN rules, policies and guidelines. Deep knowledge of the UN System and of the relationship between its various entities particularly those with which DPPA interacts. Excellent management skills. Comprehensive knowledge of UN policies and practices and knowledge of operations. Knowledge of UN policies and practice in personnel and budget management. Clear understanding of field perspectives and the requirements of field workability to credibly and effectively represent the views of the USG as well as the position of the Department. Knowledge of peacebuilding and sustaining peace. Familiarity with the Secretary-General’s vision of reform and the prioritization of prevention and sustaining peace. Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges. Remains calm in stressful situations. 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. ACCOUNTABILITY: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments. Delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost 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 shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable. 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. 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 political science, international relations or related area. A first-level university degree in combination with two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Job - Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of fifteen years of progressively responsible experience in diplomacy, policy making, progressive management or executive direction at senior levels is required. Experience managing and supervising teams is required. Experience in the provision of programmatic and strategic planning or guidance is required. Experience monitoring political activities, and making recommendations related to conflict prevention, mediation, and conflict resolution is desirable. Experience supporting senior officials in front office settings is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. French is desirable. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult https://languages.un.org for details).

Required Languages

Language Reading Writing Listening Speaking

English UN Level III UN Level III UN Level III UN Level III

Desirable Languages

Language Reading Writing Listening Speaking

French UN Level I UN Level I UN Level I UN Level I

Assessment

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

Special Notice

• This position is temporarily available until 31 December 2026. 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. •Staff members appointed to the current position are required to submit a financial disclosure statement upon assignment or appointment and annually thereafter.

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. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile 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. All external candidates recruited in accordance with section ‎2.2 (a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2. (c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. 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.