Organization: Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs-Department of Peace Operations-Shared Structure
Location: Addis Ababa
Grade: Senior Executive level – D-1, Director – Internationally recruited position
Occupational Groups:
Social Affairs
International Relations
Political Affairs
Managerial positions
Closing Date:

Org. Setting and Reporting
The incumbent will serve as Head of Office in the Office of the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General (PESG) for Sudan. The Personal Envoy leads good offices and political engagement with Sudanese, regional and international stakeholders to enhance efforts to end the Sudan conflict and relaunch a credible political process, aiming for greater coherence, coordination and integration of the various mediation initiatives. The Principal Political Affairs Officer/Head of Office will report to the Personal Envoy. The position is based in Addis Ababa.
Responsibilities
Within delegation of authority, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties: • Plan, coordinate and manage activities of the office, in line with the mandate and strategic guidance and priorities provided by the PESG. • Assess, analyze, and make appropriate recommendations to the PESG on political and security issues related to Sudan, proposing interventions and devising strategies for delivery of objectives. • Implement the operational activities related to the work of the office, including fostering dialogue between parties and supporting and enhancing coordination among mediation initiatives; • Represent the PESG and provide good offices on his behalf, as appropriate. • Incorporate an integrated approach that includes a rights-based dimension and a gender perspective throughout the office’s activities. • Develop and maintain productive relationships with relevant authorities, political and community leaders, civil society actors, as well as the UN system and other national, regional and international partners on coordination and policy matters. • Develop and lead outreach strategies towards the Sudanese population, in order to cultivate ties, create/expand political space, foster inter-community dialogue, and conflict resolution and develop an understanding of local perceptions and views on relevant issues, challenges and possible solutions thereto; Ensure that these perceptions are factored into the office’s own activities and contributions to policymaking and planning processes. • Ensure the operational functioning of the office by promoting collaboration, teamwork and communication among all its components. Coordinate the work carried out by different work units and ensure coordination with other agencies and bodies of the United Nations system in order to ensure coherence. • Ensure regular, timely and high-quality reporting to the PESG and UN Headquarters on developments and issues pertaining to OPESG’s mandate; coordinate and oversee the preparation of reports, letters, statements and other documentation for submission to Headquarters and other UN and non-UN-partners; Ensure that the outputs produced by OPESG maintain high-quality standards, and that reports are clear, objective, factual and based on comprehensive verifiable data sources. Ensure timely reporting of OPESG activities to Headquarters. • Manage and oversee the programmatic/administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of the office, including preparation of inputs for budget reporting and reporting performance. • Supervise, mentor, and evaluate staff within the Office; participate in selection of new staff. • Perform other relevant duties, as requested by the PESG.
Competencies
Professionalism: Extensive knowledge and understanding of the UN’s role in preventive diplomacy, good offices, mediation and conflict resolution; Ability to analyze political situations and provide strategic advice on a broad range of political issues to senior officials; Proven strong understanding of political and security dynamics in Sudan and the region; Ability to build effective relations with key national level stakeholders and members of the international community; Ability to produce high-quality written analysis of political, social, and economic events, edit the work of others and maintain a dynamic reporting effort; Ability to apply UN organizational rules, regulations, policies, and guidelines. Shows pride in work and 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. 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. 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 improvement; 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. 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) degree in political science, international relations, international economics, law, public administration or related field is required. 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 at the international level in advisory and managerial positions in political science, international relations, law, disarmament, security, development management, conflict resolution, humanitarian coordination, human rights or related area is required. A minimum of five years working in a field operation of the United Nations common system inclusive of peacekeeping, political missions and UN regional commissions, agencies, funds, and programme, or similar international organization, or nongovernmental organization in Africa is required. Experience working in a conflict or post-conflict setting is required. A minimum of five years of experience supporting good offices or mediation efforts as part of a political or peace process is required. A minimum of five years of experience in political outreach, facilitation, analysis, advice and reporting is required, including experience advising senior officials. At least five years of experience working on peace and security issues in Sudan is required. At least three years of experience managing multicultural teams is required.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position(s) advertised, fluency in both oral and written English 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 a competency-based interview.
Special Notice
• This position is temporarily available until 31 December 2024. 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. 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. 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. Staff members appointed to the current position are required to submit a financial disclosure statement upon assignment or appointment and annually thereafter. Recruitment is subject to classification, which is approved by DMSPC. Internal applicants should note that the granting of SPA is contingent upon classification of the position.
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. 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.

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