Overview
Leads and manages the DPPA Liaison Office in Kyiv, providing analytical updates on political developments in Ukraine and recommendations for UN actions and support.
Key Responsibilities
- Provides regular analytical updates on political developments in Ukraine, with significance for peace and security, including with potential regional implications, as well as recommendations for early warning actions, and strategic advice and recommendations for UN actions and support.
- Develops and maintains regular channels of communication and engagement with senior government officials, political party leaders and representatives, civil society actors, the diplomatic community, international partners, and other relevant actors.
- Monitors political and security developments, both domestically and as relate to the conflict, on a daily basis and provides regular reporting and analysis to DPPA-ECAD.
- Prepares briefing notes and inputs for analytical notes and background papers, in coordination with ECAD, for the Secretary-General, Senior Advisers, Under Secretary General/Assistant Secretary General.
- Identifies, designs and supports the implementation of policies, initiatives and project activities consistent with DPPA mandate priorities, including in support of Women, Peace and Security, peace-building, and local peace initiatives, as appropriate and in consultation with ECAD.
- Participates and provides political briefings in UN coordination mechanisms, including the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Ukraine and UNCT-coordination mechanisms, as appropriate.
- Provides, as needed and upon request, political advice and support to the Office of the RC/HC and the UN Country Team, including sharing reports, as appropriate and in coordination with ECAD.
- Coordinates, as needed and as appropriate, with the RC/HC and relevant UNCT agencies on substantive and operational matters pertaining to the political work of the liaison office, and with the Peace and Development Advisor Unit in support of the HC/RC and UN Country Team, including with regard to conflict-sensitive programming.
- Undertakes travel across Ukraine for consultations with local interlocutors and partners, as needed and as security conditions permit.
- Acts as coordinator and supports missions/visits to Ukraine by DPPA officials and provides support for other senior UN visiting officials, as required, in cooperation with the RCO.
- Provides managerial oversight and coordinates overall programmatic and substantive work of the liaison office team, under the overall direction of DPPA-ECAD, including formulates the programme of work and medium-term plan, manages administrative matters, and participates in the recruitment and selection of staff.
- Manages, coordinates, organizes and supervises research on a variety of political issues in Ukraine, in coordination with ECAD, as well as engagement with local interlocutors and partners, and implementation of project activities.
- Coordinates closely with the DO and UNDSS on all security-related matters.
- Ensures close consultation and information-sharing with DPPA-ECAD on all aspects of the Liaison Office’s work and organization.
- Represents DPPA in relevant local and regional conferences, seminars, meetings and think-tank events, as needed and as appropriate, in consultation with DPPA-ECAD.
- Performs other functions, as required.
Required Experience
- A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in political science, international relations, law, disarmament, security, development management, conflict resolution or related area is required.
- Demonstrated experience in field and liaison work with senior government, diplomatic and international and regional partners in Eastern Europe is required.
- Experience working in the United Nations in support of preventive diplomacy, mediation, and peacebuilding, including proven track-record in conducting political analysis and producing high-quality analytical products, is required.
- Experience working in or on Ukraine and up-to-date knowledge of its current political situation is required.
- Experience working in cooperation with country-level humanitarian, development and civil society partners is desirable.
- Experience leading and managing a multicultural team and its work in a complex political context, conflict or post-conflict setting, is required.
Qualifications
Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) degree in political science, international relations, international economics, law, public administration, or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
