Overview
The Director, Political Affairs, D2 is responsible for directing and managing the work of the Central and Southern Africa Division, formulating and implementing its substantive work programme, and contributing to the departments' overall strategies and policies.
Key Responsibilities
- Direct and manage the work of the Central and Southern Africa Division.
- Formulate and implement the substantive work programme of the Division.
- Oversee the management of activities undertaken by the Division.
- Contribute to the formulation of the departments overall strategies and policies.
- Follow political, security and other developments in the countries of the Central and Southern Africa region.
- Exercise overall management of timely provision of political analyses, briefing notes, background papers and talking points.
- Provide experienced counsel and support to Special Representatives, Heads of Mission, Coordinators or Envoys of the Secretary-General.
- Provide senior assistance, analysis, advice and recommendations for possible actions to the Assistant Secretary-General and the relevant Under-Secretary-Generals.
- Coordinate and maintain regular contacts with Member States, regional and sub-regional organizations.
- Reports to intergovernmental bodies on budget/programme performance or on programmatic/substantive issues.
- Coordinate and oversee the preparation of reports for presentation to the Security Council and other policy-making organs.
- Ensure that the outputs produced by the Division maintain high-quality standards.
- Undertake or oversee the programmatic/administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of the Division.
- Oversee the recruitment of staff for the Division.
- Ensure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member.
- Chair meetings, seminars, etc., on substantive-related issues.
- Represent the Organization at relevant international, regional, inter-agency meetings, seminars and conferences.
- Perform other related duties as requested by the senior management of the Organization.
Required Experience
- A minimum of fifteen years of progressively responsible experience in diplomacy, international affairs, political affairs, peacebuilding or a related area is required.
- Experience in peace and security matters in Central and/or Southern Africa is required.
- Experience in providing analysis and developing strategy or policy in support of senior-level political engagement is required.
- A minimum of three years of experience working on peace and security matters in Africa, preferably in Central and/or Southern Africa, is required.
- Experience managing diverse teams at the senior level is required.
- Experience working in a conflict or post-conflict setting is desirable.
Qualifications
Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in politics or international relations, law or international law, social sciences or another related area. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
