Overview
The Senior Political Affairs Officer plans and implements operational activities related to the work of the office or mission, ensuring high-quality reporting and providing guidance to mission leadership and partners.
Key Responsibilities
- Plans and implements operational activities related to peacekeeping, disarmament, conflict prevention, post-conflict rehabilitation, election administration, political and governance institution-building, security sector reform, and civil society support.
- Incorporates an integrated approach including a rights-based dimension, conflict prevention sensitivity, and a gender perspective.
- Ensures regular, timely, and high-quality reporting to Mission leadership.
- Prepares briefing notes and talking points for the Head of Mission and senior staff.
- Provides continuous guidance and advice to the head of mission, senior staff, UN Agencies, Funds, and Programmes and partners.
- Responds to/prepares responses to comments, statements, and queries of parties.
- Supports overall coordination of and support to UN Country Team members and non-resident agencies.
- Supports coordination and implementation of integrated and joint UN approaches.
- Keeps Head of Mission and DSRSG/RC/HC apprised of development and humanitarian activities.
- Develops and maintains relations with senior government officials, political and community leaders, civil society, and other international partners.
- Advises them on issues and policies of mutual concern.
- Leads and directs a work team, plans and allocates work assignments, coaches, mentors, and evaluates staff.
- Participates in recruitment and selection of new staff and in the development of training programs.
- Manages, coordinates, organizes and supervises research on a variety of political issues.
- Formulates a comprehensive programme of work for the Area Office.
- Plans, coordinates and manages programmes, projects and activities requiring mission and/or inter-agency involvement.
- Represents division/office/mission at round tables, seminars and conferences.
- Formulates the programme of work, budget and medium-term plan of the unit.
- Participates in the overall approval of the programme of work, and administrative matters concerning the Section/Division or mission.
- Coordinates and oversees work of colleagues and unit.
- Ensures the operational functioning of the Area Office.
- Performs other related duties as required.
Required Experience
- A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in political affairs, international relations, law, disarmament, security, diplomacy, conflict resolution, or related fields is required.
- Experience working in a United Nations common system field operation (inclusive of peacekeeping, political missions and UN agencies, funds, and programmes) or similar international or non-governmental organization in a conflict or post-conflict setting is desirable.
- Experience managing a team is desirable.
- Experience facilitating multi-stakeholder processes in a peace consolidation or conflict setting is desirable.
- Experience working in or on the Horn of Africa on political issues is desirable.
- Extensive experience in political outreach, facilitation, analysis, advice and reporting is desirable.
Qualifications
- Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in political science, international relations, social science, economics, law, public administration, or related field.
- A first-level university degree in any of these fields, in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
