Senior Political Affairs Officer/Special Assistant

Job Posting Organization:
The position is located in the Office of the Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, which is part of the shared structure of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and the Department of Peace Operations (DPPA-DPO) at UN Headquarters in New York. The UN is an international organization founded in 1945, with a mission to promote peace, security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security, and cooperation among nations. It has a diverse workforce of over 37,000 employees and operates in more than 190 countries, addressing global challenges such as conflict resolution, humanitarian assistance, and sustainable development.

Job Overview:
The Senior Political Affairs Officer/Special Assistant plays a crucial role in formulating and developing strategic directions for the office's work, particularly in addressing political issues in the Middle East, Asia, and the Pacific regions. This position involves proposing policy directives and action plans to tackle immediate and long-term political challenges, analyzing emerging issues, and making recommendations for effective strategies. The officer will be responsible for planning and implementing activities related to early warning, conflict prevention, peacekeeping, and peacebuilding, ensuring that these efforts incorporate a rights-based approach and gender perspectives. The role requires close collaboration with various divisions within the UN to provide qualitative and timely support to senior officials, manage interdepartmental projects, and represent the office in high-level meetings and conferences. The officer will also supervise front office staff, providing guidance and mentorship while ensuring the effective execution of their responsibilities.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Senior Political Affairs Officer/Special Assistant will undertake a variety of duties, including:

• Formulating and developing a vision for the office's work and proposing policy directives for political problem-solving.
• Planning and implementing activities related to early warning, conflict prevention, peacekeeping, and peacebuilding.
• Providing policy advice and analytical support to the Assistant Secretary-General (ASG) on matters within their portfolio.
• Monitoring activities and coordinating with Directors and Political Affairs Officers on conflict resolution strategies.
• Ensuring timely and substantive support is provided to senior UN officials.
• Managing interdepartmental projects and activities.
• Preparing briefing notes and talking points for the ASG.
• Leading and directing the work of front office staff, including planning and allocating work assignments.
• Representing the office at seminars and conferences and advising senior management on policies. 1
• Performing other related duties as required.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a strong background in political analysis, international relations, or conflict resolution, with a minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in these fields. At least five years of experience providing strategic support to senior leaders is essential, along with experience in administration and staff management. Candidates should have at least five years of experience working within a senior official's front office and at least one year of experience dealing with political issues in the Asia and Middle East regions. Experience within the UN system or a comparable international organization is desirable, particularly in budget preparation and planning.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in political science, international relations, international economics, law, public administration, or a related field is required. Alternatively, a first-level university degree (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in the specified fields, combined with two additional years of qualifying experience, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in political analysis, international relations, or conflict resolution within a multilateral context. Candidates should have at least five years of experience providing strategic support to senior leaders and experience in administration, supervising, and managing staff. Additionally, candidates must have at least five years of experience working within a senior official's front office and at least one year of experience with political issues in the Asia and Middle East regions. Experience within the UN system or a comparable international organization is desirable, especially in substantive budget preparation and planning, as well as at least two years of experience in the field at the international level.

Languages:
English is required for this position, with a minimum proficiency level of UN Level II in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Additionally, knowledge of either French, Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Russian, or Spanish is desirable, with a minimum proficiency level of UN Level I in these languages.

Additional Notes:
The position is subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, and staff members are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply, and the UN is committed to achieving gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. The United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process, and reasonable accommodations may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request.