Senior Mission Planning Officer

Job Posting Organization:
The position is within the Office of the DSRSG - Resident Coordinator/Humanitarian Coordinator (RC/HC) of the United Nations Organizational Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO). MONUSCO was established to support the Congolese government in its efforts to stabilize the country and promote peace and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security. The mission operates in a challenging environment, focusing on various aspects of humanitarian assistance, development, and peacekeeping. The organization employs a diverse workforce and collaborates with multiple stakeholders, including government entities, NGOs, and international partners, to achieve its objectives.

Job Overview:
The Senior Mission Planning Officer plays a critical role in facilitating joint and integrated planning among various mission components, heads of Regional Offices, UN Country Team (UNCT) members, and other relevant partners. This position requires a strategic mindset to advise mission leadership on planning issues, particularly during transitions and withdrawals. The officer will coordinate the development of planning documents and operational plans, ensuring that they align with the mission's objectives and the needs of the local context. The role involves extensive collaboration with stakeholders to conduct conflict analysis, identify priorities, and establish monitoring and evaluation systems. The Senior Mission Planning Officer will also lead the coordination of mission transition and withdrawal plans, ensuring that they are comprehensive and actionable. This position demands a high level of professionalism, communication skills, and the ability to navigate complex organizational settings.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Senior Mission Planning Officer will be responsible for a wide range of duties, including: facilitating integrated planning between mission components and partners; advising mission leadership on strategic planning issues; coordinating the development of planning documents and operational plans; leading the coordination of mission transition and withdrawal plans; acting as a liaison with government representatives; supporting the establishment of provincial planning mechanisms; implementing planning and assessment monitoring systems; providing advice on component-level plans; managing resource allocation and budget monitoring; contributing to the development of strategies for mission implementation; ensuring compliance with UN policies and best practices; establishing integrated field coordination structures; coordinating mission-level engagement with headquarters; and performing other duties as required.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a comprehensive understanding of the challenges in volatile conflict or post-conflict environments, along with a thorough knowledge of relevant UN policies and procedures. Proven ability to facilitate and produce integrated strategic plans is essential, as is experience with monitoring and evaluation in complex settings. Strong interpersonal skills are required to manage multi-stakeholder processes and build consensus. The candidate should demonstrate professional competence, efficiency in meeting commitments, and the ability to incorporate gender perspectives into all areas of work.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in social sciences, political science, international relations, economics, finance, management, development studies, or a related field is required. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with an additional two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

Experience:
A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible professional experience is required, including experience in planning, program management, political affairs, or policy development at a strategic level. Candidates should have experience facilitating multi-stakeholder processes in emergency, conflict, or post-conflict settings. Practical experience in developing and implementing monitoring and evaluation systems is also required. Experience with UN Secretariat policies and operations, particularly in Integrated Assessment and Planning, is essential. At least three years of experience related to strategic planning or program management in emergency or conflict environments is necessary. Experience in a UN field operation or similar international organization is desirable, as is experience in the Great Lakes Region.

Languages:
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, proficiency in both languages is required, with specific skill levels outlined in the UN Language Framework.

Additional Notes:
The position is likely to be full-time and may involve international recruitment. Details regarding contract duration, compensation, and benefits are not specified in the job description.