Political Affairs Officer

Job Posting Organization:
The position is located within the United Nations Operations and Crisis Centre (UNOCC), which is a multi-party entity that reports to the Under-Secretary-General (USG) for Policy in the Executive Office of the Secretary-General (EOSG) and oversees peacekeeping matters under the USG for Peace Operations. The UNOCC is responsible for providing global situational awareness, crisis and risk management, and facilitating cross-pillar analysis and decision-making within the UN. It operates under the Office of Coordination and Shared Services (OCSS) and collaborates with various UN departments, including the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and the Department of Peace Operations. The UNOCC plays a crucial role in ensuring that the UN can respond effectively to crises and maintain peace and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security worldwide.

Job Overview:
The Political Affairs Officer will be tasked with gathering, selecting, and analyzing information on countries and regions of interest to the Department of Peace Operations (DPO), the Executive Office of the Secretary-General (EOSG), and other leadership within the UN system. This role involves processing and compiling relevant information from various UN entities, including peacekeeping and special political missions, as well as external sources such as think tanks and the press. The officer will be responsible for collecting and analyzing data to identify trends and patterns, providing insights through data visualization methods to support data-driven planning and decision-making. The position requires maintaining up-to-date knowledge of political and security issues, monitoring developments at national and regional levels, and assisting Watch Room coordinators in providing technical support to Joint Operations Centres (JOCs) in peacekeeping missions. The officer will also engage with other UN sectors, international organizations, and governments on coordination and policy matters, and may participate in assistance missions to JOCs as needed. The role demands flexibility, as it includes working non-traditional hours as part of the UNOCC Watch Room shift system, which may involve night and weekend shifts.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Political Affairs Officer will be responsible for a variety of duties, including:

• Gathering, selecting, and analyzing information on countries and regions of interest to the DPO, EOSG, and other UN leadership.
• Processing and compiling relevant information from UN entities, peacekeeping missions, and external sources.
• Collecting and analyzing data to identify trends and provide insights through data visualization methods.
• Maintaining knowledge of current events related to political and security issues in relevant countries and regions.
• Monitoring political developments at national and regional levels and linking with field missions and UN agencies.
• Assisting Watch Room coordinators in providing technical and substantive support to JOCs and training field staff.
• Maintaining contacts with other UN sectors, international organizations, and governments on coordination and policy matters.
• Monitoring actions taken by intergovernmental groups, UN organizations, and NGOs.
• Selecting, classifying, and storing data for analysis on relevant countries or regions. 1
• Participating in assistance missions to JOCs as requested. 1
• Providing secretariat services for crisis management team meetings and other relevant bodies. 1
• Performing other related duties as required.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in political science, international relations, law, disarmament, security, development management, conflict resolution, or a related area. Additionally, at least one year of experience working in an operations room or situation center is required, along with at least one year of experience in data analytics and GIS mapping. The role demands a strong understanding of political and security issues, as well as the ability to analyze and interpret data effectively.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in political science, history, international relations, journalism and media, or a related field is required. Alternatively, a first-level university degree combined with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in relevant fields such as political science, international relations, law, disarmament, security, development management, or conflict resolution. Candidates must have at least one year of experience working in an operations room or situation center, as well as one year of experience in data analytics and GIS mapping.

Languages:
English is required for this position, as it is one of the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. French is also a working language, but proficiency in English is mandatory for this job opening. Candidates should refer to the UN Language Framework for details on the minimum required level for each skill in these languages.

Additional Notes:
The job does not specify a contract duration or seniority level, but it is implied that the position is full-time and may involve working non-traditional hours as part of the UNOCC Watch Room shift system. Compensation details are not provided in the job description.