Senior Political Affairs Officer

Job Posting Organization:
The position is located within the regional political-operational structure of the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations (DPPA-DPO), specifically in the Northern Africa Division (NAD). This division is responsible for monitoring and reporting on significant developments in the countries it oversees, and it plays a crucial role in recommending actions to address various challenges, risks, and threats in the region. The NAD also supports the Office of the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Western Sahara (OPESG), the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), and the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).

Job Overview:
The Senior Political Affairs Officer will be tasked with formulating political affairs strategies and developing a vision or direction for the work of the Northern Africa Division. This includes proposing policy directives and action plans for both immediate and long-term solutions to political issues in North Africa. The officer will identify emerging issues related to the unit's mandates, analyze their implications, and make recommendations on potential strategies and measures. The role also involves planning and implementing operational activities, ensuring that an integrated approach is taken that incorporates rights-based dimensions, conflict prevention sensitivity, and gender perspectives into the unit's policy, planning, and operational activities. The officer will coordinate and manage programs and projects that require interdepartmental and interagency collaboration, prepare briefing notes and talking points for senior officials, design political and peacekeeping initiatives, and lead a team while managing and supervising research on various political issues in North Africa. Additionally, the officer will represent the division at various forums and respond to inquiries from other offices and external parties regarding political, civilian, military, and humanitarian issues.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Senior Political Affairs Officer will have a comprehensive set of responsibilities, including:

• Formulating political affairs strategies and developing a vision for the work of the Northern Africa Division.
• Proposing policy directives and action plans for addressing political problems in North Africa.
• Identifying emerging issues and analyzing their implications.
• Planning and implementing operational activities with a rights-based and gender-sensitive approach.
• Coordinating and managing interdepartmental and interagency programs and projects.
• Preparing briefing notes and talking points for senior officials.
• Designing political and peacekeeping initiatives and advising on negotiations for new operations.
• Leading and directing a team, including planning work assignments and evaluating staff performance.
• Acting as a coordinator for complex missions. 1
• Managing research on political issues in North Africa. 1
• Representing the division at conferences and seminars. 1
• Responding to inquiries from other offices and external parties.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a strong understanding of the work of the United Nations, particularly in peacekeeping and special political missions. They should have substantial knowledge of the evolving peacekeeping doctrine and the priorities and policies of the Departments of Peace Operations (DPO) and Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA). Familiarity with the political and operational conditions in North Africa is essential. The ability to provide high-caliber strategic and tactical advice on peace operations is crucial, along with a commitment to professionalism, teamwork, planning, organizing, leadership, and sound judgment in decision-making.

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 combined with two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

Experience:
A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in political affairs, international relations, law, disarmament, security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security, development management, conflict resolution, or a related area is required. Candidates should have experience providing support to UN peace operations in political affairs, particularly in Africa or the Middle East, and experience in peace and security matters in North Africa or the Middle East is essential. Experience working in a field operation of the United Nations or similar international organizations in Africa or the Middle East is desirable.

Languages:
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, proficiency in English is required at UN Level III. Proficiency in either Arabic or French is desirable, with Arabic at UN Level II and French at UN Level II as well.

Additional Notes:
The position is subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign staff to various activities or offices of the United Nations. Staff members are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers. The United Nations is committed to achieving gender balance in its staff and encourages female candidates to apply. Applicants from un-represented or under-represented Member States are strongly encouraged to apply. The United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.