Political Affairs Officer

Job Advertisement

Position Title: Political Affairs Officer
Location: New York City
Country: United States
Deadline Date: Not specified

Job Details

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 for Policy in the Executive Office of the Secretary-General. 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 Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and the Department of Peace Operations, and it plays a crucial role in supporting senior UN leadership with integrated analysis and research on critical issues.

Job Overview:
The Political Affairs Officer will manage the Research and Liaison Unit within the UNOCC, focusing on planning and resource prioritization. The role involves monitoring political and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security developments in regions of interest, analyzing trends that may impact socio-economic and political situations, and providing integrated analyses to support decision-making by senior UN officials. The officer will prepare analytical reports on sensitive matters, draft correspondence for senior officials, and engage in data collection and analysis to identify trends. The position also requires participation in assessments of peacekeeping operations and collaboration with various UN entities and international organizations.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Political Affairs Officer will be responsible for managing the Research and Liaison Unit, overseeing planning and resource allocation. Key duties include reviewing and monitoring activities in crisis regions, assessing political and security trends, and recommending actions to the UN. The officer will provide integrated analysis of events, prepare reports for the General Assembly and Security Council, draft notes and speeches, and analyze data to identify trends. The role also involves organizing Secretariat services for the Security Council, participating in peacekeeping assessments, maintaining contacts with other organizations, and providing support to Joint Mission Analysis Centres. The officer will also engage in conferences and seminars related to their expertise and perform other related duties as required.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in political science, international relations, law, or related fields. Direct experience in data analysis and analytics is required, along with supervisory team experience. Knowledge of political, social, economic, and humanitarian issues in affected countries is essential. The ability to analyze and interpret data for decision-making is crucial, as is the capacity to communicate effectively and work collaboratively with colleagues.

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

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in relevant fields, including two years of direct experience in data analysis and analytics, with a proven ability to produce visualizations. Supervisory experience is also necessary, with at least two years in a leadership role. Field experience is desirable but not mandatory.

Languages:
Fluency in both oral and written English is required, as English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Knowledge of another official UN language is considered an advantage, enhancing the candidate's profile for the position.

Additional Notes:
The position is financed by the Support Account for Peace Operations for an initial period of one year, with the possibility of renewal subject to funding availability. The United Nations is committed to achieving gender balance and encourages female candidates to apply. The recruitment process adheres to strict standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity, and candidates with a history of violations of international law or other serious offenses will not be considered. The United Nations does not charge any fees during the recruitment process and provides reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities.