This position is located in the Policy and Mediation Division (PMD) of the Department of Political Affairs and will serve as the Chief of the Division’s Policy Planning and Guidance and Learning units. The incumbent will report to the Director of the Policy and Mediation Division (PMD).
Responsibilities:
Within delegated authority, the Chief of Service will be responsible for the following:
• Advises and supports the Director in managing, directing and coordinating the work of the Policy and Mediation Division, including budget, management of extra-budgetary resources, personnel (including recruitment of staff, taking due account of geographical balance), performance monitoring and evaluation, and other management functions.
• Advises the Director on matters of relevance to the Division, particularly in the area of policy planning, regional organizations and guidance and learning, and takes a lead in developing policy in these areas.
• Leads and supervises the work programme of the Policy Planning Unit (PPU) which includes devising innovative policy responses to an array of peace and security issues, supporting DPA’s conflict prevention and preventive diplomacy mandate, coordinating the Department’s interaction with United Nations’ peacebuilding mechanisms, coordinating the Department’s thematic engagement at the policy level with key United Nations system partners, including the World Bank, and handling the Department’s regional organizations thematic portfolio, including organization of the Secretary-General’s retreats with heads of regional organizations.
• Leads and supervises the work programme of the Guidance and Learning Unit (GLU), which includes managing the institutional learning for the Department and overseeing training activities (including responsibility for the Department’s training reference group), advising and providing support to DPA regional divisions related to the planning and management of Special Political Missions (SPMs) and Integrated Task Forces, as well as integrated assessment and planning missions, representing the Department in inter-agency and inter-departmental bodies.
• Supports the Director in the partnership efforts of the Division, performing representation, outreach and advocacy functions as appropriate.
• Establishes and maintains systematic links with academia, research centres, think-tanks, foreign policy forums, NGOs and the donor community, particularly in the area of policy planning, guidance and learning and training.
• Coordinates the work of PPU and GLU with that of the Division’s Mediation Support Unit (MSU).
Competencies:
• Professionalism
• Client Orientation
• Creativity
• Empowering Others.
• Judgement/Decision Making
Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in political sciences, business or public administration, law, social sciences or related area. A first-level university degree in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work Experience
A minimum of fifteen years of progressively responsible experience in international relations, political affairs, conflict resolution, preventive diplomacy or peacebuilding is required. At least five years’ managerial experience, including of diverse teams, is required. At least one year experience working in a UN field operation (including peacekeeping, political missions and UN agencies, funds and programmes) or relevant field experience in a similar international organization, diplomatic service or non-governmental organization is required. Experience in policy development is required. Experience in results-based budgeting or extra-budgetary funding is desirable. Experience in knowledge management is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post
advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of other UN official languages is an advantage.
Assessment Method
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
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