HEAD OF OFFICE, POLITICAL AFFAIRS (KASSALA) – UNITAMS

Job Opening

Job Opening Number	22-Political Affairs-UNITAMS-176563-R-Kassala (M)
Job Code Title	HEAD OF OFFICE, POLITICAL AFFAIRS
Department/Office	United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan
Duty Station	KASSALA
Posting Period	01 July 2022 – 31 July 2022
Staffing Exercise	N/A

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS).

The United Nations Security Council adopted resolution 2524 (2020) and resolution 2579 (2021) authorizing the mandate of UNITAMS which is to assist the political transition, progress towards democratic governance, in the protection and promotion of human rights, and sustainable peace; support peace processes and implementation of future peace agreements; assist peacebuilding, civilian protection and rule of law, in particular in Blue Nile and South Kordofan (the Two Areas) and Darfur; and support the mobilization of economic and development assistance and coordination of humanitarian assistance.

This position is based in Kassala, Sudan and is located in the Kassala Regional Office. Kassala are classified as “E” hardship duty stations and as non-family duty stations. The incumbents will report to the Director of the Office of Support to the Political Transition in Khartoum.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Head of Office, Political Affairs will be responsible for the following duties:

Management and Representation
• Represents UNITAMS and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Kassala in the Area of operations.
• Ensures the operational functioning of the Field Office, in collaboration with Mission Support.
• Leads, directs and coordinates the personnel and activities of all civilian Mission components in the Area of Responsibility, in line with the mandate and strategic guidance provided by Mission Headquarters, as well as applicable principles, rules and regulations.
• In consultation with substantive components at Mission HQ, directs and/or coordinates as relevant the activities of the local substantive in the following thematic areas: political affairs, peacebuilding, human rights and protection, rule of law, DDR, electoral assistance, and public information. as relevant
• Formulates a comprehensive programme of work for the Field Office taking into account input from local stakeholders, determining priorities and activities that are in accordance with the mandate, Result-Based Budget (RBB), and Head of Mission’s strategic guidance, and which promote coherence and integration across the substantive units. Monitors and report on performance against targets/indicators.
• Works in close partnership with the Mission’s police components as relevant to ensure that their activities are aligned with Mission priorities and relevant frameworks and regulations.
• Works in close partnership with the Agencies, Funds and Programmes in the Area of Responsibility to ensure effective and integrated support to Sudan as provided for in the Integrated Strategic Framework (ISF) or equivalent and UNITAMS Mission Concept.
• Through delegated authority, acts as Area Security Coordinator, responsible for implementing the UN security management framework, designed to ensure the protection of all UN staff and assets.
• Supervises, mentors, and evaluates staff, including Liaison Officers deployed to other locations covered by the Regional Office. Participate in the selection of new staff.
• Ensure gender mainstreaming throughout the work of the Office in the Area of Operations.


Analysis, Advice and Reporting
• Identifies, analyzes and monitors local political, security, economic and related developments and emerging issues with respect to Mission the mission’s mandate.
• Assesses implications and make recommendations to the Mission leadership and partners on possible strategies, policies and other measures to address issues of concern and to advance mandated objectives and UN principles and values; Monitor, evaluate and report on outcomes.
•Implements initiatives to advance political consensus and dialogue for resolution of issues in relation to the political transition and long-standing problems as relevant to Eastern Sudan.
• Ensures regular, timely and high-quality reporting to the Mission leadership on pertinent developments and issues; Manages the preparation of summary and analytical reports, including situation reports, briefing notes, notes to file and draft code cables;
• Oversees the preparation of contextual information materials, such as background notes and profiles; Ensures an effective system of information management designed to guarantee accessibility and utility of information.

Planning, Coordination and Facilitation
• Develops and maintains productive, collaborative relationships with the local authorities, political and community leaders, civil society actors, security officials, the UN family and other national and international partners on all matters affecting UNITAMS mandate and operations and local needs.

Competencies

Professionalism:
Shows pride in work and in achievements. Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter. Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results. Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns. Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; Delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; Operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; Supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; Takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.

Leadership:
Serves as a role model that other people want to follow. Empowers others to translate vision into results. Is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives. Establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support. Anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions. Drives for change and improvement; does not accept the status quo. Shows the courage to take unpopular stands.Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.


Client Orientation:
Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view. Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect. Identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions. Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems. Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects. Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.




Judgement/decision making:
Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly. Gathers relevant information before making a decision. Considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them. Takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization. Proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information. Checks assumptions against facts. Determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision. Makes tough decisions when necessary.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in political science, international relations, social science, economics, law, public administration, or a related field is required. A first level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in political or civil affairs, human rights, programme management, or a related field is required.

A minimum of three (3) years of leadership experience in multi-cultural settings, including management and coordination of multi-disciplinary teams as a political officer or representative of an organization engaged in political related work, is required.

A minimum of five (5) years of experience in outreach, facilitation, political analysis and advising and reporting is required.

A minimum of four (4) years of experience in a conflict or post-conflict setting is required.

A minimum of two (2) years of experience working in or in support of a field operation as a Head of a sub-national Office of a peace operation in the United Nations Common System or a comparable international or non-governmental organization is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Arabic is desirable.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice

This position is open for recruitment for an initial period of one year and extension of the appointment is subject to Extension of the mandate and/or the availability of the funds.

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.