Political Affairs Officer

The Political Affairs Officer supports senior officials in high-level political engagement and preventive diplomacy, providing advice and recommendations on key political issues. The role involves analysis, communication of senior-level decisions, coordination with UN and international entities, and support in mandate implementation related to peace and security.

Responsibilities

• Provides advice and recommendations to senior officials on key issues in the area of responsibility and ensures the quality standards are met for advice, recommendations and briefings provided by other parts of the organization.
• Communicates senior-level decisions and guidance to the relevant desks in DPPA-DPO and ensures that the decisions are implemented.
• Gathers, selects and analyses information contained in communications and publications received from different sources, including the press.
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of events relating to political issues, in general, and in particular as they affect the countries and thematic mandates for which the staff member is responsible.
• Keeps abreast of latest trends and developments in the area of assignment and provides inputs on issues to senior officials and colleagues in missions and elsewhere in the Secretariat.
• Provides technical and substantive back up in the implementation of mandates of the office, branch or unit.
• Maintains contacts with other sectors of the UN, other international organizations and governments on coordination and policy matters.
• Monitors actions taken by intergovernmental groups, UN organizations, government and non-governmental organizations.
• Drafts and reviews project proposals and budgets for the use of extra-budgetary funds by the office, monitors project implementation and drafts project reports.
• Prepares meetings of the SG/DSG/USG with officials from countries under the Organization's purview.
• Drafts and monitors workplans for the office, gathers information on the workplans from the Divisions and compiles reports on their implementation.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Requirements

• Advanced University degree (Master's degree or equivalent degree) in Political Science, International Relations, International Economics, Law, Public Administration or a related field.
• A first level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience maybe accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in political science, international relations, law, disarmament, security, development management, conflict resolution or related area is required.
• Experience in conflict prevention, mediation, preventive diplomacy and peacekeeping is required.
• Experience drafting sensitive political analysis and diplomatic correspondence is required.
• Experience working on peace and security issues related to the Americas and to Europe and Central Asia is required.
• Experience for at least three years in a front office supporting UN senior officials is required.
• Experience in drafting work plans and managing projects is desirable.
• English is required at UN Level III proficiency in reading, writing, listening and speaking.
• Either French or Spanish or Russian is desirable at UN Level I proficiency in reading, writing, listening and speaking.

Skills

• Political Science
• International Relations
• Conflict Prevention
• Mediation
• Preventive Diplomacy
• Peacekeeping Operations
• Political Analysis
• Diplomatic Correspondence
• Peace and Security
• Project Management
• Work Plan Drafting
• Advisory Support to Senior Officials
• Disarmament
• Security
• Development Management
• Conflict Resolution

Languages

English, French, Spanish, Russian