Senior Political Affairs Officer

The Senior Political Affairs Officer leads and manages the DPPA Liaison Office in Kyiv, providing political analysis, strategic advice, and coordination with various stakeholders to support peace and security efforts in Ukraine and the region. The role involves monitoring political developments, engaging with government and civil society, and supporting UN coordination mechanisms.

Responsibilities

• Provide regular analytical updates on political developments in Ukraine with significance for peace and security, including regional implications, and recommendations for early warning actions and UN support.
• Develop and maintain communication and engagement with senior government officials, political party leaders, civil society, diplomatic community, international partners, and other relevant actors.
• Monitor political and security developments domestically and related to the conflict, providing regular reporting and analysis to DPPA-ECAD.
• Prepare briefing notes and inputs for analytical notes and background papers for senior UN officials.
• Identify, design and support implementation of policies, initiatives and project activities consistent with DPPA mandate priorities, including Women, Peace and Security and peace-building.
• Participate and provide political briefings in UN coordination mechanisms including the Inter-Agency Task Force on Ukraine and UNCT coordination mechanisms.
• Provide political advice and support to the Office of the RC/HC and UN Country Team as needed.
• Coordinate with RC/HC and relevant UNCT agencies on substantive and operational matters related to political work of the liaison office.
• Undertake travel across Ukraine for consultations with local interlocutors and partners as security permits.
• Coordinate and support missions/visits to Ukraine by DPPA officials and other senior UN visiting officials.
• Provide managerial oversight and coordinate programmatic and substantive work of the liaison office team, including recruitment and administrative matters.
• Manage, coordinate, organize and supervise research on political issues in Ukraine and engagement with local interlocutors and partners.
• Coordinate closely with DO and UNDSS on security-related matters.
• Ensure consultation and information-sharing with DPPA-ECAD on all aspects of the Liaison Office’s work and organization.
• Represent DPPA in relevant local and regional conferences, seminars, meetings and think-tank events as needed.
• Perform other functions as required.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in political science, international relations, international economics, law, public administration, or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in political science, international relations, law, disarmament, security, development management, conflict resolution or related area is required.
• Demonstrated experience in field and liaison work with senior government, diplomatic and international and regional partners in Eastern Europe is required.
• Experience working in the United Nations in support of preventive diplomacy, mediation, and peacebuilding, including proven track-record in conducting political analysis and producing high-quality analytical products, is required.
• Experience working in or on Ukraine and up-to-date knowledge of its current political situation is required.
• Experience working in cooperation with country-level humanitarian, development and civil society partners is desirable.
• Experience leading and managing a multicultural team and its work in a complex political context, conflict or post-conflict setting, is required.
• English is required; either French, Russian, Chinese (Mandarin), Spanish or Arabic is desirable.

Skills

• Political Analysis
• Preventive Diplomacy
• Mediation
• Peacebuilding Processes
• Conflict Resolution
• Disarmament
• Security Policy
• International Relations
• Political Science
• Field Liaison Work
• Diplomatic Engagement
• UN Coordination
• Strategic Advice
• Team Leadership
• Multicultural Team Leadership
• Political Reporting
• Development Management
• Humanitarian Coordination
• Analytical Reporting
• Knowledge of Ukraine Politics

Languages

English, French, Russian, Chinese (Mandarin), Spanish, Arabic