Special Assistant, Political Affairs, P4

The Special Assistant supports the Assistant Secretary-General in monitoring and reporting on political developments in Haiti, coordinating mission activities, managing communications, and providing political analysis and advice. The role involves liaising with various stakeholders and supporting planning and budgetary processes within the United Nations Support Office in Haiti (UNSOH).

Responsibilities

• Support the ASG to identify, analyze, monitor and report on key political developments, trends, and emerging issues in Haiti in respect to implementation of the UNSOH mandate.
• Keep the ASG informed on all matters requiring her/his personal attention, assist in formulating options/strategies on how matters might be handled, and ensure appropriate follow-up, as directed.
• Organize and manage the ASG's meetings and Mission events, high-level visits, field visits, and prepare briefings, talking points, written summaries, and conduct follow-up activities.
• Handle incoming correspondence and draft outgoing correspondence for the ASG and contribute to drafting/clearing of code cables, correspondence and speeches.
• Liaise and maintain close working relationships with officials of state institutions, political actors, civil society organizations, religious actors.
• Contribute to drafting analytical reports including situation reports, briefing notes, notes to file of ASG meetings, options papers, code cables, and input for reports of the Secretary-General to the Security Council and other related thematic reports.
• Assist with media liaison and manage requests for interviews with the ASG, in close liaison with the Mission’s communications and public information team.
• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with mission components, mission clients, the GSF and BINUH, the Resident Coordinator’s Office, the UN Country Team, the Humanitarian Country Team, government authorities, the diplomatic community, donors, and other partners.
• Assess implications and make recommendations on possible actions, strategies and other measures to address issues of concern and advance mandated objectives; monitor, evaluate and report on implementation.
• Support planning and budgetary processes of the O/ASG Pillar and contribute to budget discussions, including responses to the UN financial and legislative committees.
• Support the Head of Office of the O/ASG to develop the O/ASG budget in line with mission directives.
• Assist in formulating and managing implementation of the programme of work, including support to planning and budgetary processes.
• Contribute to the O/ASG annual workplan planning, implementation and monitoring process, and assist with management of the Office in line with delegated authorities.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in political science, international relations, social science, communications, economics, law, public administration, or a related field.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in political affairs, development, humanitarian, diplomacy, or related field is required.
• Experience working in a UN peace operation, special political mission or other UN and related field operation is required.
• At least one year of previous experience working in the front office as a Special Assistant (or similar) to a senior public official is required.
• At least one year experience working on issues related to collaboration between humanitarian action, development and peacebuilding efforts is desirable.
• Previous experience on strategic communications and proven excellent writing skills is desirable.
• English and French are required at UN Level III for reading, writing, listening, and speaking.

Skills

• Political Analysis
• Diplomatic Relations
• Humanitarian Coordination
• Peacebuilding Collaboration
• Strategic Communications
• Report Writing
• Mission Coordination
• Budgeting
• Stakeholder Liaison
• United Nations Peace Operations
• Public Administration
• Political Affairs
• Development Programs
• International Relations
• Social Science Research
• Communication Management

Languages

English, French