SENIOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS OFFICER

Organizational Context

The position is within the Executive Office of the Secretary-General's Political, Peacekeeping, Humanitarian and Human Rights Unit. This unit is critical for providing the Secretary-General and senior leadership with situational awareness, trend analysis, and advice on key global issues. The role supports senior management decision-making and contributes to the cohesive pursuit of the Secretary-General's vision and policies.

Job Purpose

The Senior Political Affairs Officer provides essential situational awareness, trend analysis, and forward-looking advice to the Secretary-General and EOSG senior officials on political, peacekeeping, humanitarian, and human rights matters. This role involves preparing high-level correspondence, speeches, and briefing materials for meetings with world leaders. The officer represents the EOSG in key inter-agency and Member State engagements, coordinates the review of critical reports for intergovernmental bodies, and conducts in-depth analysis to support decision-making processes. The position also contributes to developing and implementing EOSG-wide strategies aligned with the Secretary-General's priorities, ensuring effective coordination across UN entities and providing strategic policy advice.

Responsibilities

Provide situational awareness, trend analysis, and forward-looking advice on political, peacekeeping, humanitarian, and human rights issues to the Secretary-General and senior EOSG officials. Prepare and review correspondence, speeches, briefing notes, and talking points for high-level meetings. Represent the EOSG Political Unit in meetings with Member States, regional organizations, and inter-agency partners, ensuring follow-up and coordination. Oversee the review of reports for presentation to intergovernmental bodies like the Security Council and General Assembly. Conduct in-depth research and analysis on assigned geographic and thematic areas, providing early warning advice. Support senior leadership decision-making by providing incisive analysis on country situations and thematic files. Contribute to the development and implementation of EOSG-wide strategies and plans supporting the Secretary-General’s priorities. Advise on and prepare for official political meetings, events, and visits involving EOSG leadership. Coordinate across UN departments and entities to draft and present strategic policy advice.

Work Experience

A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience at national and international levels in advisory and managerial roles within political science, international relations, humanitarian assistance, human rights, diplomacy, law, development management, or conflict resolution is required. Experience in preparing analytical reports and key messages for senior management is also essential. Three years of experience in a transitional, developmental, humanitarian, conflict, or post-conflict setting is desirable.

Skills

Professionalism, strong analytical skills, report writing and editing, knowledge of UN rules and regulations, effective communication (written and verbal), teamwork, accountability, judgment, and decision-making.

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