Political Affairs Officers

Organizational Context

This position is within the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) and Peace Operations (DPO) in New York. The role is part of the front office supporting the Assistant Secretary-General responsible for the Middle East, Europe, the Americas, Asia, and the Pacific. The incumbent reports to the Assistant Secretary-General via the Senior Political Affairs Officer.

Job Purpose

The Political Affairs Officer will provide critical advice and recommendations to senior officials on key political issues within their area of responsibility, ensuring high-quality standards for all organizational outputs. This role involves gathering, analyzing, and synthesizing information from various sources, including media, to maintain up-to-date knowledge of political events and trends. The officer will act as a liaison, communicating senior-level decisions and ensuring their implementation across relevant desks. They will also provide substantive support for the office's mandates, coordinate with other UN sectors, international organizations, and governments, and monitor the actions of intergovernmental and non-governmental entities. Additionally, the role includes drafting and reviewing project proposals, budgets, and workplans, and preparing for high-level meetings.

Responsibilities

Key responsibilities include providing expert advice and recommendations to senior officials on political matters, ensuring the quality of briefings and recommendations from the organization. The role involves communicating and ensuring the implementation of senior-level decisions and guidance. The officer will gather, analyze, and synthesize information from diverse sources, maintaining current knowledge of political events and trends relevant to their assigned regions and mandates. They will offer technical and substantive support for mandate implementation, liaise with UN entities, international organizations, and governments on policy and coordination matters, and monitor activities of various groups. Responsibilities also extend to drafting and reviewing project proposals, budgets, and workplans, monitoring project implementation, and preparing for meetings with high-level officials.

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of experience in political science, international relations, law, disarmament, security, development management, or conflict resolution is required. Experience in conflict prevention, mediation, preventive diplomacy, and peacekeeping is essential. Proficiency in drafting sensitive political analysis and diplomatic correspondence is also required, along with experience in peace and security issues related to the Americas and Europe/Central Asia. Experience in a front office supporting senior UN officials, drafting work plans, and managing projects is desirable.

Skills

Professionalism, Planning and Organizing, Communication, Political analysis, Preventive diplomacy, Mediation, Conflict prevention, Drafting political analysis and diplomatic correspondence, Inter-organizational coordination, Project management.

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