Senior Political Affairs Officer
Organizational Context
This role supports the implementation of Security Council Resolution 2653 (2022) within the UN Secretariat's Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs. The team operates under the Security Council Subsidiary Organs Branch, assisting subsidiary bodies, particularly sanctions committees and expert panels. The division provides crucial support to the Security Council's responsibilities, including procedural advice, research, and sanctions administration.
Job Purpose
The Senior Political Affairs Officer will formulate political affairs strategies and develop policy directives to address political problems, particularly those related to the Security Council and its subsidiary organs. This includes identifying emerging issues, analyzing implications, and recommending strategies. The role involves planning and implementing operational activities, providing substantive support to the Security Council, and integrating a rights-based, conflict-prevention, and gender perspective into all activities. The officer will prepare briefings for senior officials, supervise report drafting, and coordinate secretariat services for high-level meetings and conferences, ensuring effective functioning of intergovernmental bodies and advising on procedures and negotiations.
Responsibilities
Key responsibilities include formulating political affairs strategies, proposing policy directives, and developing action plans for political issues concerning the Security Council and its subsidiary organs. The role involves planning and implementing operational activities, providing substantive support to the Security Council, and integrating rights-based, conflict-prevention, and gender perspectives. The officer will manage interdepartmental and interagency programs, prepare briefings for senior leadership, and supervise the drafting of reports to the Security Council. Additionally, responsibilities include coordinating secretariat services for conferences, advising intergovernmental bodies on procedures and negotiations, leading and managing a work team, coordinating support missions, and supervising research on political issues. The role also involves representing the division at external forums, responding to queries, managing complex operations, formulating unit work plans and budgets, and advising senior government officials.
Work Experience
A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in political science, international relations, law, disarmament, security, development management, or conflict resolution is required. Essential experience includes providing substantive support to the Security Council or its subsidiary organs, working in a field mission, peacekeeping, or special political mission, preparing reports for intergovernmental bodies, and facilitating multi-stakeholder processes.
Skills
Professionalism, Teamwork, Planning & Organizing, Managing Performance, Judgement/Decision Making, knowledge of Security Council policies and procedures, research and information organization, conflict resolution, and report writing.