Political Affairs Officer
Organizational Context
This position is within the Office of the Special Coordinator for Lebanon (UNSCOL) in Beirut. The Political Affairs Officer will report to the Senior Political Affairs Officer, contributing to the office's mandates and the Special Coordinator's good offices.
Job Purpose
The Political Affairs Officer will gather, analyze, and disseminate information on political developments, maintaining up-to-date knowledge relevant to their assigned mandates. This role provides essential technical and substantive support for the office's mandates, including drafting reports, briefing materials, and talking points for senior leadership. The position involves maintaining contact with various stakeholders, including UN sectors, international organizations, and governments, to foster coordination and policy alignment. A key function is monitoring national and regional political developments to inform situational awareness and support the Special Coordinator's initiatives. The role also includes preparing for and facilitating meetings with government officials and other key entities.
Responsibilities
Key responsibilities include gathering, selecting, and analyzing information from diverse sources, including the press, to maintain current knowledge of political issues and their impact on assigned mandates. The role involves providing input for political reporting, analysis, and briefing materials for senior leadership and other audiences, as well as offering technical and substantive support for the office's mandates. Maintaining contact with UN sectors, international organizations, and governments for coordination and policy matters is crucial. The position requires monitoring national and regional political developments to enhance situational awareness and inform the Special Coordinator's good offices. Additionally, the role involves drafting analytical reports, code cables, briefing notes, and talking points, monitoring actions of intergovernmental groups and organizations, and preparing for meetings with various officials.
Work Experience
A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in political science, international relations, law, security, development management, or conflict resolution is required. Specific experience in drafting UN briefing materials, political affairs analysis in a Middle East conflict/post-conflict setting, and association with military establishments in such contexts is also required. Experience in multilateral negotiations within UN or regional organizations is desirable.
Skills
Professionalism, Teamwork, Communication, Information analysis, Political analysis, Report drafting, Stakeholder engagement, Coordination, Policy matters.