DIRECTOR, POLITICAL AFFAIRS

The Director, Political Affairs leads the Peacebuilding Peace Support Office (PBPSO) senior management team, providing strategic leadership and management in support of the Peacebuilding Commission and UN system peacebuilding strategies and policies. The role involves overseeing policy formulation, coordination with UN entities and external partners, and representing PBPSO in senior coordination fora.

Responsibilities

• Leads PBPSO's senior management team and manages the performance and administration of the office as a whole and its operations, including performance management of PBPSO senior personnel, effective implementation of PBPSO's personnel and reform strategy and strengthening of organizational results, and oversees PBPSO's efficient administration.
• Acts on behalf of the ASG on policy and operational matters and provides strategic leadership, guidance and management to PBPSO's work in support of the Peacebuilding Commission and the UN system with regard to the development of peacebuilding strategies and policies and the development of PBPSO's organization and capacities.
• Supports the ASG by overseeing the formulation of policy proposals on peacebuilding and peace support issues and proposing policy directives and plans of action for immediate and long range solutions to peacebuilding challenges.
• Leads and manages the effort to develop peacebuilding strategies in support of the deliberations of the Peacebuilding Commission and UN leadership in the field, including development, refinement and monitoring of PBC instruments of engagement and synergies to the Peacebuilding Fund and wider international efforts.
• Develops and provides strategic policy advice to PBC stakeholders and relevant countries on PBC engagement and peacebuilding strategies, and assesses the progress on implementation of country peacebuilding plans.
• Ensures programmatic and policy coordination and synergistic engagement with UN entities, agencies, funds and programmes and Principal Organs including the Security Council and the General Assembly, and represents PBPSO in senior coordination fora and strategic planning exercises.
• Maintains regular contact with senior mission leadership, UN Resident Coordinators and UN Country Teams on peacebuilding and peace support efforts.
• Leads efforts to develop partnership and collaboration with external partners and stakeholders, particularly in Africa such as the African Bank for Development, African Union, ECOWAS.
• Coordinates and oversees preparation of reports for inter-governmental bodies such as the Peacebuilding Commission, Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, Committee for Programme Coordination, Economic and Social Council, General Assembly and other policymaking organs.
• Reports to inter-governmental bodies on budget/programme performance or on programmatic/substantive issues, as appropriate.
• Undertakes or oversees programmatic/administrative tasks including preparation of budgets, assigning and monitoring performance parameters, reporting on budget/programme performance, preparation of inputs for results-based budgeting, evaluation of staff performance, interviews and evaluation of candidates.
• Chairs meetings and seminars on substantive and policy issues, represents the Organization at international, regional, inter-agency and other meetings, seminars and conferences; provides programmatic/substantive expertise and engages in discussions with representatives of other institutions.
• Represents the ASG in relevant inter-governmental bodies and inter-Secretariat coordinating bodies and deputizes for the ASG as necessary.
• Performs other related duties as requested by the senior management of the Organization.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent degree) in political sciences, international relations, social sciences, finance, business administration, management or related area.
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• At least fifteen years of progressively responsible international experience in the areas of peacebuilding, post-conflict and crisis transition, governance and/or programmatic activities and management is required.
• Experience working in conflict, post-conflict and/or transition countries with peacebuilding activities is required.
• Experience representing an organization or institution at senior levels is required.
• Experience in results-based management is desirable.
• English is required at UN Level II for reading, writing, listening and speaking.
• French is desirable at UN Level II for reading, writing, listening and speaking.

Skills

• Peacebuilding Processes
• Post-conflict Transition
• Governance
• Programmatic Management
• International Relations
• Conflict Resolution
• Strategic Leadership
• Policy Formulation Support
• Result-Based Management
• Senior Representation
• Stakeholder Coordination
• UN System Coordination

Languages

English, French