Job Vacancies United Nations Department of Field Support, November 2010

Job Vacancies United Nations Department of  Field Support
Position: Director Civil Affairs, D-2
Multilateral Organisation
Closing Date: Wednesday, 01 December 2010
Location: – Various -
Various peacekeeping and special political missions

Responsibilities
Organisational Setting and Reporting Relationships:
These positions are located in United Nations Field Peace Operations and Special Political Missions that are highly complex in terms of size, scope, programmes and operations. The Director Civil Affairs reports to the Head of Mission (usually through either a Principal Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General or Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General/Resident Coordinator/Humanitarian Coordinator). Please note that, in order to be rostered, candidates for Director Civil Affairs are required to clearly demonstrate competencies and experience in one (or both) of two specialised areas, in addition to a core profile. Programme management is one aspect of the core profile. The specialisations are: Conflict Management and Support to State Institutions. Within the limits of delegated authority the Director Civil Affairs may be responsible for the following duties: (These duties are generic, and may not all be performed by all Director Civil Affairs). Core profile: Contributes to the development of the strategic vision for the overall Mission and UN effort, and ensures that Civil Affairs work is clearly conceptualised in support of this, in line with the evolving situation on the ground and in accordance with the UN Civil Affairs Policy Directive. Formulates and implements the substantive work programme of Civil Affairs, in consultation with key partners inside and outside the Mission, taking account of gender considerations and ensuring that the component functions as one part of a coherent overall UN effort to support the peace process. Provides clear guidance on activities and performance expectations to component staff and oversees the management of programmed activities, including the delivery of high-quality outputs and results. Designs and institutes effective partnership and information-sharing arrangements with both relevant Mission and non-Mission actors, including the UN Country Team (UNCT). Oversees and ensures effective cooperation and coordination on the ground with all partners by Civil Affairs component staff. Ensures that all Mission and non-Mission partners are clear about the role and contributions of the Civil Affairs component. Ensures that the Mission and its mandate is effectively and consistently represented to relevant interlocutors at the sub-national level by the Civil Affairs component (and other Mission actors where appropriate), and that the perceptions and concerns of all sectors of the population are accurately fed into Mission-wide situation analysis and planning processes. Ensures that the Mission is provided with high-quality information and consistent analysis concerning conflict dynamics at the sub-national level and progress with or obstacles to the peace process countrywide, including via identification of critical peacebuilding gaps. Advocates for, and provides contextual advice to the Mission on, adherence to the principle of local ownership in the execution of its mandate. Institutes and oversees the programme management system for Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) in line with the DPKO Policy Directive on QIPs; including through setting up project management and approval mechanisms, proposing mission-specific priorities and ensuring impact evaluation. Undertakes or oversees the programmatic/administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of Civil Affairs, including; preparation of budgets, reporting on budget/programme performance, evaluation of staff performance, evaluation of candidates, and preparation of inputs for results-based budgeting. Ensures an appropriate balance of skills and specialisations is recruited to the Civil Affairs component, in accordance with (and where possible anticipating) evolving requirements over time. Fosters team spirit among Civil Affairs staff, ensures they are provided with the requisite guidance and training to fulfil their tasks (including mission-specific induction and skills training), oversees the systematic identification of lessons and good practise and the sharing of these with Civil Affairs components in other Missions, and encourages free and active participation by all component staff in the online Civil Affairs Community of Practise. Performs other duties as required, in line with the UN Policy Directive on Civil Affairs. Conflict Management: Provides leadership and vision for the development of a Civil Affairs or (where appropriate) Mission-wide conflict management strategy, including mechanisms for information-sharing, crisis response and protection of civilians as needed. Promotes a culture of peace and reconciliation by identifying appropriate domestic actors and/or processes and designing strategies for the Civil Affairs component to support them at both national and sub-national levels. Convenes or oversees support to national level dialogue and negotiation between groups in conflict. Facilitates, enables, or mediates dialogue where appropriate. Forges partnerships with relevant actors to advocate the protection and empowerment of excluded and/or threatened groups in full respect of humanitarian and international law. Identifies and coordinates a response to specific conflict drivers countrywide, including by mobilising a response from other actors where appropriate. Support to State Institutions: Provides leadership and vision for effective cooperation between Civil Affairs and state institutions, as one part of the overall effort in this area, with a view to; strengthening local ownership of the peace process, building capacity, promoting cooperation between authorities and relevant interest groups, as well as supporting operations, policy and decision-making processes as appropriate. Forges partnerships with other actors in this area, including the UN Country Team (UNCT) and particularly UNDP. Oversees work with national / local authorities and other partners to identify critical support needs of local authorities and to design strategies for responding to them, either through Civil Affairs support or though mobilisation of other actors and resources. Work implies frequent interaction with the following: Staff within work unit, Mission and DPKO, DFS, DPA/Headquarters; Senior national and local government officials, community representatives, national non-governmental organisations, and community-based organisers; UN system actors such as UNDP, UNHCR, OCHA, etc.; International non-governmental organisations and multilateral/bilateral donors; Counterparts in regional organisations (e.g., AU, EU, OSCE, NATO, etc); Local and, as required, international media. Results expected: Contributes to the overall strategic vision of the mission for Mandate implementation and ensures full understanding of the Civil Affairs contribution to this. Develops and implements a work programme for the Civil Affairs component that is effective, realistic and supportive of the overall UN effort to support the peace process in country, as well as being in line with the UN Policy Directive on Civil Affairs. Efficiently manages available human and financial resources to ensure the delivery of programmed outputs. Effectively guides and supports staff in meeting their objectives and outputs.

Competencies
Professionalism – Candidates should demonstrate competency in the core profile as well as one or both of the two professional specialisations below. Core Profile: Seasoned and sophisticated understanding of the contexts within which peacekeeping operations function, and ability to contribute significantly to the overall strategic vision of the Mission. In-depth knowledge of UN policy on Civil Affairs and related areas, and a sophisticated understanding of the role of Civil Affairs in empowering and enabling other actors. Ability to conceptualise, communicate and implement a work programme for a large and geographically disbursed team, ensuring that it functions effectively and as one part of a wider collective effort. Ability to forge strategic networks and partnerships with a wide range of actors and design mechanisms for coordination. Ability to work persuasively with partners to ensure that the work of the component is integrated into overall Mission and UN efforts. Ability to conduct sophisticated analysis of political, economic and social factors affecting conflict dynamics and peace processes and to identify critical peacebuilding gaps. Sensitivity to complex dimensions of conflict, including related to issues of ethic identity, gender and historical patterns of exclusion. Understanding of the functioning of political parties and the role of elected or transitional members of representative bodies. In-depth understanding of the principle of local ownership and of how to advise the Mission on applying this in various aspects of its work. Understanding of how to ensure that the concerns and perceptions of the local population are taken account of in the overall planning and operations of the Mission. Ability to design and manage complex information flows. Substantial knowledge of project design and project cycle management. Ability to mobilise and manage financial resources. Sophisticated understanding of how to integrate gender perspectives into the work of peace operations. Appreciation of the value of identifying and sharing best practices and lessons learned. Proven ability to work under extreme pressure, on occasion in highly stressful environments. Ability to work with tact and diplomacy, primarily as an enabler of constructive actors and processes. Respect for local cultures and values, awareness of the impact of personal conduct, ability to adapt behaviour to different environments with sensitivity. Commitment to long term objectives, tenacity and a positive attitude in pursuing them. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. Conflict Management: Ability to develop a vision and implement a plan for supporting domestic actors at the national level in conceptualising, designing and implementing conflict management or reconciliation processes. Seasoned and in-depth knowledge of practices aimed at fostering dialogue between parties in conflict. Understanding of the opportunities and risks involved in working with civil society groups in peacekeeping/building processes in different contexts, and knowledge of mechanisms and approaches to empower civil society actors where appropriate. Understanding of the role and nature of confidence-building work in peacekeeping environments. Proven competencies in convening, facilitation and negotiation. Ability to liaise with a variety of actors on sensitive issues, including excluded and threatened groups. Support to State Institutions: Ability to develop a vision and implement a plan for supporting domestic actors at the national level in conceptualising, designing and implementing a process for strengthening state institutions. Understanding of the role of state institutions in the executive, legislative and judicial branches. Seasoned and in-depth knowledge and demonstrated capacity in dealing with policy and strategic issues related to institution building and governance. Awareness of political and technical considerations in supporting state institutions in post-conflict transition. Knowledge of national capacity assessments and the ability to adapt appropriate capacity development strategies. Knowledge of mandates and capacity of key partners in this area, including UNDP and the World Bank, and ability to work creatively with them in identifying a coherent and well coordinated approach drawing on comparative advantages. Understanding of mechanisms for accountability and transparency, and for dialogue between state institutions and relevant interest groups. Commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of peace operations. Communication – Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. Teamwork – Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organisational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. Planning& Organising – Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently. Accountability – Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organisational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable. Creativity – Actively seeks to improve programmes or services; offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs; promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas; takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas; thinks “outside the box”; takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things; is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches. Client Orientation – Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client. Commitment to Continuous Learning – Keeps abreast of new developments in own occupation/profession; actively seeks to develop oneself professionally and personally; contributes to the learning of colleagues and subordinates; shows willingness to learn from others; seeks feedback to learn and improve. Technological Awareness – Keeps abreast of available technology; understands applicability and limitation of technology to the work of the office; actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks; shows willingness to learn new technology. Managerial Competencies: Leadership – Serves as a role model that other people want to follow: empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing. Vision – Identifies strategic issues, opportunities and risks; clearly communicates links between the Organization’s strategy and the work unit’s goals; generates and communicates broad and compelling organisational direction, inspiring others to pursue that same direction; conveys enthusiasm about future possibilities. Empowering Others – Delegates responsibility, clarifies expectations, and gives staff autonomy in important areas of their work; encourages others to set challenging goals; holds others accountable for achieving results related to their area of responsibility; genuinely values all staff members’ input and expertise; shows appreciation and rewards achievement and effort; involves others when making decisions that affect them. Building Trust – Provides an environment in which others can talk and act without fear of repercussion; manages in a deliberate and predictable way; operates with transparency; has no hidden agenda; places confidences in colleagues, staff members and clients; gives proper credit to theirs; follows through on agreed upon actions; treats sensitive or confidential information appropriately. Managing Performance – Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills; monitors progress against milestones and deadlines; regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative; actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; appraises performance fairly. Judgement/Decision-making – Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.

Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in social sciences, political science, international relations, public administration, anthropology, law, economics or related area. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience
Over 15 years experience in Civil Affairs, Political Affairs, Public Administration, or related field, with a minimum of five years spent in a field mission with UN Peacekeeping Operations, UN Funds or Programmes, National or International NGOs, international bilateral organisations, etc. Out of these years, a minimum of seven years should be in a management position with responsibility for developing and implementing a strategic programme with both personnel and resource management responsibilities. A minimum of five years should be in one (or both) of the following specialised areas: Conflict Management: A minimum of five years of experience in a position requiring conflict management, facilitation, mediation or negotiation skills, with an emphasises on analytical and strategic planning functions. Experience in facilitating structured dialogue events between different parties, and reconciliation activities and processes would be an asset. Support to State Institutions: A minimum of five years in working in public administration, public administration support, or related areas. Experience in policy advice in the areas of institution building and governance support in post conflict settings would be an asset.

Languages
Fluency in spoken and written English or French is required. Knowledge of a second UN language is an advantage and sometimes a requirement. Fluency in the local language may be required.

How to apply
To apply, please visit our jobs website at http;//jobs.un.org and click on the vacancies section. The position is listed under “Civil Affairs”.
Please note that we are receiving applications for our D-2 Director Civil Affairs roster. Successfully rostered applications can be selected for any of our peacekeeing or special political missions anywhere in the world. You can indicate in your profile, when applying, which field missions you would and wouldn’t be interested in being considered for if you were a rostered candidate.
Please note the following:
The United Nations shall place no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. (Charter of the United Nations – Chapter 3, article 8). English and French are the two working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, TRAINING OR ANY OTHER FEES). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON BANK ACCOUNTS.
PLEASE NOTE THAT APPLICATIONS RECEIVED AFTER THE DEADLINE WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

How to apply
All applicants are strongly encouraged to apply online as soon as possible after the vacancy has been posted and well before the deadline stated in the vacancy announcement. Because applications submitted by United Nations (UN) staff members are considered first, provided the eligibility requirements set out in ST/AI/2006/3 are met and the application is submitted in a timely fashion, staff members should apply within 15-day or 30-day mark.
Online applications will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided. If you do not receive an e-mail acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. In such cases, please go to “My UN” page and check the status of your application by clicking on “View Application History”, and resubmit the application, if necessary.
To start the application process, applicants are required to register by opening a “My UN” account. Go to Login, and Register as a User. Fill in the form and choose a User Name and Password.
After opening the account, applicants may apply for vacancies using the Personal History Profile (PHP) provided. Once the PHP has been completed for a particular vacancy, it can be saved and used for future applications. The PHP may be up-dated, when necessary, for future applications.
In completing the PHP, please note that all fields marked with an asterisk must be completed.
UN staff members must submit scanned copies of their two latest Performance Appraisal System (PAS) reports at the time of application to the appropriate Human Resources Office (HRO)/Personnel Office (PO) to the email address below, clearly indicating the vacancy announcement number. In case you have no access to the digitizing equipment, please submit hard copies of the two latest PAS reports to the relevant HRO/PO via fax.

Reference Code: RW_8AULBM-64




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