Job Title: Team Leader of the Integrated Operational Team (IOT) for Afghanistan, D1
Department/ Office: DEPARTMENT OF PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS
Duty Station: NEW YORK
Posting Period: 25 July 2011-23 September 2011
Job Opening number: 11-POL-DEPT PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS-20384-R-NEW YORK
This position is located in the Asia and Middle East Division (AMED), Office of Operations, Department of Peacekeeping Operations. The incumbent reports directly to the Director of AMED.
AMED oversees seven operations, including three in the Middle East with UNIFIL (Lebanon), UNDOF (Israel and Syria) and UNTSO (Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria), one in Northern Africa with MINURSO (Western Sahara), and three in Asia with UNMOGIP (India and Pakistan), UNMIT (Timor-Leste), and UNAMA (Afghanistan).
For more information please visit http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/about/dpko/
Responsibilities
As the Team Leader of the Integrated Operational Team (IOT) for Afghanistan, the incumbent is responsible for the day-to-day support to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). With the support of the IOT, the incumbent provides integrated operational and political guidance to UNAMA. He or she will assist, where relevant, the AMED Director, in the management of UNAMA, and ensure that related proposals are coordinated with other departments, agencies and programmes in the United Nations system.
The general responsibilities of the IOT Team Leader include:
- Monitor pro-actively and identify political and operational developments and issues with respect to the implementation of the Mission’s mandate; based thereon, assist in developing strategic views on the current and evolving conditions in Afghanistan, participate and facilitate brainstorming session, draft situational analyses, other relevant analytical papers as tasked or required by the events on the ground.
- Supervise the drafting of documents, including the Secretary-General’s reports to the Security Council, the General Assembly, ACABQ and the Fifth Committee with respect to UNAMA.
- Manage the day-to-day- oversight of UNAMA and monitor implementation of the relevant Security Council mandates;
- Ensure the resolution of operational issues in consultation with relevant partners within and outside DPKO/DFS and the UN system, as appropriate;
- Liaise with parties to a conflict, the Security Council, Member States, regional organizations, governments, and others involved in the political process;
- Coordinate and lead the integrated planning process for revisions in the mandate of UNAMA, if necessary coordinate reporting obligations of the Secretary-General to UN bodies, including the Security Council;
- Coordinate submissions to DPKO/DFS leadership and senior management and the Secretary-General including briefing notes, talking points, and strategy papers;
- Lead the IOT as a principal point of entry for peacekeeping operations, Member States, UN partners, regional organizations and others involved in the mandate implementation of UNAMA;
Competencies
Professionalism:
-Knowledge of the work of the United Nations in particular its peacekeeping activities
-Knowledge of the evolving peacekeeping doctrine and of the priorities and policies of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and its activities both at Headquarters and in the field
-Familiarity with the political and operational conditions in Afghanistan and broader knowledge of the region
-Ability to provide high calibre strategic and tactical advice on all aspects of peacekeeping operations
-Proven competence, integrity and reliability in performance
-Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work
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 the audience
-Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed
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
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 that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision
-Makes tough decisions when necessary
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 improvement; does not accept the status quo.
-Shows the courage to take unpopular stands.
Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in political or social sciences, international relations, law, history, economics, public administration 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
A minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible experience in political science, international relations, law, disarmament, security, development management, conflict resolution or related area. Experience in political analysis, peacekeeping and diplomacy at the international level is required. Experience in a UN peacekeeping field mission, preferably in or related to Afghanistan, is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post fluency in English (both, oral and written) is required. Knowledge of French is desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage. In addition, working knowledge of Dari/Farsi is desirable.
Assessment Method
Following the establishment of a short-list of applicants, a written test will be conducted, which will then be followed by a competency-based interview for the top-ranking candidates.
Special Notice
These posts are financed by the Support Account for Peacekeeping Operations. Extension of appointment will be subject to budgetary approval. The appointment of staff will also be limited to service on posts financed by the Support Account.
United Nations Considerations
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). The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.
Moreinfo: Click here
