Closing date: 22 Feb 2020
Org. Setting and Reporting
These positions are located in the field in peace operations, special political missions, UNDP and UNOPS electoral projects or with other UN entities providing electoral assistance (http://www.un.org/undpa/en/employment). Staff level P-4 is equivalent to the following International Civil Service and International Individual Contractor Agreement levels: ICS11 and IICA3.
The Electoral Officer serves as a member of an electoral assistance team, usually in an advisory role to a national counterpart in her/his area of expertise but may also head a project, unit, section or field office. The Electoral Officer reports to the Senior Electoral Officer or other senior staff (for example, Chief Technical Advisors). In certain circumstances, the Electoral Officer role is closely integrated to the work and team of the UNDP Resident Representative.
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Electoral Officer will be responsible for the following duties:
Implement and often supervise the implementation of electoral programmes and processes in one or more of the following areas, as required: legal drafting and reform; complaints and dispute resolution; planning and budgeting; infrastructure development; operations including field operations, procurement, logistics, security, information and communications technology; data processing and analysis; procedures; training; external relations, public information, outreach and media relations; civic and voter education; inclusion programmes; graphic design; administrative support; support to the media, political parties and civil society; gender mainstreaming; capacity-building; institutional reform and development as well as project support.
Provide project and programme management and support, including budget management and monitoring, and reporting of results to national counterparts, donors and UN bodies.
Coordinate donor liaison activities/processes.
Provide, and often supervise the provision of, support, technical assistance and advice in the above areas as required.
Contribute, and often supervise the contribution to, capacity-building of national counterparts and strengthening of national institutions.
Monitor the impact of domestic norms and processes on women’s political participation and representation, and the compliance with international norms and commitments on gender equality and women’s rights; and provide advice to the Electoral Management Bodies and other relevant national stakeholders on appropriate corrective measures.
Supervise and manage the performance of national and international staff assigned to the area of responsibility.
Establish and maintain professional and productive partnerships with national counterparts and other key stakeholders in the electoral process.
Plan, integrate, coordinate and collaborate the work of all relevant partners to compile and provide regular briefings and reports in the assigned area of responsibility.
Perform other related duties as required.
Competencies
CORE COMPETENCIES:
PROFESSIONALISM
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 perspective in all areas of work and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; Demonstrates knowledge and leads by example with the commitment to the United Nations-wide Strategy on Gender Parity.
TEAMWORK
Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; Solicits inputs 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 the team shortcomings.
PLANNING & ORGANIZING
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.
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 gains 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.
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.
Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in Political Science, International Relations, Law, Public Administration, or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work Experience
A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in elections and related areas is required.
Electoral experience in a field operation of the United Nations Common System or a comparable international organization or other relevant electoral experience is required.
At least three years of experience in supervising, implementing, supporting or advising on electoral processes is required.
Experience in developing countries is desirable.
Work experience in post-conflict situations is desirable.
Experience in managing projects is desirable.
Previous experience in managing a team is desirable.
Experience in bilateral or multilateral negotiations is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English or French (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.
Assessment
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
Special Notice
The United Nations Secretarial maintains rosters of qualified and available candidates to fill anticipated job openings in peacekeeping operations, special political missions, and other field operations. The purpose of this job opening is to generate a list of qualified candidates for inclusion in the Electoral Officer roster, at the P-4 level. The entire assessment process takes an average of six months; all applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of their application (whether successful or unsuccessful) within 14 days of the conclusion of the process. Successful candidates will be placed on the roster and subsequently will be invited to apply for field mission vacancies open only to roster members. Roster membership does not guarantee selection.
How to apply:
More information and application at https://careers.un.org/lbw/jobdetail.aspx?id=129182&Lang=en-US