Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located within the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), based in Naqoura, South Lebanon. The Chief Civil Affairs reports to the Deputy Head of Mission/Director of Political and Civil Affairs.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Chief of Service, Civil Affairs, will be responsible for the following duties: • Leads on Civil Affairs policy and programme formulation and strategic vision. • Ensures that Civil Affairs work is clearly conceptualized in support of the Mission's mandate implementation priorities, in line with the evolving situation on the ground and in accordance with the DPO Civil Affairs Policy Directive as well as the WPS and YPS agendas. • Manages the staff and oversees the budget of the Civil Affairs section. • Develops, formulates and leads on the implementation of the substantive work programme of the Civil Affairs section, in consultation with key partners inside and outside the Mission, taking into account of gender considerations and ensuring that the component functions as one part of a coherent overall UN effort to support the peacebuilding/recovery and reconstruction process. • 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 segments of the population are accurately fed into Mission-wide situation analysis and planning processes with full understanding of the complex operations and multiple stakeholders. • Provides the Mission's leadership with high-quality information and consistent analysis concerning conflict dynamics at the sub-national level and progress with or obstacles to the countrywide political process, including via mechanisms for information-sharing, consistent conflict mapping, crisis response and protection of civilians, as well as identification of critical peacebuilding gaps, as needed. • Oversees the programme management system for Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) in line with the DPO's Policy Directive on QIPs; including through setting up project management and approval mechanisms, proposing mission-specific priorities and ensuring impact evaluation. • Oversees and manages 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 specializations are recruited to the Civil Affairs section, 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 learned and good practice and the sharing of these with Civil Affairs section in other Missions, and encourages free and active participation by all component staff in the online Civil Affairs Community of Practice. • Supports the Mission's Protection of Civilians (PoC) efforts by facilitating community engagement, gathering early warning information, and coordinating with relevant stakeholders to address local protection concerns and enhance civilian access to essential services in line with the mission's mandate. • Adapt civil-military coordination and outreach strategies to the evolving security environment, ensuring the safety of personnel while maintaining meaningful engagement with local communities and authorities, and supporting conflict-sensitive programming that contributes to stability and community resilience. • Perform other duties as required.

Competencies

Professionalism: Knowledge of Civil Affairs, ability to translate theoretical concepts into concrete actions for the extension of state authority. 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. Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational 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 and 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. 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. 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. 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 social science, political science, international relations, public administration, anthropology, law, economics or related area is required. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree

Job - Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of 15 years' experience in Civil Affairs, Political Affairs, Public Administration, or related field, with a minimum of five (5) years in or in support of a field operations of the United Nations Common System or a comparable international organization, or National or International NGOs, international bilateral organizations is required. A minimum of five (5) years of experience in a position requiring conflict management, facilitation, mediation or negotiation skills, with an emphasizes on analytical and strategic planning functions; experience in facilitating structured dialogue events between different parties, and reconciliation activities and processes is desirable. Relevant experience in the Middle East, peacekeeping field operations, and serving in a military environment is desirable. A minimum of five (5) years should be in a management position with responsibility for developing and implementing a strategic programme with both personnel and resource management responsibilities is required. A minimum of five (5) years in working on governance, support to core government functions, or related areas; experience in policy advice in the area of institution strengthening and governance support in post-conflict setting is desirable.

Languages

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice

• This position is temporarily available until 31 December 2026, with possibility of extension. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment. • While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post. • Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station. • Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation. • Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as "retirement." Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service.

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places 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. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. All external candidates recruited in accordance with section ‎2.2 (a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2. (c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.