Org. Setting and Reporting

The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) represents the United Nations in advancing international cooperation in the exploration and peaceful uses of outer space for economic, social and scientific development, in particular for the benefit of developing countries. This position is located within the Office of the Director (OD), United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA), in Vienna, Austria. The incumbent will work under the direct supervision of the Deputy Director, and under overall guidance of the Director, UNOOSA. For more information about UNOOSA, please visit the website: www.unoosa.org

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties: • Provide analytical and drafting support for resource mobilisation efforts, including preparing tailored narrative materials and supporting inputs for external engagement; compiling and synthesising qualitative and quantitative information relevant to partnerships and funding; and translating findings into succinct management products. • Provide anticipatory, solutions-oriented support to the Office of the Director (OD), including preparing concise strategic notes, decision briefs, meeting summaries and follow-up actions; draft and refine high-level speeches, statements, reports and official correspondence; and ensure leadership priorities are reflected consistently across OD deliverables and engagements. Contribute to the effective servicing of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) and its subcommittees by preparing and reviewing substantive inputs, background documentation and briefing packages; support the preparation of policy papers and talking points for formal and informal consultations; and help ensure that documents meet quality standards and are accessible to diverse Member State audiences. • Strengthen internal coordination between the OD and the different sections at UNOOSA by organising inputs, aligning messaging and facilitating timely exchanges; support internal consultations to consolidate contributions from relevant entities; and promote a coherent institutional narrative across intergovernmental and external-facing outputs. • Support the planning and delivery of UNOOSA’s engagement with Permanent Missions and other institutional counterparts in Vienna; provide political and diplomatic advice grounded in monitoring of Member State positions, priorities and negotiation dynamics; identify partnership opportunities linked to Member State initiatives relevant to UNOOSA’s mandate; and support relationship continuity through structured stakeholder mapping and engagement tracking. • Coordinate the development of strategic communications outputs in line with UNOOSA objectives and leadership direction; oversee the drafting and editing of press releases, public information materials and web/public-facing content; liaise with media/public affairs counterparts as appropriate; and support preparation for leadership media engagement, including key messages and Q&A. • Collect, organize and analyse data from multiple sources to identify trends, risks and opportunities; prepare charts, tables, dashboards and other visual products to support evidence-based planning, presentations and reporting; and contribute to periodic internal and external reporting requirements. • Maintain action trackers, internal calendars and coordination logs for OD-related workstreams; support document workflow (clearances, version control, distribution lists, filing and retrieval); assist with organizing meetings and consultations (agendas, participant coordination, speaking order, meeting packs); and contribute to maintaining reference materials, templates and standard briefing elements to improve consistency and efficiency. • Perform other work-related duties as required.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts, and approaches relevant to space activities and space governance as well as professional competence in managing and maintaining relations with Governments and other stakeholders. Understanding of global space governance, space law, and policy, and how they intersect with Member State priorities. Ability to identify issues, analyse, and participate in the resolution of issues/problems. Ability to conduct data collection using various methods. Conceptual, analytical, and evaluative skills to conduct independent research and analysis, including familiarity with and experience in the use of various research sources, including electronic sources on the internet, intranet, and other databases. Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work, and manage conflicting priorities. Ability to analyse and interpret data in support of decision making and convey resulting information to management. 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. • 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. • 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.

Education

An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in one or more of the following disciplines is required: International Relations, Political Science, Communications, Public Administration or related fields. A first level university degree in similar fields in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Job - Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional work experience providing direct support of multilateral and intergovernmental processes related to space matters, space policy, or international governance (such as UN bodies, committees, conferences or working groups) is required. Work experience engaging and working effectively with governmental counterparts and institutional key stakeholders (such as Permanent Missions and international organizations), with demonstrated capacity to maintain partnerships and provide substantive inputs to intergovernmental coordination and related processes, is required. Direct work experience preparing and editing a broad range of written products in a multilingual, multilateral environment, adapting content for both specialist and non-specialist audiences (e.g., briefs, reports, official correspondence, talking points, public-facing materials), is required. Direct work experience observing, tracking and interpreting key stakeholders’ priorities and positions, and translating qualitative and quantitative information into concise analytical outputs for senior decision-makers, including policy briefs, strategic notes, press-related materials and visual reporting products (e.g., dashboards and other data visualizations) is desirable. Work experience within the United Nations common system or a similar international organization is desirable.

Languages

Assessment

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

Special Notice

This temporary position is available for six months. Actual filling of this position and actual duration of the assignment is subject to availability of funding. If the selected candidate is an internal staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection may 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. 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. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Vienna is classified in the H category (family duty station).

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.