POLITICAL AFFAIRS OFFICER (2 positions)

This position is located in the Americas Division of the UN Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations (DPPA-DPO). Working under the overall direction of the Division Director, the Political Affairs Officer will report to the Senior Political Affairs officer leading one of the sub-regional teams of the Division. The Deputy Director will serve has the second reporting officer. The Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) focuses primarily on five action areas in international peace and security, ensuring sound analysis and early warning, preventing conflict and engaging in peacemaking, managing political crises and violent conflicts, sustaining peace, and enhancing partnerships. The Department’s mandate is to prevent and resolve conflict through inclusive political solutions. The Department of Peace Operations (DPO) serves as an integrated "centre of excellence" for United Nations Peace operations, responsible for preventing, responding to and managing conflict and sustaining peace in the context of mandates in countries where peace operations under its purview are deployed. This includes facilitating and implementing political agreements, providing integrated strategic, political, operational and management advice, direction and support to peace operations; developing political, security and integrated strategies, leading integrated analysis and planning of peace operations and backstopping those operations.

Within delegated authority, the Political Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

• Manage and coordinate monitoring, research and analysis of developments and processes related to peace and security in the assigned geographic area of Latin America and the Caribbean to inform policy formulation, strategy development and decision-making, and identify trends and emerging issues, including through digital technologies and data analytics.
• Coordinate a wide range of documents and communications, including analytical reports, briefing notes, talking points, meeting checklists and notes, concept notes, and correspondence.
• Lead the development and implementation of strategies, plans and activities related to early warning, conflict prevention, disarmament, mediation, conflict resolution, and peacebuilding.
• Coordinate support for strategic communications by drafting speeches, press releases, publications, or other means of public communication, including for social media.
• Supervise the integration of relevant rights-based, gender/’women, peace and security’ (WPS), ‘youth, peace and security’ (YPS), environmental, and/or climate security perspectives into policy and operational recommendations.
• Lead the planning, coordination and organization of programmatic activities in the assigned area of work (e.g., internal and inter-agency coordination mechanisms; support for mediation, dialogue and other peace initiatives; fellowships, trainings and other capacity building activities for Member States; workshops, conferences and seminars; field missions, fact-finding missions, and diplomatic engagements at UN Headquarters).
• Supervise budgeting, project implementation, reporting, administrative and recruitment processes.
• Lead the establishment and maintenance of working relationships with UN partners, international and regional organizations, host governments, other national stakeholders, including women and youth and other civil society organizations, communities, academia, and other stakeholders on issues related to peace and security in the assigned geographic and/or thematic area.

PROFESSIONALISM Knowledge of political dynamics, governance, conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and regional developments in Latin America and the Caribbean. Ability to identify emerging political trends and risks, conduct complex political analysis, develop policy recommendations, and provide strategic advice on politically sensitive issues. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with government officials, regional organizations, civil society representatives, and other stakeholders. 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. 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. 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.

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

Not available.

Extensive experience in political analysis and conflict prevention in Latin America and the Caribbean is required. Experience working with legislative bodies, Member States, and delegations in the context of an international organisation is required. Experience integrating gender perspectives and the inclusion of vulnerable and underrepresented groups into political analysis, policy development, programme implementation, or mediation and conflict prevention efforts is required. Field experience with the United Nations or other international organizations in the area of peace and security is required.

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

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.

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.