Political, Peace, Humanitarian and Human Rights
Special Notice
•The purpose of the present Job Opening is to invite applications from external candidates who wish to take the 2017 Young Professionals Programme (YPP) examination in the Political, Peace and Humanitarian Job Network (POLNET). UN Secretariat staff members who are eligible to apply through the “G to P” or “G to N” track must not apply through this Job Opening.
•The eligibility requirements of the examination are:
1.At least a three-year first level university degree in the main course of study listed in the Education Section of this Job Opening;
2.Born on or after 1 January 1985;
3.Fluent in either English or French; and
4.A national of a participating member state. The participating member states for the 2017 YPP are:
Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahrain, Belarus, Belize, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Comoros, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Honduras, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Monaco, Mozambique, Nauru, Norway, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, South Sudan, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States, Vanuatu, Venezuela, Vietnam.
Submitting applications for more than one exam area shall result in automatic disqualification in all exam areas, i.e., applying to POLNET and MAGNET will result in disqualification in both areas.
Upon selection, all candidates successful in the Young Professionals Programme examinations will be initially appointed at the P-1 or P-2 level depending on their qualifications. Those appointed at the P-1 level shall be promoted to a position at the P-2 level following a minimum of two years of satisfactory performance and depending on the availability of posts. Thereafter, candidates may apply for positions at the P-3 level through the staff selection system so long as they meet the qualification requirements.
Incomplete applications and applications that are received after the above deadline (11:59 pm New York HQ local time) will not be accepted under any circumstances. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit their applications early to avoid problems due to heavy last-minute internet traffic.
Org. Setting and Reporting
These positions are located primarily in the Department of Political Affairs (DPA), the Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO), both at Headquarters and in the field, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the Office for Disarmament Affairs (ODA).
Associate Officers generally report to a Senior Officer, Head of Unit, or Chief of Section.
Responsibilities
The Young Professionals Programme examination in POLNET covers a wide range of topics in the areas of peacemaking and preventive diplomacy, political analysis, electoral assistance, human rights issues and related problems in their political, ethnic, racial, gender equality and socio-economic dimensions, humanitarian, disaster, emergency relief issues and activities, and other related areas covered by the POLNET arms of the United Nations. If you are successful in the examination, you could be assigned to a job that covers any or a combination of these areas.
Some of the key responsibilities of an Associate Officer in POLNET would be (These duties are generic and may not be carried out by all POLNET Associate Officers):
•Conducts research and analyses information contained in communications and publications received from different sources, including the press; maintains up-to-date knowledge of events relating to political affairs/human rights/humanitarian affairs issues in a specified area or subject matter.
•Prepares briefing notes, background papers, letters, policy guidelines and talking points for senior officials.
•Establishes and maintains contact with relevant interlocutors at the required level as directed (responds to various inquiries and information requests internally and externally, provides technical support and advice in his/her area of expertise)
•Prepares summaries of articles from a wide variety of sources and draft a variety of correspondence, and sections of reports.
•Monitors political affairs, human rights affairs, humanitarian affairs, and other relevant developments in an assigned area, and prepares reports. Identifies problems and proposes corrective actions.
•Provides input into political affairs, human rights, humanitarian affairs efforts and programmes.
•Creates databases that track project progress and provides other information relevant to assigned area.
•Assists in the organization of meetings, seminars, conferences, workshops, etc. with other agencies or partners to facilitate exchanges of professional expertise and views on specific subjects/issues; serves as reporter to such events.
•Performs other related duties as required.
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 perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work
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 & 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
Education
At least a first-level university degree (i.e., Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent degree of at least three years) in one of the following areas (to be selected from the “Main Course of Study” dropdown menu):
•Business & Administration
•Humanities
•Law
•Security Services
•Social & Behavioural Science
Please choose also (from the “Field of Study” dropdown menu), the field of study that is closest to your degree and write the exact title in original language as well as its translation in English or French.
Work Experience
No work experience is required.
Languages
Fluency in one of the working languages of the UN Secretariat, English or French, (speaking, reading, listening, and writing) is required; knowledge of the other is desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.
Assessment
The assessment process is divided into 3 stages:
1) Screening of applications
2) Written examination taken online
3) Oral examination.
Knowledge of UN languages may be tested at any of these stages.
1. Applications will be screened on the basis of the eligibility criteria in this Job Opening.
2. The written examination will be conducted via an online testing platform. Candidates convoked for the written examination will be responsible for identifying and securing a location suitable for them to complete the examination (i.e., a computer with a dependable internet connection). Further information regarding the online testing platform and suggestions for a suitable testing environment will be provided to those convoked for the examination. The anticipated timeframe for the written examination is October 2017 (exact date to be announced on UN Careers Portal). The written examination shall consist of:
•Part I: General Paper, which assesses drafting skills and reading comprehension in an international affairs context.
•Part II: Specialized Paper, which assesses knowledge related to responsibilities listed in the job opening (POLNET areas).
3. Only examinees who are successful overall in the written examination will be invited to the oral examination. The oral examination will be conducted via online video conference. The oral examination will assess the key competencies for POLNET, as described in the Job Opening. Part of the final assessment stage, either before, during or after the oral examination may include an element to verify the candidate’s answers given in the Specialized Paper as well as the information in the Personal History Profile submitted. The anticipated timeframe for the oral examinations is sometime in spring 2018.
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, including but not limited to, respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to, whether they have committed or are alleged to have committed criminal offences or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.
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.
Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the At-a-Glance on "The Application Process" and the Instructional Manual for the Applicants, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.
The screening and 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, including but not limited to, their education, work experience, and language skills, according to the instructions provided on inspira. Applicants will be disqualified from consideration if they do not demonstrate in their application that they meet the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations. Applicants are solely responsible for providing complete and accurate information at the time of application: 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 a reference-checking process to verify the information provided in the application.
For more information please click "Further Official Information" below.
This opportunity has expired. It was originally published here:
https://careers.un.org/lbw/jobdetail.aspx?id=81268