Org. Setting and Reporting :This position is located in the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of Mission in the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) Laayoune. The Special Assistant reports to the Mission Chief of Staff (MCOS) under the overall supervision of the SRSG. The Special Assistant is responsible for the provision of advisory, administrative and managerial support to the SRSG, MCOS or other Principal Officer. S/he will assist the SRSG in preparing for meetings, including compilation of background notes, drafting of briefings, presentations and talking points; liaise with other Mission components and other counterparts.
Responsibilities :Within delegated authority, the Special Assistant will be responsible for the following duties: • Provides substantive and practical support to the SRSG in implementing the Mission’s mandate; Keeps the SRSG informed on all matters requiring his/her personal attention; Assists in formulating options as to how those matters might be handled, and ensures appropriate follow-up, as directed by the Mission Chief of Staff. • Organizes and manages the SRSG’s meetings and mission events, prepares written summaries and conducts follow-up activities, as appropriate. • Drafts summary and analytical reports including, but not limited to, situation reports, briefing notes, notes to the file, talking points, code cables, statements and other official correspondence, and is able to do so under minimal supervision; Provides input for the reports of the Secretary-General to the Security Council, as required. • Identifies, analyzes and monitors political developments and emerging issues with respect to the implementation of the Mission’s mandate. • Assesses implications and makes recommendations on possible policies, strategies and other measures to address issues pertaining to the mandate. • Develops and maintains collaborative relationships with mission components on coordination and policy matters. • Collects and analyzes data to identify trends or patterns and provide insights through graphs, charts, tables and reports using data visualization methods to enable data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation and reporting. • Manages and uses integrated reporting and data analysis tools, such as SAGE and CPAS, and works closely with relevant mission components in this regard, including the JOC and the JMAC. • Performs other duties as requested and required.
Competencies :Professionalism: Ability to deliver in a fast-moving environment; 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; listen to others, correctly interpret messages from others and responds appropriately; ask 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. Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies. Identify priority activities and assignments; adjust priorities as required; allocate appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allow contingencies when planning; monitor and adjusts plans and actions as necessary.
Education :Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in political science, international relations, social science, economics, law, public administration, or a 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. Successful completion of both degree and non-degree programs in data analytics, business analytics or data science programs is an advantage.
Job - Specific Qualification :Not available.
Work Experience :A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in political affairs, diplomacy, conflict resolution, or related field is required. Experience working in or in support of a field operation of the United Nations Common System or a comparable international organization or non-governmental organization is required. Experience working in support of crisis management is desirable. Experience in the provision of political reporting, analysis and advice to senior officials (as a Special Assistant or similiar) is required. Two years or more of experience in data analytics or related area is desirable.
Languages :English and French are the working languages of the UN Secretariat, For the post advertised, fluency in English is required; knowledge of French is desirable.
Assessment :Previously rostered candidates are not subject to any further assessment and as such, will not be invited for such an assessment.
Special Notice :This "Recruit from Roster" job opening is only open to roster applicants who are already placed on pre-approved rosters, following a review by a United Nations Central Review Body. Only roster applicants who were placed on rosters with similar functions at the same level are considered to be eligible candidates. Eligible applicants receive an email inviting them to apply. Rostered applicants are encouraged to apply only if they are interested and available to take up the position at the duty station/s specified in the Job Opening. Applying to this job opening carries an expectation to accept the offer, if selected.
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. 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.

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