UN Job Opening: Principal Electoral Affairs Officer

Job Opening (click here for more information)

Special Notice

The United Nations Secretariat maintains rosters of qualified and available candidates to fill anticipated job openings in peacekeeping operations, special political missions, and other field operations.

The purpose of this job opening is to generate a list of qualified candidates for inclusion in the Principal Electoral Officer roster, at the D1 level.

The entire assessment process takes an average of six months; all applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of their application (whether successful or unsuccessful) within 14 days of the conclusion of the process. Successful candidates will be placed on the roster and subsequently will be invited to apply for field mission vacancies open only to roster members. Roster membership does not guarantee selection.

Org. Setting and Reporting

These positions are located in the field in peace operations, special political missions, UNDP and UNOPS electoral projects in mission settings, or other UN entities providing electoral assistance (http://www.un.org/undpa/en/employment). 

The Principal Electoral Officer heads a section or project and will normally be the senior-most electoral officer of the mission or project, for example in the role of Chief Technical Advisor. The Principal Electoral Officer reports to the Head of Mission, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General or the designee, the Resident Coordinator, the UNDP Resident Representative/Country Director or the UNOPS Country Director.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Principal Electoral Officer will be responsible for the following duties: (These duties are generic and may not be carried out by all Principal Electoral Officers.) 

Design, lead, supervise, coordinate and contribute to the implementation of electoral programs and processes in the following areas, as required: legal drafting and reform, complaints and dispute resolution, overall process management, planning and budgeting, infrastructure development, operations including field operations, procurement, logistics, security, information and communications technology, data processing and analysis, procedures, training, external relations, public information, outreach and media relations, civic and voter education, graphic design, administrative support, support to media, political parties and civil society, gender mainstreaming, capacity-building, institutional reform and development as well as project and programme management and support. 

Lead, coordinate and supervise the provision of technical assistance and advice to national counterparts and their institutions in the above areas. 

Provide project and programme management and support, including budget management and monitoring, and reporting of results to national counterparts, donors and UN bodies; 

Monitor the impact of domestic and international norms and processes on female participation and provide advice to the Electoral Management Bodies on appropriate corrective measures. 

Provide overall donor liaison and management. 

Provide expert electoral/political advice to Head of the UN presence on the ground, and also to the international community and UNHQ as required/appropriate. 

Supervise and manage the performance of national and international staff. 

Establish and maintain professional and productive partnerships with national counterpart institutions and other key stakeholders in the electoral process. 

Establish effective communication mechanisms, regularly brief senior UN officials, partners, donors, counterparts as well as other key stakeholders on the electoral process and provide regular reports, including to the head of the UN/mission as well as senior officials in UN headquarters. 

Perform other related duties as required.

Work implies frequent interaction with the following: Senior UN Officials including Under-Secretary-General/Assistant Secretary-General, Special Representatives and Envoys of the Secretary-General and Resident Coordinators; managers and staff of the mission and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, the Department of Political Affairs and/or the Department of Field Support, UNDP and/or UNOPS; managers and senior staff of the mission or country office; senior staff of specialized agencies, senior representatives of international and regional organizations and governments; heads and senior staff of electoral management bodies and other national institutions involved in the electoral process; heads and senior staff of political parties, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, institutes and foundations as well as media representatives. 

Results Expected: The support of the United Nations to the electoral process contributes to credible and inclusive elections, minimizing violence and maximizing the chances of legitimate government, peace and stability. The United Nations mandated support to the electoral process is implemented effectively, using resources efficiently and minimizing risks to the organization. The United Nations have access to accurate and timely information as well as authoritative advice on the electoral process and its implications.

Competencies

Core Competencies:

Professionalism:
-Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter, including in-depth understanding of and ability to evaluate the various stages of electoral processes, and their technical and political implications; 
-Able to offer solutions to electoral issues based on comparative experience and knowledge; 
-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; 
-Shows pride in work and in achievements; 
-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 & 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

Managerial Competencies:

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

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 political science international economics, international relations, law, public administration, or a related field. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Work Experience

A minimum of fifteen years of progressively responsible experience in elections and related areas. Electoral experience in a peacekeeping operation, political mission and/or a UN agency, or other relevant international electoral experience is required. Previous experience in managing a large team of different backgrounds at the senior level, and the ability to manage and coordinate complex projects are required. At least seven years of comparative experience in supervising, implementing, supporting or advising on electoral processes in multiple countries is required. Electoral experience in developing or transition economies is desirable. Experience in post-conflict situations is desirable. Experience in bilateral or multilateral negotiations is desirable.

Languages

Fluency in spoken and written English or French is required; knowledge of a second UN language is desirable.

Assessment

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

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.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at midnight (New York time) on the deadline date.