This position is located in the Executive Office (EO) of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Executive Direction and Management (EDM), Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). The Special Assistant is under the overall guidance of the High Commissioner (HC) and the Chief of Staff.
ResponsibilitiesWithin delegated authority, the Special Assistant will be responsible for the following duties: • Provides expert advice to the HC on a wide range of issues related to the functions and responsibilities of OHCHR. Takes the lead to develop, implement and evaluate assigned programmes/projects, etc.; directs programme/project development, implementation, monitoring and assessment; directs review of relevant documents and reports; identifies priorities, problems and issues to be addressed and proposes corrective actions; liaises with relevant parties; identifies and initiates follow-up actions. • Coordinates with the relevant Divisions and Branches of OHCHR the progress, timely delivery and accomplishments of the programmatic mandate by ensuring that there is clear and timely communication between the HC and other senior OHCHR officials. This interaction is on behalf of the HC, and may take the form of regular, periodic meetings or ad-hoc briefings aimed at ensuring that the relevant stakeholders are appropriately informed on the work of OHCHR. Assists in the preparation of and follow-up on meetings of senior OHCHR officials. • Coordinates policy development; reviews the assessments of issues and trends, monitors the implementation of management and policy decisions across OHCHR Divisions and Branches. • Provides substantive and analytical input in the preparation of position papers and reports for presentation to intergovernmental bodies; prepares various written outputs for the HC, e.g. policy statements, briefing notes, background papers, analysis, substantial sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, etc. • Ensures implementation of gender mainstreaming, including by assessing the implications for men and women of any planned action, including legislation, policies or programmes, in all areas and at all levels. • Directs strategies and presents information gathered from diverse sources. Reviews, analyzes and interprets responses, identifies problems/issues and prepares conclusions. • Directs substantive support to consultative and other meetings, conferences, etc., to include proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations, etc. • Establishes collaboration and partnerships with key officials at all levels inside and outside the organization. • Ensures effective utilization, supervision and development of staff; guides, evaluates and mentors staff. • May perform other duties as required.
CompetenciesPROFESSIONALISM: - Ability to identify key strategic issues, opportunities and risks. - Ability to generate and communicate broad and compelling organizational direction. - Ability to communicate clearly links between the Organization’s strategy and the work unit’s goals. - Demonstrated ability to provide innovative technical leadership by performing and/or overseeing the planning, development, and management of an operation. - Demonstrated ability to negotiate and apply good judgment. - 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. 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. PLANNING AND 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. 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. - 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. 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.
EducationAdvanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in business administration, management, economics, or a related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work ExperienceA minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in project or programme management, administration or related area is required. Experience in a multi-cultural, international setting is required. Experience in senior office assignments in international organizations, including a Front Office setting is desirable. Experience in policy formulation and organizational reform is desirable.
LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Spanish is an advantage.
AssessmentEvaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
Special NoticeTHIS POSITION IS TEMPORARILY AVAILABLE FOR A PERIOD OF SIX (6) MONTHS, WITH POSSIBILITY OF EXTENSION - SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS. RECRUITMENT WILL BE LIMITED TO APPLICANTS CURRENTLY BASED IN THE DUTY STATION.
• If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will 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. • Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station. • This temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15. • 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.
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 or sexual abuse, or crimes other than minor traffic offences, 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.
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 Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side 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.
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.