Employer: UNDP
Location: Baghdad, Iraq
Duties and Responsibilities
The Senior Security Advisor will work under the supervision of the OEA Director.
The position is located at the Office of Electoral Affairs in the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), with duty station in Baghdad. The Senior Security Advisor works closely with Iraqi counterparts of the IHEC, and other Iraqi stakeholders, as well as UNDP, UNAMI and other electoral advisors.
Responsibilities:
Within delegated authority, the Senior Security Specialist will be responsible for the following duties:
Analysis of the context in which the next election(s) will take place in Iraq (i.e. social, political, inter-ethnic, security, economic risk factors);
Identification of historical conflict factors, tactics and types of incidents and locations and intensity of the conflict, with special focus on violence in the coming elections;
Assist in capacity building of IHEC counterparts to undertake continuous election security risk assessments and promote appropriate risk mitigation strategies in partnership with relevant stakeholders;
Advise IHEC counterparts on the development of risk assessments and security contingency plans; taking in board specific needs and requirements of vulnerable groups such as women, people with disabilities and marginalized communities;
Support IHEC counterparts to develop and implement security procedures and operating structures on elections, including information and reporting systems;
Based on good global practices, design an electoral security curriculum and support the training of trainers and cascade training on electoral security to national counterparts and other relevant security stakeholders;
Assist IHEC in development of electoral security incident database;
Undertake analyses on regular basis to support IHEC counterparts early warning capabilities and to develop appropriate mitigation strategies;
Support IHEC counterparts to develop effective partnerships with other relevant stakeholders including also the UNDSS to ensure information sharing;
Assist the IHEC Security Coordinator and team to prepare documentation and reports pertaining to this function, including but not limited to, IHEC Security Concept of Operations; IHEC Security Plan; Weekly Security Reports; Topic Security Reports as needed;
Advice on security needs for IHEC employees;
In close consultation with Field Operations and Logistics Departments, and in conjunction with the IHEC Security Coordinator, ensure that security requirements are met according to the needs of the National Movement Plan and the existing security situation;
Ensure escorts are coordinated for each road movement;
Liaise with internal and external actors, including UNDSS and other security entities, to ensure comparison and integrity of security reports and incidents;
Prepare regular election security briefings for sharing with UNAMI and UNDP;
Support UN efforts to counter violence against women in elections;
Perform other related duties as required.
Work implies frequent interaction with the following:
The OEA Director, the Deputy Director and other members of the UN electoral assistance office; senior staff and officers of electoral management bodies and other national institutions involved in the electoral process; other staff and officers working at the UNAMI office in Baghdad.
Results Expected:
The support of the United Nations in the area of responsibility contributes to credible and inclusive elections, minimizing violence and maximizing the chances of legitimate government, peace and stability;
The United Nations mandated support in the area of responsibility is implemented effectively, using resources efficiently and minimizing risks to the organization;
The supervisor has access to accurate and timely information as well as advice on the electoral process and its implications.
Competencies
Core
Innovation
Ability to make new and useful ideas work.
Leadership
Ability to persuade others to follow.
People Management
Ability to improve performance and satisfaction.
Communication
Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform.
Delivery
Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement.
Technical/Functional
Professionalism:
Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter, notably in-depth understanding of and ability to evaluate electoral processes, knowledge of all aspects of electoral processes and their technical and political implications;
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 accept joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
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.
Client Orientation:
Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view;
Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect;
Identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions;
Monitors on-going developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems;
Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects;
Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.
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.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) with a focus on Security Studies, Political Sciences, Law, or International Relations, A first-level university degree with additional 2 years of relevant experience will be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
Experience:
A minimum of 10 years experience of international exposure in a security advisory function and/or electoral support; at least seven years in an international setting within high risk security environments; at least five years working in support of, preferably embedded within, an Election Management Body;
Knowledge of Iraq’s security environment, operations and programme cycle a significant advantage;
Experience of governance and democracy programming essential;
Project management and management of risk qualifications/certifications desired;
In-depth knowledge of security risk analysis;
Familiarity with UN funded development projects;
Previous experience of working in a conflict/post-conflict or crisis environment is preferable;
Former military (Commissioned Officer) or police (Inspector or above) experience desired;
Capacity to handle political sensitivity with diplomacy and in responsible and flexible manner;
Knowledge and experience of UN security processes is desirable.
Female candidates are encouraged to apply; the candidate should be able to work in hardship conditions; the post requires considerable cultural and political sensitivity.
Language:
Fluency in spoken and written English required; knowledge of Arabic language is an advantage.
Apply Online
Location: Baghdad, Iraq
Duties and Responsibilities
The Senior Security Advisor will work under the supervision of the OEA Director.
The position is located at the Office of Electoral Affairs in the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), with duty station in Baghdad. The Senior Security Advisor works closely with Iraqi counterparts of the IHEC, and other Iraqi stakeholders, as well as UNDP, UNAMI and other electoral advisors.
Responsibilities:
Within delegated authority, the Senior Security Specialist will be responsible for the following duties:
Analysis of the context in which the next election(s) will take place in Iraq (i.e. social, political, inter-ethnic, security, economic risk factors);
Identification of historical conflict factors, tactics and types of incidents and locations and intensity of the conflict, with special focus on violence in the coming elections;
Assist in capacity building of IHEC counterparts to undertake continuous election security risk assessments and promote appropriate risk mitigation strategies in partnership with relevant stakeholders;
Advise IHEC counterparts on the development of risk assessments and security contingency plans; taking in board specific needs and requirements of vulnerable groups such as women, people with disabilities and marginalized communities;
Support IHEC counterparts to develop and implement security procedures and operating structures on elections, including information and reporting systems;
Based on good global practices, design an electoral security curriculum and support the training of trainers and cascade training on electoral security to national counterparts and other relevant security stakeholders;
Assist IHEC in development of electoral security incident database;
Undertake analyses on regular basis to support IHEC counterparts early warning capabilities and to develop appropriate mitigation strategies;
Support IHEC counterparts to develop effective partnerships with other relevant stakeholders including also the UNDSS to ensure information sharing;
Assist the IHEC Security Coordinator and team to prepare documentation and reports pertaining to this function, including but not limited to, IHEC Security Concept of Operations; IHEC Security Plan; Weekly Security Reports; Topic Security Reports as needed;
Advice on security needs for IHEC employees;
In close consultation with Field Operations and Logistics Departments, and in conjunction with the IHEC Security Coordinator, ensure that security requirements are met according to the needs of the National Movement Plan and the existing security situation;
Ensure escorts are coordinated for each road movement;
Liaise with internal and external actors, including UNDSS and other security entities, to ensure comparison and integrity of security reports and incidents;
Prepare regular election security briefings for sharing with UNAMI and UNDP;
Support UN efforts to counter violence against women in elections;
Perform other related duties as required.
Work implies frequent interaction with the following:
The OEA Director, the Deputy Director and other members of the UN electoral assistance office; senior staff and officers of electoral management bodies and other national institutions involved in the electoral process; other staff and officers working at the UNAMI office in Baghdad.
Results Expected:
The support of the United Nations in the area of responsibility contributes to credible and inclusive elections, minimizing violence and maximizing the chances of legitimate government, peace and stability;
The United Nations mandated support in the area of responsibility is implemented effectively, using resources efficiently and minimizing risks to the organization;
The supervisor has access to accurate and timely information as well as advice on the electoral process and its implications.
Competencies
Core
Innovation
Ability to make new and useful ideas work.
Leadership
Ability to persuade others to follow.
People Management
Ability to improve performance and satisfaction.
Communication
Ability to listen, adapt, persuade and transform.
Delivery
Ability to get things done while exercising good judgement.
Technical/Functional
Professionalism:
Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter, notably in-depth understanding of and ability to evaluate electoral processes, knowledge of all aspects of electoral processes and their technical and political implications;
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 accept joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
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.
Client Orientation:
Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view;
Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect;
Identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions;
Monitors on-going developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems;
Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects;
Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.
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.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) with a focus on Security Studies, Political Sciences, Law, or International Relations, A first-level university degree with additional 2 years of relevant experience will be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
Experience:
A minimum of 10 years experience of international exposure in a security advisory function and/or electoral support; at least seven years in an international setting within high risk security environments; at least five years working in support of, preferably embedded within, an Election Management Body;
Knowledge of Iraq’s security environment, operations and programme cycle a significant advantage;
Experience of governance and democracy programming essential;
Project management and management of risk qualifications/certifications desired;
In-depth knowledge of security risk analysis;
Familiarity with UN funded development projects;
Previous experience of working in a conflict/post-conflict or crisis environment is preferable;
Former military (Commissioned Officer) or police (Inspector or above) experience desired;
Capacity to handle political sensitivity with diplomacy and in responsible and flexible manner;
Knowledge and experience of UN security processes is desirable.
Female candidates are encouraged to apply; the candidate should be able to work in hardship conditions; the post requires considerable cultural and political sensitivity.
Language:
Fluency in spoken and written English required; knowledge of Arabic language is an advantage.
Apply Online