Jan 28, 2023

Security Sector Reform Officer , P5 - Italy

Hiring Organization: United Nations  United Nations Logistic Base
Job Location: Brandisi , Italy

Posting Title: SENIOR SECURITY SECTOR REFORM OFFICER, P5 (Temporary Job Opening)
Closing Date: 29 January 2023
Job Opening Number: 23-Security Institutions-UNLB-199977-J-Brindisi (M)


Org. Setting and Reporting


The Security Sector Reform Standing Capacity (SSRSC) expands the capability of the SSR Unit (SSRU) in the Department of Peace Operations (DPO) to respond to requests for support from field operations and national authorities in non-mission settings consistent with United Nations (UN) Security Sector Reform (SSR) policies, guidance and best practice. The rapidly deployable officer expert would deploy independently or as part of a team with staff from UNHQ in the framework of technical assessment and support missions. He/she may also join police and rule of law experts engaged in mission start-up, planning, transition or drawdown processes, to ensure a coherent approach to these inter-linked areas of work when an SSR process is constituted.

The Senior SSR Officer will deploy in response to requests for support from DPO and Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA)-led missions, from country teams in non-mission settings and if possible, also in response to requests from other partners including through the Inter-Agency SSR Task Force and the Global Focal Point (GFP). The Senior SSR Officer will spend approximately 75% of his/her time deployed to field assignments. When deployed to the field, the Senior SSR Officer will report within the client's reporting structure and will work in close collaboration with the Standing Police Capacity (SPC) and the Justice and Corrections Standing Capacity (JCSC) to ensure a coherent approach to shared objectives in SSR processes. The Senior SSR Officer will be a resource for the Global Focal Point on Rule of Law and to Peacebuilding Support Office (PBSO) as appropriate to combine specialist expertise with programmatic funding available from the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF).

This position is located in the SSRSC which is a tenant unit of the United Nations Global Service Center (UNGSC), Brindisi, Italy. The Senior SSR Officer, SSRSC will report to the Chief, SSR Unit, Office of the Rule of Law and Security Institutions, DPO at Secretariat Headquarters on all substantive issues. On administrative issues the Senior SSR Officer,

SSRSC reports to the Director of the UNGSC Brindisi.

The SSR Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

Responsibilities

1. Implementation

• Serves as the Chief of the SSRSC, and plans, coordinates, and supervises all aspects of SSR activities, including the development of a coherent SSR approach; responds to requests from interagency task forces and other entities; ensures an integrated and harmonized approach among other components of the UNGSC, to include communications and public information; and the standing capacities for justice and corrections, disarmament, demobilization, reintegration and police.
• Supports clients on SSR policy, and on the design, implementation and review of SSR plans and programmes; contributes to priorities for policy development in SSR; provides policy and operational advice on an ongoing basis and assists in the programming of SSR activities at the national level; provides regular updates on various aspects of SSR initiatives and recommends appropriate actions to the Chief SSR Unit.
• Serves as lead expert in SSR; provides innovative technical advice and guidance on all aspects of SSR to UN field missions, national and local governments and other entities, including leading the development of and input to the development of Mission plans and directives covering diverse areas.
• Provides advice on specific reform programmes and projects to include project planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
• Provides advice and guidance on issues concerned with building political will and fostering national ownership;
• Ensures implementation of gender mainstreaming guidelines.
• Oversees and conducts reviews and analytical process, identify problems/issues, and prepares conclusions.
• Prepares and/or supervises preparation of various written outputs, e.g., background papers, analysis, substantial sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, etc.

2. Advice and Liaison

• Leads large, highly complex programmes/ projects, field missions, etc., including provision of policy guidance to government officials and other parties and drafting mission summaries; identifies problems and issues to be assessed and initiates corrective actions; liaises with relevant parties; ensures follow-up actions.
• Directs and/or provides substantive support to consultative and other meetings, conferences, etc ., to include proposing and presenting agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents, etc.
• Initiates and coordinates outreach activities; conducts training workshops, seminars, etc.; makes presentations on assigned topics/activities.

3. Management and Administration

• Serves as Chief SSRSC and provides day-to-day management support, e.g., directs subordinates in 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 activities related to budget funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements, etc.) and prepares related documents/reports (pledging, work programme, budget, etc.)Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Ability to identify key strategic issues, opportunities and risks related to security sector reform and defense sector reform. 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 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 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.

MANAGING PERFORMANCE: Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision- making authority; makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills; monitors progress against milestones and deadlines; regularly
discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative; actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; appraises performance fairly.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in political science, management/business studies, security sector management, military studies, public administration, international relations or related fields. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in SSR or related area is required.
Experience in SSR at the sector-wide level is required.
Experience in advisory and coordination roles in the areas of national security and/or SSR is required.
Two years of experience in organizational/team management is required.
Experience working in or in support of a field operation of the United Nations Common System or a comparable international organization is desirable.
Experience facilitating a recognized SSR-related training course is desirable.Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the advertised post, fluency in English, both oral and written, is required; Working knowledge of French is desirable.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

• This position is temporarily available for a period of six (6) months. 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.

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.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

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.

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