Back ELECTORAL OFFICER

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO) in Ramallah. Ramallah is classified as a \"B\" hardship duty station and a non-family duty station. The incumbent reports to the Special Coordinator and the Chief Regional Affairs Unit.
The Special Coordinator represents the Secretary-General and leads the UN system in all political and diplomatic efforts related to the peace process, including in the Middle East Quartet. He serves as the Secretary-General’s Personal Representative to the PLO and the Palestinian Authority and as his Envoy to the Middle East Quartet. UNSCO, under the guidance of the Special Coordinator and Deputy Special Coordinator/Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator. UNSCO also coordinates the humanitarian and development work of UN agencies and programmes in the occupied Palestinian territory, in support of the Palestinian Authority and the Palestinian people. The first United Nations Special Coordinator was appointed and the office of UNSCO established in June 1994 following the signing of the Oslo Accord. UNSCO is a field office under the auspices of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and works in close consultation with its relevant counterparts. Learn more about the mission's mandate at http://www.unsco.org/about.asp Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Electoral Officer will be responsible for the following duties:
• Identify, analyse and monitor key political issues in Palestine;
• Assess implications and make recommendations on possible policies, strategies and other measures to address issues of concern and to advance mandated objectives.
• Prepare summary and analytical reports including, but not limited to, situation reports, briefing notes and notes to file.
• Prepare contextual information materials, such as background notes and political profiles.
• Contribute to daily and weekly reports, as well as monthly briefings to the Security Council.
• Implement, and often supervise the implementation of, electoral programs and processes in one or more of the following areas, as required: legal drafting and reform, complaints and dispute resolution, 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 support.
• Provide project and programme management and support, including budget management and monitoring, and reporting of results to national counterparts, donors and UN bodies;
• Coordinates donor liaison activities/processes related to elections;
• Provide support, technical assistance and advice in the above areas as required.
• Contribute, and often supervise the contribution to, capacity-building of national counterparts and strengthening of national institutions.
• 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.
• Supervise and manage the performance of national and international staff assigned to the area of responsibility.
• Establish and maintain professional and productive partnerships with national counterparts and other key stakeholders.
• Plan, integrate, coordinate and collaborate the work of all relevant partners to compile and provide regular briefings and reports in the assigned area of responsibility.
• Perform other related duties as required. Competencies

• Professionalism: 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. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work;

• 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.

• 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. Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in Political Science, International Relations, Law, Public Administration, or related field.
A first-level university degree with a combination of two years professional and academic qualifications may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in elections and related areas in more than one country is required.

At least three years of experience in supervising, implementing, supporting or advising on electoral processes is required.

Experience in developing countries and post-conflict situations is required.

Experience in managing projects is desirable.

Previous experience of managing teams of different backgrounds is desirable.

Experience in bilateral or multilateral negotiations is desirable.

Electoral experience in or in support of field operation of the United Nations Common System or a comparable international organization is desirable. Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in English is required; Knowledge of Arabic 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.

The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or underrepresented in the UN Secretariat as of 31 March 2022, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, China, Comoros, Cuba, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Norway, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu.

At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

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. 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.