Back CHIEF OF STAFF

Org. Setting and ReportingThis position is located in the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia (UNVMC). The Chief of Staff (CoS) will be based in Bogota, and within delegated authority, the incumbent will report to the Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG), the Head of UNVMC. ResponsibilitiesManagement: • Ensures the effective direction and integrated management of all the mission's activities in line with the strategic vision and guidance of the SRSG. • Oversees the internal management of the mission on behalf of the SRSG, including the development of advice on and promotion of policies on management issues, including risk management. • Facilitates the translation of policy intent and high-level direction of mission leadership into viable tasks and works with components to ensure their effective implementation. • Directs and oversees core integrated processes and mechanisms that enable the integrated delivery of the mission's mandate, including programme management, reform/change management, information management and crisis management. • Oversees the coordination of and support to Field Offices, ensuring the implementation of a well-articulated policy for the reporting and management of substantive staff within Field Offices, and regular meetings between heads of Field Offices and Mission Headquarters. • Oversees the activities of all entities located in the Office of the Chief of Staff or the Office of the SRSG, as appropriate. • Serves as the focal point in the Office of the SRSG for all sensitive personnel and management issues, as well as for contacts with the Office of Internal Oversight Services and the Resident Auditor. • Serves as interface between the Office of SRSG and the Division of Mission Support on all personnel matters and oversees the recruitment of senior mission management appointments. Planning and budgeting: • Oversees Mission-wide planning processes, ensuring coherence is maintained between mandated tasks, component plans/concepts of operations and, where appropriate, United Nations-system-wide integrated planning processes (such as Integrated Strategic Frameworks), as required by policies, guidelines and best practices on planning, in particular the Integrated Assessment and Planning (IAP) and risk management, and incorporates mandated cross-cutting issues, such as gender mainstreaming, including the implementation of the Mission´s Gender Parity Strategy; and, supervises and provides managerial guidance to mission planning personnel to this effect. • Ensures the proper conduct of processes critical to the delivery of mandate implementation, particularly strategic planning, policy coordination and senior level decision-making. The CoS also ensures a clear understanding between substantive priorities and support capacities; and liaises with all components to advise and ensure the use of best methods for achieving the objectives and priorities of the mission. Facilitates the translation of policy intent and high-level direction by leadership of the mission into viable work plans and works with components to ensure the implementation of those work plans. • In coordination with the Chief of Mission Support, ensures an integrated approach to the results based budget process, including alignment with strategic and operational plans and adequate provisions to meet resource requirements, and oversees the process as it relates to substantive mission components. • Periodically reviews, with the mission leadership team, the delivery of component work plans, identifying necessary adjustments to mission plans and/or revised assumptions, as appropriate. • Proactively seeks advice from Mission advisers in areas such as gender, military component of the mission, legal or conduct and discipline to adequately review or implement Mission´s policies and planning. • May introduce new approaches in operational planning to ensure the smooth delivery of mission mandate. Policy: • Provides guidance on United Nations policies and procedures. • Coordinates the development and implementation of cross-cutting and management policies among the various components of the Mission and liaises with the United Nations Country Team on the same, when required, and in coordination with the Deputy SRSG, as appropriate. • Ensures that advice and information on cross-cutting issues is coordinated with all relevant components of the Mission prior to submission to the SRSG. Reporting, communications and information management: • Ensures effective functioning of coherent communications structures and systems and serves as the focal point for communication with United Nations Headquarters in New York. • Oversees mission-wide, integrated procedures and systems for information analysis and management, including within mission information sharing, reporting requirements, security classification, records management and publication of Intranet content. • Oversees the proper functioning of Joint Operations Centre and the Field Coordination Office. • Oversees the implementation of knowledge management approaches throughout the mission, such as handover notes, after-action reviews and end-of-assignment reports. Protocol: • In close consultation with the SRSG and Chief of Mission Support, facilitates discussions between the mission and national government on issues related to mission's functions. • Advises the SRSG on protocol matters and supervises and provides guidance on the preparation and coordination of official visits. CompetenciesProfessionalism: Ability to identify problems and propose policy options. Drafting ability and negotiation skills. Ability to use diplomacy and judgment in dealing with others. 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. 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. 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. 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. EducationAdvanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in one of the following disciplines: international relations, political science, business administration, public administration, management, law, or military studies. A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Job - Specific QualificationNot available. Work ExperienceA minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible experience in such areas as: political, social, civil, military or legal affairs; public or business administration; or management is required. A proven track record of leadership and management in multicultural settings, including coordination of interdisciplinary teams is required. Experience serving in a senior advisory or managerial capacity at United Nations Headquarters or in a United Nations field operation is required. Experience in both inter-agency and operational planning and analysis is desirable. Experience working in Latin America region is desirable. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in English and Spanish, (both oral and written) is required. AssessmentEvaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by an informal interview. Special Notice• This position is temporarily available until 31 December 2025. 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. • The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff, as per the Secretary General´s Gender Parity Strategy. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. • 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. • For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or under-represented in the UN Secretariat as of 28 February 2025, are strongly encouraged to apply: Un-represented: Brunei Darussalam, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Grenada, Kiribati, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Liechtenstein, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Sao Tome and Principe, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu. Under-represented: Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, China, Cuba, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, Libya, Malta, Monaco, Oman, Panama, Paraguay, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Turkmenistan, United States of America • Candidates interested to work for the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia may wish to check out our Realistic Job Preview videos to get an idea of the living and working conditions in different duty stations in Colombia: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-8SCkVjg-e3073SwTDG1VQf1oLTWfUQ4 United Nations ConsiderationsAccording 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. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile 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 FeeTHE 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.