CHIEF OF STAFF

Org. Setting and ReportingThis position of Chief of Staff (CoS) is located in the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), Baghdad. The incumbent reports directly to the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG). ResponsibilitiesWithin delegated authority, the Chief of Staff will be responsible for the following duties: Management • Ensures the effective direction and integrated management of all the mission's activities in line with the guidance of the SRSG. • Oversees the internal management of the mission, including through the promotion of policies and best practices. • Facilitates the translation of policy and direction by United Nations Headquarters and the mission leadership into viable tasks, and works with components to ensure their effective implementation. • Directs and oversees processes and mechanisms to enable the integrated delivery of the mission's mandate, including programme management, coordination with the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) and crisis management. • Oversees the coordination of and support to Field Offices, ensuring that their operational requirements are met. • Manages own Office comprising the Planning Unit; the Legal/BOI Unit; the Liaison and Protocol Unit; and the Translation and Interpretation Unit [to be discussed]. • Manages sensitive operational issues, including personnel issues and relations with the international and national staff union. • Serves as focal point for contacts with the Office of Internal Oversight Services and the Resident Auditor, and initiates Boards of Inquiry • Provides the SRSG with advice and support on conduct and discipline-related matters. • Works closely with the Chief of Mission Support on all personnel matters, and oversees the recruitment of senior mission management appointments. • Oversees processes for Mission transition in accordance with policies and best practices. • Deputizes for the SRSG in the absence of the two DSRSGs. Planning and budgeting • Oversees Mission-wide planning processes, ensuring coherence between mandated tasks, component plans and United Nations-system-wide integrated planning processes (such as the Integrated Strategic Framework, as required by policies, guidelines and best practices, in particular the Integrated Mission Planning Process (IMPP) and risk management. • Incorporates mandated cross-cutting issues, such as gender mainstreaming, disability and anti-racism strategies. • Ensures the proper conduct of processes critical to mandate implementation, particularly strategic planning, policy coordination and senior level decision-making. • Ensures alignment between substantive priorities and support capacities, liaising with all components to advise and ensure the achievement of the Mission’s objectives and priorities. • In coordination with the Chief Mission Support, ensures an integrated approach to the results-based budget process, including alignment by all sections with strategic and operational plans and adequate provisions of resources. • Periodically reviews, with the mission leadership, the delivery of component work plans, identifying adjustments, as appropriate. 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 UNCT on the same, in coordination with the Deputy SRSG/HC/RC. Reporting, communications and information management • Ensures coherent communications systems and serves as the focal point for communication with United Nations Headquarters. • Oversees mission-wide, integrated systems for information analysis and management, including Intra-mission information sharing, reporting requirements, security classification, records management and publication of Intranet content. • 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, DSRSG-P and Chief Mission Support, liaises between the mission and national government on issues related to the mission's operational requirements. • Advises the SRSG on protocol matters and supervises the preparation and coordination of official visits. CompetenciesProfessionalism: Demonstrated ability to provide advice in a broad range of strategic, policy, management and administrative issues to senior leadership and management; lead integrated processes; and, ensure the timely delivery of a programme of work. Track record of team building, problem solving and continuous organizational improvement for effective programme delivery; 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; takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. 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. Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honors commitments; Delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards, operates in compliance with organizational rules and regulations, supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of work unit, where applicable. Managerial Competencies 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 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. 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. 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 additional years 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 in the coordination of the activities and the provision of strategic policy advice to senior-level officials on a range of managerial and political questions is required. Experience in both inter-agency and operational planning and analysis is desirable. Experience serving in a senior advisory or managerial capacity in support of or in a field operation of the UN Common System or a comparable international organization is desirable. Experience in managing Mission transition processes is desirable. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. Fluency in English (both oral and written) is required; Knowledge of Arabic is desirable. AssessmentEvaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview. Special Notice• This position is temporarily available until 31 December 2024. 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 and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. 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.