Protection of Civilians Officernew

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is in the Protection Transition and Reintegration Section of the United Nations Mission South Sudan (UNMISS), Wau. Wau is classified in the "E" category and as a non-family duty station.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, under the overall leadership and direction of the Director of Civil Affairs, the Protection of Civilians Officer will report to the Head of Field Office and the Senior Protection of Civilians Advisor, and will be responsible in performing the following duties: Advisory Role - Advise Head of Field Office on ways in which the field office continues to protect civilians, assist and build local capacities for community protection, and support the implementation of measures put in place by Wau regional office to fulfil the mission’s mandate - Provide support to relevant mission components and sections to ensure that POC concerns are adequately reflected in the Wau regional office planning processes; the mission planning processes; and section and unit work plans and operations, with due consideration to the most vulnerable groups including women and children - Assist in the implementation of the mission's POC communications strategy - Ensure that POC efforts at the Regional Office level are in line with the vision and strategy of the mission and in line with DPKO-DFS policy on Protection of Civilians - Cooperate with the Field Integrated Operations Center (FIOC), UN military and UN Police, UNMISS and humanitarian civilian sections to strengthen early warning and response systems - Ensure the dissemination of lessons learned and good practices on POC at the field level, and lead or participate in POC after action reviews; ensure coherence in planning of common approaches at supporting durable solutions and promoting voluntary return of IDPs Coordination and communication - Support the development and implementation of the mission-wide POC strategy at the Regional Office level, the SRSG priorities and Impact Measurement Framework for Wau Regional Office - Support the operational level POC Task Force - Ensure close coordination with relevant POC partners in the development and implementation of the POC strategy, including with focal points for child protection, human rights, and sexual violence in conflict - Coordinate with relevant PoC partners in the implementation of the Mission-wide POC strategy and contribute to the mainstreaming of protection of civilians in all operational and tactical frameworks and local protection plans, including local contingency plans, early warning and PoC threat and risk assessments, with focal points for protection and sexual violence in conflict in the area of operation - Support the Head of Field Office and the Senior POC Adviser in strengthening cooperation with relevant protection actors at the Regional Office level, including state civil, military and police authorities, civil society, UN agencies, funds and programmes and NGOs with complementary mandates and other relevant partners, including the protection cluster. Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting - Work with mission components, humanitarian actors, and other counterparts to develop and regularly update a POC threat assessment for the area of responsibility; Coordinate the activities of local joint protection teams, and lead or join protection assessments with other actors - Ensure that adequate POC analysis is included in relevant reporting requirements, including the SG reports - Report on any resource and capability constraints which adversely affect the mission’s ability to implement its POC mandate and contribute to proactively respond to threats against civilians - Take responsibility for any monitoring and reporting activities vis-à-vis POC implanted at the Regional Office level Training - Assess the training needs on POC issues within the mission, and design and support the delivery of tailored POC modules with relevant mission components, in close consultation with the Head of Field Office, the Senior POC Advisor and IMTC - In cooperation with the Head of Field Office, the Senior POC Advisor, IMTC and other mission components, ensure adequate training on PoC for the Regional counterparts in line with the Mission mandate and the Human Rights Due Diligence Policy - Provide support as required and undertake other tasks as may be appropriate to the specific context and tasks vis-à-vis POC. Results Expected Provides authoritative analysis about the regional / local level and makes high-quality recommendations about the approaches or interventions needed in the area by the Mission as a whole. Where possible, creatively resolves problems at the regional or local level. Where necessary, mobilizes relevant actors to assist in addressing problems. Ensures Mission and other actors are well coordinated in the area. Delivers high-quality results in relevant specialized areas.

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. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. Planning & 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. 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. Creativity Actively seeks to improve programmes or services; Offers new and different options to solve problems or meet client needs; Promotes and persuades others to consider new ideas; Takes calculated risks on new and unusual ideas, thinks “outside the box”; Takes an interest in new ideas and new ways of doing things; Is not bound by current thinking or traditional approaches Judgment/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.

Education

Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in political science, international relations, humanitarian and human rights law, public administration or related fields. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Job - Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in political science, humanitarian affairs, human rights, international relations, public administration or related fields at the national and international level is required. Skills to integrate a protection of civilians-based approach to the mandate implementation is required. Ability to mobilize support from a wide range of partners and stakeholders is required Experience in post-conflict countries or in a peacekeeping operation is required. Previous experience working on protection of civilians’ issues is desirable.

Languages

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 until 28 February 2027, with possibility of extension subject to availability of funds. 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. Qualified women that meet the requirements of this job opening are particularly encouraged to apply and will be given full consideration in accordance with the United Nations efforts to increase women participation in its workforce. Please note that pursuant to the Staff selection system policy (ST/AI/2025/2): (1) Applicants for positions in the Field Service category cannot be of the nationality of the country where the position is located, and (2) Applicants for positions in the Professional and higher categories in a mission, field operation, or resident coordinator’s office cannot be of the nationality of the country where the position is located. For currently serving staff of a United Nations Common System organization, only the UN-recognized nationality will be considered for the purposes of these restrictions.

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. 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. All external candidates recruited in accordance with section ‎2.2 (a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2. (c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. 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.