ABOUT THE ROSTER

The United Nations Secretariat maintains rosters of qualified and available candidates to fill anticipated job openings in peacekeeping operations, special political missions, and other field operations. The purpose of this job opening is to generate a list of qualified candidates for inclusion in the PRINCIPAL ELECTORAL AFFAIRS OFFICER, D1 roster.

The entire assessment process takes an average of four months; all applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of their application (whether successful or unsuccessful) within 14 days of the conclusion of the process. Successful candidates will be placed on the roster and subsequently will be invited to apply for field mission vacancies open only to roster members. Roster membership does not guarantee selection.

These positions are located in the United Nations Secretariat including, Peacekeeping Operations, Special Political Missions, or electoral projects of the United Nations Agencies, Funds, and Programs (AFP). The Principal Electoral Affairs Officer reports to the Head of Entity or the deputy. In certain circumstances, the Principal Electoral Affairs Officer role is closely integrated to the work and team of the Resident Coordinator, UNDP Resident Representative/Country Director or UNOPS Country Director. The Principal Electoral Affairs Officer provides authoritative advice and counsel to senior UN officials, national and international officials; develops strategies in the electoral field to ensure that electoral operations are conducted with the technical assistance extended by the UN System.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Within delegated authority, the Principal Electoral Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

1. Designs, leads, supervises and coordinates the implementation of electoral programs and processes in the following areas, as required: legal drafting and reform, complaints and dispute resolution, overall process management, planning and budgeting, electoral infrastructure development, electoral 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 and programme management and support.

2. Leads, coordinates and supervises the provision of support, technical assistance and advice to national counterparts and their institutions in the above areas and provides high-level assistance and advice as required. Analyzes problems identifying the course of action taking into consideration different conflicting elements that might affect the functional areas in the mission.

3. Leads the project and programme management and support, including budget management and monitoring, and reporting of results to national counterparts, donors and UN bodies.

4. Monitors the impact of domestic and international obligations and processes on female participation and provides advice to the Electoral Management Bodies on appropriate corrective measures.

5. Provides overall donor liaison and management.

6. Provides expert electoral/political advice to Head of the UN presence on the ground, and also to the international community and UNHQ as required/appropriate.

7. Designs, leads, coordinates and supervises the implementation of strategies and programmes to build the capacity of national counterparts and strengthen national institutions.

8. Supervises and manages the performance of national and international staff including identification and resolution of multi-aspect problems which affect all major areas of electoral work.

9. Establishes and maintains professional and productive partnerships with national counterpart institutions and other key stakeholders in the electoral process.

10. Establishes effective communication mechanisms, regularly briefs senior UN officials, partners, donors, counterparts as well as other key stakeholders on the electoral process and provides regular reports, including to the head of the UN/mission as well as senior officials in UN headquarters.

11. Leads team members’ efforts to collect and analyze data and provides insight to identify trends or patterns for data-driven planning, decision-making, presentation, and reporting. Ensures that everyone can discover, access, integrate and share the data they need.

12. Performs other related duties as required.