Background

Please do not apply on this site instead click on the link below:

Guidelines on how to apply:

The UN single electoral roster has now re-opened and the generic vacancy announcements have been posted in Galaxy (links attached below).  You need to apply directly in Galaxy.  Do NOT apply in the UNDP website. All inquiries should be addressed to electoralroster@un.org. 

When applying in Galaxy, please take the following into consideration:

• a.   Use Explorer 5.5 or higher, and not Chrome nor Mozilla Firefox, which can conflict with Galaxy;
• b.   Check SPAM periodically for notifications;
• c.   Avoid using Apple Macintosh computers;     
• d.   The positions will be open for 30 days, but it’s best to apply as early as possible;
• e.   Ensure that the email address entered in the PHP is spelled correctly and that you will keep that email address for the upcoming months;
• f.    For those roster members or applicants having existing UN staff index numbers, but who experience difficulties in entering or changing the index number, register as ‘non-UN’ and then send us the index number separately;
• g.   When entering a field assignment, if a specific DPKO or DPA field mission that you have worked in is not among the options, choose ‘Secretariat/DPA,’ but mention the mission under Address and/or Duties;
• h.   Include your supervisor’s email address for each assignment you enter on your PHP;
• i.    Send an email to electoralroster@un.org upon completing your application so we can track it.

These positions are located in the field in peace operations, special political missions, UNDP and UNOPS electoral projects or with other UN entities providing electoral assistance. The Senior Electoral Officer may head a unit, section, field office or project and may be the senior-most electoral officer of the mission of project, for example in the role of Chief Technical Advisor, but may also serve as a member of an electoral assistance team, usually in an advisory role to a national counterpart in her/his area of expertise. The Senior Electoral Officer reports to either a Principal Electoral Officer, the Head of Mission, Special Representative of the Secretary-General or the designee, or to the Chief Technical Adviser of the UNDP or UNOPS project or UNDP Resident Representative or the UNDP or UNOPS Country Director or Deputy Country Director or Programme or Project Manager.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Legal drafting and reform, complaints and dispute resolution, overall process management, 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, and institutional reform and development;
• Lead, coordinate and supervise the provision of support, technical assistance and advice to national counterparts and their institutions in the above areas and provide high-level assistance and advice as required;
• Provide project and programme management and support, including budget management and monitoring, and reporting of results to national counterparts, donors and UN bodies;
• Overall donor liaison and management;
• Design, lead, coordinate, supervise and contribute to the implementation of strategies and programmes to build the capacity of national counterparts and strengthen 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;
• If required, offer electoral advice to UN senior management on the ground. Supervise and manage the performance of UN national and international staff under the project;
• Establish and maintain professional and productive partnerships with national counterpart institutions and other key stakeholders in the electoral process;
• Establish effective communication mechanisms, regularly brief senior UN officials, partners, donors, counterparts as well as other key stakeholders on the electoral process and provide regular reports, including to the head of the UN/mission as well as senior officials in UN headquarters. Perform other related duties as required.

• Senior UN officials including Special Envoys of the Secretary-General, Resident Coordinators, Resident Representatives, their deputies and Country Directors,managers and staff of the mission and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, Department of Political Affairs and/or Department of Field Support, UNDP and/or UNOPS, managers and senior staff of the mission or country office, senior staff of specialized agencies, senior representatives of international and regional organizations and governments, heads and senior staff of electoral management bodies and other national institutions involved in the electoral process, heads and senior staff of political parties, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, institutes and foundations as well as media representatives, if authorized by the supervisor or if the function is media relations officer.

Competencies

• Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter, notably in-depth understanding of and ability to evaluate electoral processes, knowledge of all aspects of electoral processes and their technical and political implications;
• 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;
• Shows pride in work and in achievements;
• 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.

• 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.

Planning and 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.

• 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.

• 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.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in political science international economics, international relations, law, public administration, or a related field;
• A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Experience:

• A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in elections and related areas in at least 3 countries;
• At least five years of experience in supervising, implementing, supporting or advising on electoral processes is required. United Nations electoral experience in a peacekeeping operation, political mission and/or a UN agency or other relevant international electoral experience is required;
• Experience in in developing countries is required, and experience in post-conflict situations is desirable;
• Previous experience of managing a team of different backgrounds at the senior level and the ability to manage and coordinate complex projects are desirable;
• Experience in bilateral or multilateral negotiations is desirable.

Languages:

• Fluency in spoken and written English or French;
  
• Knowledge of a second UN language is an advantage and sometimes a requirement.