These positions are located within United Nations Field Peacekeeping Operations, Special Political Missions, and Offices. The Protection of Civilians Officer reports to a Senior Protection of Civilians Officer, depending on the specific mission or office structure.

The Protection of Civilians Officer will support the implementation of the Mission's mandate for the protection of civilians. The POC Officer will perform a coordination, analytical, monitoring and reporting role. Specifically, s/he will be responsible for working with mission components and the Heads of Office on POC issues; contribute to the development of the mission-wide POC strategy and local protection plans; assist in establishment and provide secretariat services to POC coordination structures at the field and national levels and ensure their functioning; strengthen data-driven and gender-responsive approaches to PoC. The POC Officer will also support efforts to ensure that protection of civilians concerns are appropriately mainstreamed within mission components at the field level.

Within delegated authority, the Protection of Civilians Officer P3 will be responsible for the following roles and duties:

• Support the development and implementation of the mission-wide PoC strategy and local protection plans in the area of responsibility; including local contingency plans, early warning and POC priority matrices;
• Assist in establishment and participate in-Mission PoC coordination mechanisms and provide secretariat support to the operational level PoC Working Group and the Senior Management Group on Protection (SMG-P);
• Coordinate with relevant PoC partners in the development and implementation of the strategy and local protection plans, including with focal points for child protection and sexual violence in conflict;
• Strengthen cooperation with relevant protection actors, including national authorities, civil society, UN agencies and funds and programs with complementary mandates and other relevant partners, including with international security forces and the protection cluster;
• Work closely with Force and UNPOL in HQ and at field level to provide early warning of POC threats to Heads of Office and Mission Leadership and support JOC and JMAC? in information triangulation, monitoring, analysis and reporting;
• Work with Field Offices and Sections to ensure that reports of Joint Protection Teams, or similar integrated mechanisms, are circulated with protection actors and that recommendations are followed up at the appropriate level including at HQ and through the SMG-P;
• Contribute to the mainstreaming of PoC in all operational and tactical frameworks and documents of the Mission;
•Contribute to the inclusion of adequate PoC analysis in relevant reporting requirements, including SG reports;
•Report on any resource and capability constraints which adversely affect the mission's ability to implement its protection of civilians mandate;
•Take responsibility for any POC monitoring and reporting activities in the area of responsibility;
•Strengthen data-driven approaches to POC, including the utilization of data for purposes of early warning analysis and response;
•Ensure gender-responsive approaches in all PoC related frameworks and activities;
•Support POC Unit in assessing the training needs on protection of civilians issues within the mission, and design and support the delivery of tailored POC modules with relevant mission components, in close consultation with the IMTC;
•In cooperation with mission components, contribute to training on PoC for Governmental institutions;
•Perform other related duties as required.

Professionalism: Thorough knowledge of and significant practical experience with issues related to protection and rights of women and children affected by armed conflict. Understanding of International Humanitarian and Human Rights Law. Strong analytical skills and excellent skills in drafting a broad range of documents including speeches and reports. Ability to influence others to reach agreement; ability to review and edit the work of 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. 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.

Teamwork: 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.

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

A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in political science, humanitarian affairs, human rights, international relations, conflict resolution, law, public administration or related fields is required.

Experience working in conflict or post-conflict countries is required.

Experience working on protection issues is required.

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required; and Knowledge of French is desirable.

Evaluation of qualified candidates shall include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

• 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.

The purpose of this job opening is to generate a list of qualified candidates for inclusion in the Protection of Civilians, P-3 roster. The entire assessment process takes an average of six 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.

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.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side 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.

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.