Senior Mission Planning Officer, P-5

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: 19 May 2012

DATE OF ISSUANCE: 19 Apr 2012

ORGANIZATIONAL UNIT: Field Missions Administered by DPKO

DUTY STATION: Kabul

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER: 12-POL-PMSS-425697-R-KABUL

Remuneration

Depending on professional background, experience and family situation, a competitive compensation and benefits package is offered.

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Responsibilities

The Senior Mission Planning Officer is located in the Office of the Special Representative for the Secretary-General and reports to the Mission Chief of Staff. She/he will: Provide authoritative advice and technical support enabling UN senior management to develop, implement, and monitor strategies that maximise the individual and collective impact of the UN’s response in the country of deployment, concentrating on mandated tasks and activities required to consolidate peace through a strategic partnership between the Mission and the UN Country Team. Acts as a senior advisor to the Mission leadership on strategic planning issues, including engaging with the host Government, UN partners and external actors in respect of multi-dimensional planning processes. Provides authoritative advice to senior management and programme managers on strategic and operational planning policy, procedures and best practices, particularly the Integrated Mission Planning Process (IMPP); provides recommendations on design of specific planning tools and mechanisms, in line with policy and best practice, to meet the needs of the Mission and partners. Ensures the establishment and operation of integrated field coordination structures, such as the Strategic Policy Group, the Integrated Strategy and Planning Team and the Integrated Mission Planning Team, providing policy guidance and technical assistance as required; coordinates Mission-level support to the Headquarters-based Integrated Mission Task Force or equivalent body. With all relevant stakeholders, facilitates the development and implementation of an UN Integrated Strategic Framework for peace consolidation in the country, including in-depth conflict analysis, identification of priorities, roles and responsibilities for the United Nations, and a system for monitoring and evaluation of progress. Leads the preparation of a Mission Concept, which, building on the vision of the SRSG, translates the mission mandated tasks into a form that fuses objectives, timelines and expected outcomes into a coherent whole, serving as an authoritative guide for the development and implementation of Mission component plans. With all relevant stakeholders, facilitates the development and implementation of an UN Integrated Strategic Framework for peace consolidation in the country, including in-depth analysis, identification or priorities, roles and responsibilities for the United Nations, and a system for monitoring and evaluation of progress. Reviews, comments on and, where applicable, approves inputs to the Mission Results-Based Budget framework and performance reports, and prepare inputs as required for audits, budget monitoring and performance reporting. Provides advice to Mission components in development of component-level plans, including ensuring coherence with the Mission’s overall strategic direction and planning tools. Through influence and consensus building, facilitates joint and integrated planning between Mission components, UNCT members and other relevant partners in accordance with the IMPP guidelines and senior management guidance. As directed by the Mission leadership, designs and facilitates development of other strategies and plans required for implementation of the Mission’s mandate. Leads and coordinates the work of the Mission planning team. Performs other duties as required.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM - Takes initiative and consistently drives for high quality performance for self and team. Strong inter-personal skills, including the ability to manage challenging multi-stakeholder processes. Values diversity and works effectively with colleagues and contacts in the immediate and wider teams in pursuit of objectives. Anticipates and manages risk. 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. LEADERSHIP - 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 improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. 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. 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 the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary. ACCOUNTABILITY: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable. PLANNING AND ORGANISING - Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities where necessary; 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.