Job Code Title:Best Practices Officer
Department/ Office:United Nations Support Office for AMISOM
Duty Station:Nairobi
Posting Period:29 July 2014-13 August 2014
Job Opening number:14-MPA-UNSOA-36241-F-NAIROBI (M) United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity
Special Notice
This ‘Recruit from Roster’ job opening is only open to roster applicants who are already placed on pre-approved rosters, following a review by a United Nations Central Review Body. Only roster applicants who were placed on rosters with similar functions at the same level are considered to be eligible candidates. Eligible applicants receive an email inviting them to apply. Rostered applicants are encouraged to apply only if they are interested and available to take up the position at the duty station/s specified in the Job Opening. Applying to this job opening carries an expectation to accept the offer, if selected.
Organizational Setting and Reporting
This position is located within the United Nations Support office for AMISOM. The Best Practices Officer reports to the Head of Mission or his/her designate.
Responsibilities
The Best Practices Officer will serve as the head of the unit under the direct supervision of the mission Chief of staff and will:
- Supervise the work and staff of the Best Practice Unit
- Serve as the mission’s point of contact for both the promotion of knowledge sharing activities; and, for the sharing of operational knowledge within the mission, as well as among other missions,
- and with DPKO-DFS through the Policy and Best Practices Service (PBPS).
- In consultation with the Head of Mission/Force Commander and the Senior Leadership Team, and assisted by PBPS Knowledge Management Guidance Team, develop a knowledge management action plan and that will address the mission’s operational learning needs and help the mission identify, capture and share lessons with other missions and DPKO-DFS Headquarters.
- Promote the active use throughout the mission of the DPKO-DFS knowledge sharing systems, tools and guiding principles.
- Promote the integration of lessons learned, best practices and other operational knowledge into work processes, guidance and planning scenarios.
- Produce, collect, store and disseminate best practice materials originating in the mission.
- Prepare and share with mission leadership syntheses of lessons learned and recommendations documented in the mission’s Best Practices Toolbox reports. Provide the synthesis to mission senior leadership.
- Develop, on behalf of the mission management, an appropriate mechanism for considering and, following up on local-level recommendations generated by knowledge sharing mechanisms.
- Take an active part in the network of Policy and Practices Officers and in developing and maintaining the network of mission focal points.
- In consultation with the Head of Mission/Force Commander and the Senior Leadership Team, and supported by the PBPS Knowledge Management and Guidance Team, assist the mission with designing and implementing a mission-specific guidance development process.
- Support the Head of Mission/Force Commander and others upon request, with the development, review, approval and dissemination of mission specific guidance.
- Support alignment of DPKO-DFS policy development priorities with mission guidance development priorities.
- In consultation with the Head of Mission/Force Commander and the Senior Leadership Team, and assisted by the PBPS Knowledge Management Guidance Team, support coordination of and/or implement policy reviews and studies.
- Organize follow-up action as required on studies undertaken, seminars or workshops on mission specific best practices and lessons learned activities.
- Liaise with UN agencies, national and international organizations and academic institutions on all issues related to knowledge management, and assist in the organization of inter-agency policy consultation within the mission.
- Provide other learning, research, policy and guidance services to the mission.
- Perform other duties as required
Competencies
Professionalism
- Demonstrated ability to complete in-depth studies and reach conclusions on possible causes and solutions to problems in specific areas;
- excellent research, drafting and analytical skills;
- commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of peace operations.
- Demonstrated understanding of field work in a conflict or post-conflict situation.
- Demonstrated ability to identify policy needs and awareness of methodologies for policy development or lesson learning
TeamworK
- 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 & 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.
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.
Education
- Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in International relations, peacekeeping, International Organizations, Business Administration and Management, public administration, human resources, social studies or humanities 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.
Work Experience
- At least 7 years of progressively responsible experience in international affairs, preferably in the area of knowledge management, organizational learning or policy development.
- Experience with successfully managing and completing responsibilities related to peace and security mandates in a conflict, or post-conflict environment is also required.
- Experience with leading and communicating change management initiatives to diverse audiences is desirable.
- Experience in programme management/evaluation is desirable.
Languages
- English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat.
- For the position(s) advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required.
- Knowledge of a second United Nations official language is an advantage.
Assessment Method
United Nations Considerations
The United Nations shall place 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. (Charter of the United Nations – Chapter 3, article 8). The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.
Candidates will be required to meet the requirements of Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter as well as the requirements of the position. The United Nations is committed to the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity for all its human resources, including but not limited to respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to whether they have committed, or are alleged to have committed criminal offences and/or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.
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