Political Affairs Officer, P3

This post is located in the Division for Palestinian Rights (DPR) of the Department of Political and Peace-building Affairs (DPPA). Under the general supervision of the DPR Director, the incumbent reports to the UNISPAL Team Leader. The Division is part of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs of the United Nations Secretariat. DPR, established by the General Assembly, serves as the Secretariat of the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (CEIRPP), supporting its meetings and activities, monitoring political developments, organizing international conferences and observances, managing publications and the UNISPAL information system, and implementing training and capacity-building programmes. Its mandate was renewed on 3 December 2024 by the General Assembly resolution A/RES/79/82. The Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) focuses primarily on five action areas in international peace and security, ensuring sound analysis and early warning, preventing conflict and engaging in peacemaking, managing political crises and violent conflicts, sustaining peace, and enhancing partnerships. The Department’s mandate is to prevent and resolve conflict through inclusive political solutions.

Within delegated authority, the Political Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties: • Gathers, selects and analyses information related to the Question of Palestine contained in communications and publications received from different sources, including the press. • Maintains up-to-date knowledge of events relating to political issues, in general, and in particular as they affect the Question of Palestine. • Keeps abreast of latest trends and developments in the Middle East and provides inputs on issues to senior officials and colleagues in the Secretariat. • Provides technical and substantive back up in the implementation of the mandate of the office. • Maintains contacts with other sectors of the UN, other international organizations and governments on coordination and policy matters. • Plans and implements information management initiatives that typically impact large or multiple user groups, including document, data, web content and records management services and tools, training programmes for information lifecycle management, business intelligence dashboards, cross-cutting monitoring tools, web portals, as well as other emerging technological information and data management solutions including AI solutions. • Co-manages, maintains and updates the online UN Information System on the Question of Palestine (UNISPAL) and the website. Participates in the maintenance and management of systems for classifying, storing, archiving, analysing and transferring information. • Collects and analyses information to determine its relevance and validity, identify and resolve gaps and/or inconsistencies, as well as assesses the reliability of sources and assess potential biases. • Drafts mandated publications issued under the CEIRPP guidance and other relevant documentation and materials. • Assists in preparation of standards, procedures, and best practices for information management; Produces and updates information products such as reports, charts and infographics. • Researches, analyses and evaluates the development of new information management services and new applications of information technology (including AI) to information management, data management, web publishing, and archives and records management and makes recommendations for their deployment. • Participates in provision of secretariat services to CEIRPP and its Bureau, including meetings at and away from Headquarters. • Contribute to the preparation of meetings of the CEIRPP Bureau with SG/DSG/USG and with officials from countries under the Organization's purview. • Performs other related duties as required.

PROFESSIONALISM: Ability to identify and analyze political, social and economic developments related to the Question of Palestine. 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. TECHNOLOGICAL AWARENESS: Keeps abreast of available technology; understands applicability and limitation of technology to the work of the office; actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks; shows willingness to learn new technology.

An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in political science, international relations, information systems, law, public administration or other related is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Not available.

A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in political science, international relations, law, disarmament, conflict resolution or related area is required. Experience working with databases, websites, website management, and digital content platforms is required. Experience working on the issues of the Queston of Palestine and the Middle East is desirable.

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

Appointment or assignment against this position is for an initial period of one year. Pursuant to section 7.11 of ST/AI/2012/2/Rev.1, candidates recruited through the young professionals programme who have not served for a minimum of two years in the position of their initial assignment are not eligible to apply to this position. 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. For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or under-represented in the UN Secretariat as of 31 August 2026, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, China (People's Republic of), Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Grenada, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Nauru, Nicaragua, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, San Marino, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu. At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities.

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. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile 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. All external candidates recruited in accordance with section ‎2.2 (a) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment without limitation and all external candidates recruited in accordance with section 2.2. (c) of ST/AI/2025/3 for a fixed term appointment limited to the entity are subject to an initial probationary period of one year under a fixed-term appointment. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.