Principal Coordination Officer, Political Affairs

About the role

The Principal Coordination Officer, Political Affairs is based in Kinshasa within the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) of MONUSCO and reports directly to the SRSG. Within delegated authority, the officer advises senior leadership on diplomatic, political and security matters and supports the implementation of the mission mandate.

Key responsibilities

• Advise the SRSG and Senior Leadership Team on diplomatic, political and security matters and develop policy and operational strategies.
• Support the SRSG in peace process support, ceasefire implementation, diplomatic initiatives and stakeholder dialogue.
• Coordinate plans and initiatives of the mission's pillars so that the mandate is delivered in a coordinated way.
• Strengthen oversight and accountability for resource management, including Enterprise Risk Management and Results-Based Management.
• Oversee mission-wide procedures and systems, evaluate the impact of organizational change and identify risks.
• Coordinate strategic reports, options papers, Secretary-General reports and analytical products, and liaise with UNHQ.
• Act as a link between senior leadership, mission components, the UN country team, government counterparts and the diplomatic community.
• Liaise with international, regional and national meetings and manage staff under supervision, including mentoring.

Required profile

• Minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible experience in diplomacy, international relations, political outreach, analysis, coordination, administration, budget, finance, human resources or reporting.
• Experience with inter-agency collaboration and partnerships.
• Experience in a large multi-functional team in a UN common system field operation or comparable international organization in a conflict or post-conflict setting.
• Extensive experience supporting senior officials in priority-setting, strategic analysis and organizational development in a UN peacekeeping or political mission.
• Advanced university degree (master's or higher) in political science, international relations, economic diplomacy, law, social sciences, management or a related field; a bachelor's degree plus two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu.