Political Officer, Division of Member Parliaments and External Relations, Grade P2

Organizational Setting and Reporting Relationships: Working under the supervision of the Director for Member Parliaments and External Relations, the Political Officer supports the work of the IPU statutory bodies and provides political and legal advice for the smooth functioning of IPU Assemblies, the strict observance of the IPU Statutes and Rules, as well as good relations with IPU Member Parliaments and partner organizations. The incumbent shall also provide programmatic support to the Unit responsible for servicing the IPU Forum of Young Parliamentarians.

Accountabilities: Within delegated authority, the Political Officer will be responsible for the following: 

• Provide support on statutory matters relating to the smooth functioning of the IPU Assembly and other main bodies, including the IPU Geopolitical Groups;
• Support the preparation and work of the IPU Assembly, ensuring the timely drafting of agendas and relevant documentation, the smooth running of its sessions and follow-up, coordination of votes and other related tasks as appropriate;
• Monitor the strict observance of IPU Statutes and Rules;
• Provide programmatic support to the work of the newly established Forum of Young Parliamentarians and its related activities; assist in the organization of meetings of young parliamentarians, including drafting of documents, liaising with participants and logistical set-up;
• Prepare reports, position papers, information notes, budget estimates, etc. for presentation to the governing bodies and/or senior management;
• Organize meetings and develop initiatives aimed at enhancing dialogue and cooperation between the IPU and regional and other parliamentary organizations, with a view to achieving greater coherence in the parliamentary response to global issues;
•  Identify opportunities and implement initiatives for engagement and cooperation between the IPU and non-Member Parliaments, with a view to advancing towards universal membership;
• Carry out such other duties as may be assigned by the Director of the Division and the Secretary General and which are consistent with the overall responsibilities of the position.

Work implies frequent interaction with the following:

• Members of Parliament and parliamentary staff
• Officials from the United Nations and other partner organizations
• Senior managers and staff of the IPU Secretariat

Competencies: 

• Professionalism: knowledge of parliamentary systems; proven ability to produce high-quality reports and papers; ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
• Planning and organizing: proven ability to plan and organize meetings and work, ensuring that these are consistent with the overall Strategy of the IPU. 
• Communication: excellent drafting ability and communication skills, both oral and written; ability to prepare written reports that are clear, concise and meaningful.
• Technological awareness: advanced knowledge of word processing software, database applications and information management systems. Advanced use of the Internet, including the use of social media tools.
• Teamwork: good interpersonal skills; demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural, multi ethnic environment. Team spirit. Adaptability to varying working environments and conditions.
• Gender and human rights mainstreaming: ability to incorporate gender and human rights perspectives into substantive work.
• Judgment/Decision-making: good political judgment and initiative, imagination and resourcefulness, energy and tact.
• Building trust: reputation for dealing honestly and openly with issues and staff; recognized and highly respected by peers, clients and staff.
• Commitment to continuous learning: willingness to keep abreast of new developments in the relevant field and to develop own skills.

Requirements:

• Advanced university degree political science, law, international relations, or related fields. A combination of academic qualifications and extensive relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.
• Excellent knowledge of the functioning of national parliaments. Experience in a parliamentary setting is a distinct advantage.
• Comprehensive knowledge of IPU policies, procedures and operations.
• At least 3 years of progressively responsible experience in public administration, international organizations or related fields.
• Excellent organizational and analytical skills.
• Excellent oral and written command of English and French, including the ability to draft in at least one of these languages. Knowledge of a third official UN language is an advantage.

Duties applicable to all staff:

Actively work towards the achievement of the IPU’s strategic objectives. Perform any other work-related duties and responsibilities that may be assigned by the Secretary General.

Compensation:

The Inter-Parliamentary Union offers an attractive salary and benefits package comparable to that of other international organizations headquartered in Geneva, commensurate with education and experience.

Indicative Annual Salary at the P-2 level (at full time and net of tax)

USD 47’803 at single rate

USD 50’965 with primary dependents

Post Adjustment

Plus 85.4% (September 2016 rate) of the above figure(s). This percentage is to be considered as indicative since variations may occur each month either upwards or downwards due to currency exchange rate fluctuations or inflation.

For further information, please consult the International Civil Service Commission website: http://icsc.un.org/

Employment Policy:

This position will be filled through an international recruitment process that will be open to internal and external applicants. From among equally qualified candidates, preference will be given to the underrepresented sex and persons from countries not represented in the Secretariat.

This position will be based in Geneva and will require frequent travelling. It will be for an initial period of two years, renewable depending on satisfactory performance and availability of funding.