View Vacancy - Senior Policy Adviser
Background
An exciting opportunity has arisen to work in the UN Management Reform & Finance (MRF) team in the UK Mission to the UN. The successful candidate will represent and negotiate for the UK at the UN in the General Assembly’s Fifth (Administrative and Budget) Committee. Fifth Committee negotiations lead to General Assembly Resolutions that set UN budget levels and reform the UN’s operations, to which the UK is currently the fifth largest contributor at around $140m a year for the regular budget and $480m a year for the peacekeeping budget. The seven-person MRF team lead in the UK Mission on the UN regular and peacekeeping budgets, governance and oversight, elections, and senior appointments.
Duties and Responsibilities
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, those outlined below:
- Leading on the MRF team’s analysis of UN budget trends, using numerical and political analysis to develop the UK position ahead of and during budget and UN reform negotiations.
- Representing the UK in Fifth Committee negotiations on a range of issues including the financing of peacekeeping missions, additions to the UN regular budget and other issues as required.
- Delivering the UK Government’s UN Reform Strategy, working with colleagues in the UK Mission, across Whitehall and the UK network of overseas posts. Providing policy advice and written/oral updates on topics in their portfolio as required.
- Briefing UK Permanent Representative and/or Deputy Permanent Representative for high-level meetings.
- Working flexibly across the team to provide wider cover for other colleagues where necessary.
This is a challenging role with the opportunity to lead on elements of UN reform, an issue that is one of the Secretary Genera’s top priorities. The portfolio will grow as the job holder gains experience in the role. You will work in a fast-paced and changing environment and must be willing to support other team members and priorities as needed.
Key Requirements
The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate their abilities in working with others, customer focus, delivering results, communicating and influencing, strategic awareness and problem solving and judgement. Specifically:
Essential characteristics are:
- An undergraduate or postgraduate degree in a relevant field - ideally one with a substantial numerical component i.e. economics, statistics, finance or management sciences;
- At least four years of relevant work experience;
- Experience preparing datasets and carrying out analysis of trends and incorporating findings into decision-making process.
- Ability to communicate findings of analysis clearly for a non-technical audience
- Strong organizational, project and time management skills, with very good attention to detail.
- Excellent networking skills with the ability to develop and maintain long-lasting relationships with UN and other Member State officials at all levels;
- Flexible, resilient under pressure, and decisive, with a proven track record of delivering results to a high standard within tight deadlines;
- Strong excel skills - comfortable building spreadsheet based models
- Fluent in spoken and written English. Knowledge of French would also be useful;
- Willingness to work additional hours as necessary, especially during Fifth Committee peak periods in March, May and December.
Under US State Department requirements, the Mission may only employ, as non-diplomatic staff, persons who are US citizens, US Green Card holders or G visa holders*. If you hold a visa other than a G visa you are not currently eligible to work at the Mission. Please refer to our website for information on exceptions to this policy atwww.ukinusa.fco.gov.uk.
*A visas are acceptable at the Embassy and Consulates. The UK Mission to the UN (UKMIS) accepts G visas, and British Defence Staff (BDS) outposts accept A or NATO visas.
- Experience of work in public service;
- Knowledge of the work of the UN
- Delivering change programmes, for example on resource, personnel or management issues.
- Familiarity with the UK Government.
The job offers a strong benefits package. This package includes medical, dental, vision, life, long term and short term disability insurance, a 401(k) retirement savings plan, generous vacation and leave time, and an enriching training package.
Learning and development opportunities: The Mission supports the professional learning and development of all colleagues. While the UN schedule can be demanding and occasionally inflexible, the Mission’s leadership is committed to doing all it can to improve the work/life balance of its staff, and encourages flexible working when possible.
Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy are subject to terms and conditions of service according to local American employment law.
We welcome candidates of any race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity, disability, age, or any other category. The Mission is committed to building a diverse environment. UKMIS New York prides itself on upholding the principles of diversity and inclusion and providing equal opportunities for all.
We strive to nurture a diverse workforce by promoting policies that emphasize airness, transparency, creativity and a comfortable and safe working environment in which individual differences are respected and the contributions of all staff are recognized and valued. The Mission values honesty, integrity, professionalism, and teamwork. Treating all colleagues with respect is fundamental. We have a zero tolerance policy towards bullying, harassment and discrimination.
We want staff to express themselves freely, to think creatively and to feel free to challenge policy perspectives constructively. The Mission supports the professional learning and development of all colleagues. While the UN schedule can be demanding and occasionally inflexible, the Mission’s leadership is committed to doing all it can to improve the work/life balance of its staff, and encourages flexible working when possible.
This opportunity is closed to applications.
