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Post title and Level:
Programme Assistant (Political/Legislative outreach), GS5
Post Number:
FPL/5016-1127-2657-13XX
Duty Station:
Washington, DC
Deadline for applications:
25 July 2008
Issued:
01 July 2008
Duration:
6 months initial contract
Organizational Unit:
Regional Office for North America (RONA)
Division of Regional Cooperation (DRC)
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
The primary role of the Regional Offices is to
act for UNEP in the regions. They work through a common
set of core functions with a view to enhance policies and
debate on major policy issues. In particular, RONA's functions
are: Strengthen and maintain support for UNEP within the
governments of North America; Develop and enhance
partnerships to carry out UNEP's mandate; Increase financial
support of UNEP in the region; and raise awareness of UNEP and
the substantive issues on which it works.
Duties and Responsibilities
Under the supervision of the Director, the incumbent will be
responsible for the following duties.
1) Support's
RONA's outreach to the U.S. and Canadian executive branch.
a) Maintains good working relationships with key staff
in U.S. and Canadian executive agencies that work with UNEP;
b) Arranges meetings for RONA Director and other senior
UNEP officials, as appropriate.
2) Supports
RONA's outreach to the U.S. Congress in order to maintain or
increase U.S. financial and legislative support for UNEP:
a) Monitors developments in
Congress of interest to UNEP including appropriations and
authorizing legislation, committee hearings, and markups;
b) Identifies key Congressional
members, committees and staff, and develops and maintains
working relationships with Congressional staff;
c) Prepares briefing materials
and drafts letters;
d) Provides and assists Regional
Director in giving presentations to Congressional staff;
e) Arranges meetings for
Regional Director and other senior UNEP officials;
f) Ensures timely follow up and
delivery of materials and information;
g) Provides weekly updates to
Regional Director, and to other UNEP offices as appropriate,
regarding Congressional developments;
h) Maintains database for all
Congressional outreach efforts;
i) Assists the Regional
Director in other related tasks.
3) Assists the Regional Director with RONA's work in support
of U.S. ratification of UNEP instruments:
a) Researches history of U.S.
positions regarding UNEP instruments;
b) Assists Regional Director in
developing ratification strategy;
c) Supports RONA's outreach
efforts to governmental and civil society stakeholders;
d) Assists Regional Director in
Congressional outreach.
4) Supports other political outreach by RONA:
a) Assists Regional Director in
identifying additional opportunities for political outreach in
the U.S. and Canada, including with the Canadian Parliament;
b) Supports RONA efforts to conduct
outreach with such entities;
c) Performs other duties as
assigned.
Results Expected: Maintains and strengthens UNEP's
relationships with Congress and other governmental and
non-governmental entities, improves RONA's monitoring of major
Congressional developments, identifies new opportunities for
political outreach in the U.S. and Canada, creates and
maintains RONA database for tracking outreach efforts.
Competencies:
· Professionalism:
Ability to research, interpret and analyse a wide variety of
data. Demonstrates use of initiative and ability to make
appropriate linkages in work requirements. 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; shows persistence when faced with difficult
problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations.
· Communication:
Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others,
correctly interprets messages from others and responds
appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits
interest in having two-way communication; tailors language,
tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates
openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
· 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.
· Accountability:
Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours
commitments; delivers outputs for which has responsibility
within prescribed time; operates in compliance with
organizational regulations and rules; provides oversight
and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes
personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those
of the work unit, where applicable.
· 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.
· Client
Orientation: Considers all those to whom services are provided
to be "clients" and seeks to see things from
clients' point of view; establishes and maintains productive
partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect;
identifies clients' needs and matches them to appropriate
solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside
the clients' environment to keep informed and anticipate
problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in
projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services
to client.
· Commitment to
Continuous Learning: Keeps abreast of new developments in own
occupation/profession; actively seeks to develop oneself
professionally and personally; contributes to the learning of
colleagues and subordinates; shows willingness to learn from
others; seeks feedback to learn and improve.
· 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.
Skills/knowledge required:
University degree in political science, international
relations, environmental science or policy, or a related
field. Experience in working with the US Congress, and
knowledge of its structures and processes. Mature with
ability to build and maintain relationships with diverse
Congressional staff and others. Familiarity with UNEP
and international environmental issues and agreements.
Excellent writing, communication, and organizational skills.
Remuneration:
Depending on professional background and experience, a
competitive compensation (starting range: gross $48,427 -
$59,224) and attractive benefits package is offered.
Applicants are requested to send a cover letter, a detailed
curriculum vitae, including date of birth, nationality,
educational qualifications, a summary of skills and/or
expertise, a summary of relevant work experience, one
substantive writing sample and contact details of at least
three references or a United Nations Personal History form
(P.11), available at UN Offices to jpo@rona.unep.org with
reference: Programme Assistant (Political/Legislative
outreach) 2008 indicated on the cover page of the message.
Hard copy can be mailed to the address mentioned below:
UNEP/RONA
Re: Programme Assistant (Political/Legislative outreach) 2008
900 17th Street,, NW, Suite 506
Washington, DC 20006
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