Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Military Planning Officer will be responsible for the following duties: • Develop and implement plans to generate military forces for United Nations peace and political operations. • Provide expert military advice on military matters, particularly as regards military equipment and structure of military units; coordinate, prepare and lead integrated initial pre-deployment and assessment missions; and coordinate the Reconnaissance Visits of the Troop Contributing Countries (TCCs) to the Field Missions. • Contribute to the development of support plans for missions; coordinate Mission-Specific TCC Guidelines and provide inputs to Force Requirements, Force Commander’s Directives, Status of Mission Agreements (SOMA) and Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA). • Provide leadership for the Force Generation Team, which comprises members of OMA, Department of Operational Support (DOS) and other specialists as required. • Coordinate the negotiation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the TCC and DOS, from its inception and until it is signed. Undertake updates of the MOU, when required. • Oversee the detailed organization and equipment for military units and headquarters required for missions; evaluate the capability of countries’ military units offered for missions and may be required to participate in Contribution Agreement Negotiations. • Participate in workshops, seminars and symposiums on peace and political operations, in order to further advance the understanding of the UN’s capabilities and limitations. • The incumbent is also responsible for the initial recruitment and further rotations of Staff Officers and UN Experts on Mission deploying to peace and political operations, in so doing dealing with the TCCs, DPO, and field mission civilian and military authorities as needed. • The incumbent is as well responsible for the recruitment of contracted military officers seconded by their governments to specific positions in peace and political operations. • Organize and coordinate the recruitment process of the contracted officers, including forming the interview panel, coordinating the interviews and staffing the final recommendations of the panel. • Contribute to the drafting/ clearing of code cables, reports of the Military Adviser to the UN peace and political missions in the Field as well as other Offices in the UN Secretariat, in military component mission wide or thematic reports. • Prepare talking points, speeches, and take notes while accompanying the Military Adviser and other Senior Officials attending high level meetings. • Undertake these or similar duties anywhere within UN Headquarters, as well as in field missions including deployment to the missions for up to 90 days.

Competencies

Professionalism: Demonstrated professional competence and knowledge of theories and concepts relevant to military planning at the strategic and operational level. Proven research, analytical and evaluative skills, and ability to conduct independent research and analysis, identify issues, formulate concepts and options and make conclusions and recommendations. Ability to produce work with limited supervision and in unfamiliar environments. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. Planning and 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. 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.

Education

Graduate of a National Command and Staff College is required. A first level university degree preferably in Political Science, History, International Relations or related field is required. Additional Master’s degree in Military Affairs, Political Science or related field is desirable.

Job – Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible military experience, including command experience in a military headquarters and of an international peacekeeping operation is required. Applicant must be a retired military officer at the rank of Colonel or other Service equivalent rank and experience in commanding at the battalion/regimental or equivalent level is required. Operational experience at a UN peacekeeping operation for this post is required Staff experience at the Ministry of Defence level and/or General Staff Officer in the Army/Navy/Air Force is desirable. Operational planning experience in the generation of forces in an international organization is required Do you have a Prince 2 certification and advanced use of BI tools for reporting purposes is required

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in English (both oral and written) are required. Knowledge of Spanish is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.\