Temporary Advisor Posts at the Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations, New York

Applications are invited for temporary, full-time Advisor positions at the Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations in New York, during the main session of the 73^rd UN General Assembly (UNGA).

The positions will commence in early September 2018 and will be for a three-month period[1].

The successful candidates will be tasked with supporting the Mission's increased workload in the run up to and during the 73^rd General Assembly. This will entail working closely with diplomatic staff on a specific portfolio, which could include the activities of one of the six committees of the UN General Assembly or the UN Security Council.

Each Temporary Advisor, with the guidance and oversight of a supervisor from among the full-time diplomatic staff, will be tasked with supporting, and sometimes leading, close engagement with Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Headquarters colleagues on issues of policy, and the promotion of policy priorities in intergovernmental fora, including negotiations of resolutions and substantive coordination sessions among EU Member States.

The team of Temporary Advisors will also be requested to follow the annual General Debate of the UN General Assembly, subsequently working as a team to efficiently and expeditiously develop a summary report, which will highlight areas of priority for Ireland.

Finally, successful candidates will be called upon to support other activities as they arise, including by assisting in the organisation of events hosted by Ireland and providing logistical support to visiting high-level delegations.

The closing date for applications is Friday 1^st June 2018

Key requirements:

1.       Candidates must be able to demonstrate

• A strong interest in, and knowledge of, international affairs;
• Excellent interpersonal and networking skills;
• Advanced communication skills, with the ability to quickly distil and synthesise complex information in writing;
• A good understanding of United Nations policy issues and the United Nations system;
• A good understanding of Ireland and the role of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade;
• An ability to self-start and work with clear focus, direction and a strong results orientation;
• Computer literacy and information management skills.
   

2.       Qualifications, Skills and Experience

• Candidates must have a degree, preferably in disciplines such as: international relations; political science; economics; development policy; or law.

• Additional post-graduate qualifications will be considered an advantage.
• Candidates must have at least 6 months relevant professional experience, including previous positions in the field or with international organisations/civil society in New York, Brussels or elsewhere.

Other attributes:

• A working level of French will be considered an advantage, as will proficiency in other UN languages.
• A proven ability to manage information effectively will also be considered an advantage.

Terms and conditions of employment:

• The successful candidates will be hired on a fixed-term contractual basis and will be based at Ireland's Permanent Mission to the UN in New York.
• The salary for the position is $932 per week, paid locally. 
• The Permanent Mission will contribute 80% of the cost of standard personal medical insurance for the duration of employment, with a maximum monthly contribution by the Mission of $400.
• The successful candidates must already have, or be in a position to obtain, the right to work in the United States. (Where necessary, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will issue a standard letter confirming an offer of employment.)
• The successful candidates will be responsible for making their own arrangements regarding tax compliance, local transport, health insurance and accommodation whilst employed by the Permanent Mission of Ireland.  
• On request, successful candidates must be in a position to provide evidence of their compliance with applicable tax and social insurance obligations.
• The successful candidates will be responsible for making any relocation arrangements and/or costs that might arise.
• Hours of attendance will be as fixed from time to time, but will amount to on average not less than 43 ¼ hours gross, or 37 hours net per week. Where extra attendance is necessary, time off in lieu will be allowed in accordance with the Civil Service overtime regulations. 
• The positions will have an annual leave allowance of 20 days per annum, exclusive of public holidays, adjusted pro rata.
• Subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Acts, 1997 and 2003, applications will be treated in strict confidence.
• It is important to note that canvassing will disqualify applicants automatically.

To apply:

• Please send a letter of application and résumé in Word or PDF format to PMUN[dot]Jobs[at]dfa[dot]ie before 18.00 (New York Time) on Friday 1st June 2018.  The total should not exceed 5 A4 pages.

Alternatively applications may be sent to:

Anne Kane
Permanent Mission of Ireland to the UN
1 Dag Hammarskjold Plaza
885 2nd Avenue, 19th Floor
New York
NY 10017

to arrive no later than 18.00 (New York Time) on Friday 1st June 2018.

By submitting information electronically, parties accept that data may not be fully secure. Any personal information submitted to the Mission will only be used for its intended purposes and will be destroyed when no longer needed. Any other processing or disclosure of personal data is not allowed other than in the exceptional circumstances provided for under the Data Protection Acts.

Selection Process:

• Depending on the number of applications received, a short-listing of candidates to be called for interview may be undertaken based on the Key Requirements above.
• It is planned that interviews will be held by video-conference in mid-June.
• Successful candidates will be placed on a panel, which will be used to fill vacancies occurring in the autumn.
• The panel may also be used to fill other temporary advisor vacancies that may arise at the Mission up to 31^st July 2019.
• The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is committed to a policy of equal opportunity.

[1] It is possible that one position may be offered for a six-month period.