Assistant to the Secretary-General

International IDEA - The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance

Stockholm, Sweden

The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance — International IDEA is an intergovernmental organization that supports sustainable democracy worldwide. Its objective is to strengthen democratic institutions and processes. International IDEA acts as a catalyst for democracy building by providing knowledge resources, policy proposals and supporting democratic reforms in response to specific national requests. It works together with policy makers, governments, UN organizations and agencies and regional organizations engaged in the field of democracy building. 

International IDEA’s notable areas of expertise are: electoral processes, political parties, constitution-building processes, democracy and gender and democracy assessments. International IDEA works worldwide. It is based in Stockholm, Sweden, and has offices in Brussels, New York, Latin America, Africa and Asia.

Purpose of the Post

To support the Secretary-General´s planning and activities.

Context

The position sits in the Secretary General´s outer office, in close collaboration with all internal and external stakeholders of the Institute with whom the Secretary-General has contacts.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provides on-going support to the Secretary-General in all activities, in coordination with other members of the Secretary-General´s Office;
• Provides short policy briefs on debates of relevance to International IDEA’s work, in coordination and consultation with International IDEA’s regional offices and thematic and programmatic activities;
• Contributes to the follow up on contacts initiated by the Secretary-General, as well as communication received by the Secretary-General´s Office;
• Writes occasional speaking notes for the Secretary-General before public appearances;
• Performs such other tasks that might be assigned by the Secretary-General.

General Profile

• Has developed knowledge and skills through formal training or work experience;
• Adds value to team-based activities in his/her unit; collaborates with other entities of the Institute as required;
• Follows internal procedures to ensure high standards of performance and compliance with Institutional guidelines;
• Integrates a gender and diversity perspective in all activities.

Reporting Line

• Secretary-General.

Functional Knowledge

• Has established skills to perform a range of day-to-day activities.

Operational Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Integrates a results-based management approach into his/her activities;
• Understands how the assigned duties relate to others in the team and how the team integrates with others throughout the project;
• Illustrates integrity, a collaborative spirit, a sense of achievement, and an understanding of risk management.

Leadership

• Provides solutions to problems in situations that are atypical or infrequently occurring based on practice and existing precedents or procedures.

Problem Solving

• Recognizes and solves typical problems that can occur in own work area; evaluates and selects solutions from established options.

Impact

• Has an impact on the programme development and delivery through the quality of the services or information provided.

Communication and Interpersonal Skills

• Liaises regularly with all internal and external stakeholders involved in his/her projects;
• Acts in all assignments with personal energy and engagement.

Education and Experience

• University degree in political science, law, economics, development, journalism or a related subject;
• Approximately 2 years professional experience; Extra-curricular activities and/or internships related to International IDEA’s fields of expertise are expected; Strong interest in world affairs and a good grasp of the issues of democracy promotion is essential;
• Fluency in English and Dutch is a requirement as is good written and oral French; Any other widely spoken language in an International IDEA priority region would also be an asset;
• Experience of working in an international context, e.g. in an intergovernmental organization, considered an advantage.

Terms of Contract

• Local Post. Short-term appointment - eight (8) months. Appointment ends 30 June 2016;
• Please note as this is a local post, International IDEA will bear no costs relating to relocation of the selected candidate to the duty station. This position is only open to those legally authorized to live and work in Stockholm, Sweden.

Applying for this position

• Applications should be submitted no later than 18 September 2015. Please note that all applications must be made in English;
• You may apply directly by pressing the Send Application button.

International IDEA is an equal opportunity employer which seeks to further diversify its staff in terms of gender, culture and nationality.