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 70^th UN General Assembly (UNGA).

The positions will commence in late August/early September 2015 and will be for a period of 12-15 weeks.

The successful candidates’ primary roles will be to support the work of the diplomatic team at the Permanent Mission of Ireland at the United Nations and to carry out other duties as directed. 

Successful candidates will work under the guidance of experienced officers and will be expected to contribute to the regular diplomatic reporting undertaken by the Mission.

They will primarily assist with policy work on the main UNGA Committees. They will represent Ireland at these fora and other meetings, including EU coordination, and assist with negotiations of texts and UNGA resolutions. They will also assist with events hosted by Ireland.

The closing date for applications is Thursday 4 June 2015

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 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,
  • 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

• The successful candidates will be hired on a fixed-term contractual basis and will be based at Ireland’s Permanent Mission to the UN.
• 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.
• These positions are considered to be internships and are covered by the department’s Intern Policy.  This includes the following provision: 

To enable the maximum number of suitably-qualified candidates to benefit [from an internship], no person who has had an internship of six months or more [in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade], or who has already enjoyed a second internship, will be eligible for further internships.

• Likewise, time served by the successful candidates will be counted in assessing any future applications they may make for internship opportunities in the Department.
• The successful candidates must already have, or be in a position to obtain, the right to work in the United States. (Where necessary, PMUN will issue a standard letter confirming the job offer.)
• 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. 
• 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 resumé, including salary history, in Word or PDF format to anne.kane[at]dfa.ie before 18.00 (New York Time) on Thursday 4 June 2015.  The total should not exceed 5 A4 pages.
• Alternatively, candidates may mail their application and résumé, to arrive by 4 June, to:

• Please include a recent passport-sized photograph.
• Depending on the number of applications received, a short-listing of candidates to be called for interview may be undertaken.  This will be done with reference to the Key Requirements above.
• It is planned that interviews will be held in the week beginning Monday 15 June and will be carried out by video-conference.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is committed to a policy of equal opportunity.