Head of Policy Organs Division at the African Union (AU)

The African Union (AU) is a continental body consisting of the 55 member states that make up the countries of the African Continent. It was officially launched in 2002 as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU, 1963-1999).  We are an Integrated, Prosperous and Peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Head of Policy Organs Division

Requisition ID: 708
Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Job Grade: P5
Contract Type: Regular
Division: Policy Organs
Number of Direct Reports: 2
Number of Indirect Reports: 4
Reports to: Secretary to the Commission
Organization: African Union Commission – AUC
Directorate: Office of the Secretary to the Commission

Purpose of Job

• Directs and manages the daily operations of the Policy Organs Division in order to achieve the strategic objectives of the directorate and the AU’s overall goals.

Main Functions

• Designs and implements policies, programs and projects to achieve the directorate’s strategic objectives.
• Manages and supervises employees within the division, ensures the timely delivery of the directorate’s goals and effective staff performance evaluation;
• Designs policies, strategies and programs to contribute to the effective implementation of relevant AU Policy Organs Decisions;
• Ensures the delivery of the division’s annual targets in line with the directorate’s overall goals and ensures robust and timely monitoring and reporting;
• Provides technical leadership and ensures efficient functioning of all Units within the Division
• Manages the work of the Division and supervises direct reports to ensure their effective performance in line with the organization’s performance management policy and system;
• Engages stakeholders within Members States and Regional Economic Communities (RECs)/Regional Mechanisms(RMs) and relevant international organisations in designing and implementing strategies.
• Maintains thematic partnerships in support of the mandate of the Division;
• Maintains regular working relations with senior stakeholders in Member States and partner institutions in the execution of the Division’s mandate.
• Represents the organisation and communicates its position at conferences.
• Contributes to the preparation of periodic financial and budget execution reports and monitor budget execution at division level.
• Ensures the effective management of funds contributed to the organization;
• Manages risk within the division and recommends mitigation strategies
• Contributes to the development of the departmental business continuity plan and ensures implementation at division level
• Maintains a positive work environment that facilitates collaboration and information sharing and is conducive to attracting, retaining, and motivating diverse talent.

Specific Responsibilities

• Represents the Office of the Secretary to the Commission in AU meetings as and when required;
• Plans and coordinates the administrative and logistical function
• Facilitates the meetings of the Commission, PRC and its Sub Committees and other decision-making organs of the AU;
• Ensures that all documentation required for the meetings of the above organs are prepared in line with the Union’s standards, duly processed and timely dispatched to Member States and other stakeholders.
• Ensures that the outcome of meetings such as decisions and reports are properly finalized and disseminated.
• Ensures follow up on meetings’ outcomes
• Prepares statements, reports/conclusions and other relevant tasks as required for consideration and vetting by the Secretary to the Commission;
• Provides support in ensuring good working relations between the PRC and the Commission;
• Provides support in coordinating the implementation of the coordination mandate of the office of the Secretary to the Commission;
• Provides advice and support in matters relating to the management of the Office of the Secretary to the Commission;
• Performs any other relevant duties within the Office of the Secretary to the Commission, as may be assigned by the supervisor.

Academic Requirements and Relevant Experience

• Master’s Degree in Law, International Relations, Diplomacy, Public Administration, Social Science in related fields, with twelve (12) years relevant experience, out of which seven (7) years should be at the managerial level and five (5) years should be in a supervisory role.
• Proven experience in policy formulation.
• Relevant experience in international public organizations is an added value.

Required Skills:

• Leadership and management skills
• Interpersonal and negotiation skills
• Research and Analytical skills
• Communication, presentation and report writing skills
• Knowledge in the use of Microsoft office suite and AU Computing software
• Ability to work in teams and in a multi-cultural environment
• Planning, budgeting and organizational skills
• Knowledge and working understanding in the policies, programmes and systems of the AU
• Proficiency in one of the AU working languages, fluency in another AU language is an added advantage

Leadership Competencies:

• Strategic Perspective
• Developing Others
• Change Management
• Managing Risk

Core Competencies:

• Building relationships
• Foster Accountability Culture
• Learning Orientation
• Communicating with impact

Functional Competencies:

• Conceptual thinking
• Job Knowledge and information sharing
• Drive for result
• Fosters Innovation

Tenure of Appointment:

• The appointment will be made on a regular term contract for a period of three (3) years, of which the first twelve months shall be considered as a probationary period. Thereafter, the contract will be for a period of two years renewable, subject to satisfactory performance and deliverables.

Gender Mainstreaming:

• The AU Commission is an equal opportunity employer and qualified women are strongly encouraged to apply.

Remuneration
Indicative basic salary of US$ 50,746.00 (P5 Step1) per annum plus other related entitlements e.g. Post adjustment ( 46% of basic salary), Housing allowance US$  26,208.00  (per annum), and education allowance (100% of tuition and other education-related expenses for every eligible dependent up to a maximum of US$ 10,000.00 per child per annum), for internationally recruited staff and a maximum of $3,300 per child per annum for locally recruited staff.

Application Closing Date
13th August, 2021.