Political Affairs Officer – Office of the Special Envoy for Syria

About the role

The Political Affairs Officer will join the Office of the Special Envoy for Syria in Damascus, reporting directly to the Head of Office. This position supports the mandate of the Special Envoy by providing high‑quality political analysis, briefing materials and strategic recommendations.

Key responsibilities

• Identify emerging political, socio‑economic and security issues affecting the mandate and propose short‑ and long‑term solutions.
• Produce accurate, timely integrated analyses, assessments, briefing notes, background papers, talking points and speeches for senior officials.
• Monitor and analyse political, security and military developments, assess their impact on the portfolio and coordinate responses with other sections.
• Maintain a network of contacts with local authorities, political actors, UN agencies, NGOs, civil society, academia and research institutions.
• Plan and participate in field missions, support official meetings and events, and prepare minutes and follow‑up actions.
• Contribute to the Office’s programme of work and provide data‑driven insights through visualisation of trends and patterns.
• Undertake any other duties as required to support the Special Envoy’s objectives.

Required profile

• Demonstrated ability to conduct in‑depth political studies and develop actionable recommendations.
• Strong analytical mindset with capacity to synthesize complex information into clear, concise products.
• Excellent written communication skills for drafting reports, briefs and speeches.
• Professionalism, reliability and a commitment to meeting deadlines.

Required skills