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Three openings: SPSSI Non-Governmental Representatives at The United Nations
Position Description The Society's involvement with the UN and international issues spans several decades. SPSSI has been represented at UN headquarters in New York since 1987 and has held consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the UN since 1991. The Society's UN/NGO Representatives participate in a wide range of activities, primarily focused on broadening the impact of psychological and social science scholarship on the formulation and implementation of UN policies. SPSSI UN/NGO Representatives collaborate with representatives of other NGOs to identify and articulate social issues and draft statements intended to influence responsive formulation and implementation of global policies. They also attempt to create opportunities for meaningful dialogue between psychologists and other social scientists and representatives of UN agencies. Qualifications Applicants must hold doctoral degrees OR be candidates for doctoral degrees in psychology or other social sciences and be either members of SPSSI or eligible to be members. Applicants selected must join SPSSI prior to their appointment by SPSSI's President. Candidates must provide evidence of interest or involvement in the application of psychological or social science knowledge to social issues at the international, national, or local level. Candidates must also be able to demonstrate effective oral and writing skills as well as the ability to both exercise personal initiative and work collaboratively with others who may hold different viewpoints or interests. Proficiency in a foreign language would be helpful. Prior knowledge of the inner workings of the UN system is not required. In fact, candidates of a younger age (youth representatives) and with a fresh, un-biased and new outlook on world events are especially encouraged to apply. New representatives receive assistance in "learning the ropes". A visit to one of the following web sites may serve as an introduction to the wide ranging activities of Non-Governmental Organization Representatives at the UN: http://www.un.org/partners/civil_society/home.htm; http://www.conferenceofngos.org/ngosubs/; and http://www.spssi.org/un.html. Requirements In order to contribute to the SPSSI mission at the UN, persons who volunteer and are selected to serve as representatives are expected to identify and become productively engaged in at least one substantive area or substantive NGO Committee (visit the CONGO website “www.conferenceofngos.org”), beginning in their first year of service. Each representative is expected to develop a schedule of several visits to UN Headquarters in New York City each month, including attendance at a minimum of one of the weekly Department of Public Information (DPI) briefings, held on Thursday mornings, 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and one meeting of the SPSSI UN/NGO team. SPSSI Representatives are also expected to consult with the Main Representative, to whom they submit semi-annual and annual reports to be compiled for regular meetings of SPSSI Council. This position is not remunerated, except for average administrative expenses, payment of NGO Committee dues and bus, train and sub way traveling within the greater New York City area. The expectation is that chosen applicants are prepared to commit themselves to make at least two year’s of serious and dedicated contributions to this unique opportunity to be engaged in working with such a prestigious world body as the United Nations. The first year will be on a probationary level; once fully instated, the rewards of this work will be substantive and extremely gratifying. Nomination/Application Process All applications should be received by the end of March, with interviews in May and June 2012. Whether nominated by others or self-nominated, persons interested in serving as SPSSI UN/NGO Representatives should submit a letter of application, a curriculum vitae, two references, and two samples of relevant written work to: Joseph A. DeMeyer, PhD, SPSSI Main UN/NGO Representative, 1330 Hamburg Turnpike, Wayne , New Jersey 07470; or PREFERABLY, with reference: SPSSI rep.opening, by e-mail: josephdemeyer@hotmail.com
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