Building a professional toolkit: Essential skills for success during your JPO assignment

It is not an exaggeration to argue that the relationship between Junior Professional Officers (JPO) and their supervisors is a cornerstone that significantly influences the success of a JPO both on an individual basis and concerning their greater United Nations (UN) mission. This bilateral relationship, hopefully positive, plays an essential foundational role in building the skills and opportunities of a JPO through guidance and mentorship. 

However, as with any professional relationship, and especially in the multifaceted working context of the UN system, nurturing and building professional vertical relationships is a complicated skill in itself. Understanding and managing supervisory relationships is not just an activity; it's a long-term project that requires care, commitment, and the tools to ensure success. Thankfully, here at UNSSC, we have the toolbox to help guide JPOs in managing up and properly maintaining their working relationships. 

1. Strategic communication and negotiation 

Strategic communication and negotiation skills are important for JPOs in any position for a myriad of reasons, but if JPOs want to communicate upward, across teams, and with external partners to build trust and credibility, these skills are essential. Like a measuring tape, strategic communication and negotiation skills gauge the right tone, length, and impact of every message. This is especially important when managing up and building a productive relationship with a supervisor. Without strategic communication and negotiation skills, messages can be lost when communicating vertically, and your interests as a JPO may not be properly understood. 

2. Relationship building & networking 

Tied to effective communication, but its own skillset, relationship building and networking are activities that every year become more relevant to the success of one’s career. Success in the UN system is often relationship-driven; building alliances and trust is crucial for navigating complex organizational dynamics. This is twice as true in the case of JPOs, where relationships and support networks often open doors after the two or three years typical of a JPO assignment. Doors which would not have opened on their own. Like a wrench, relationship building and networking help tighten (or God forbid loosen) connections as needed to help JPOs build supportive social networks and foster vertical relationships. 

3. Adaptive thinking 

The UN system, and the greater multilateral development structure, is going through a myriad of changes at the moment. With competing priorities threatening to confuse staff, and evolving mandates requiring fast paced adaptation in the workplace, JPOs need to develop and foster adaptive thinking skills to successfully pivot strategies and problem-solve creatively. Like a Swiss army knife, flexible, multifunctional, and ready for any scenario, JPOs must be quick on their toes when dealing upwards in their missions. 

4. Cultural awareness 

Managing upwards can be a daunting task. Interacting vertically in the workplace always comes with the fear of missteps, of committing a faux pas and staining a supervisor relationship. Understanding the multilayered political and cultural nuances within the UN through cultural awareness can help JPOs overcome these fears by making informed decisions and avoiding possible missteps. A level tool in a toolbox is generally used to ensure that a surface or plane is even leveled. Cultural awareness ensures that a JPO, like a structural beam, is properly aligned with the organizational and diplomatic landscape of their position. 

5. Time and energy management 

We can talk about the importance of managing upwards for JPOs all day, but it means nothing if its detrimental to a JPOs energy, health, and overall quality of life. Long term career goals for JPOs are, while great drivers for individual productivity, also possible causes for overwork if the proper time and energy management skills are not developed and worked upon. Balancing learning, delivering results, and managing expectations requires intentional prioritization and resilience, through time and energy management, a skill commonly overlooked yet extremely important. When working with power tools, a battery tester is always useful to monitor and manage energy and the status of your tools. Similarly, time and energy management helps you monitor and manage your personal energy to recharge before burnout strikes. 

Success as a Junior Professional Officer in the UN system doesn’t come from talent alone; it’s built through intention, strategy, and the right set of tools. Managing upward is not just a professional necessity; it's an active, ongoing process that demands communication, emotional intelligence, adaptability, and resilience. The relationship between a JPO and their supervisor can set the tone for learning, growth, and long-term career development. But to make that relationship thrive, JPOs must treat it like a project, one that needs planning, effort, and above all, the right tools. 

Just like building a structure that will stand the test of time, managing up requires a steady hand, quality tools, and a commitment to getting it right. For JPOs seeking to carve out meaningful paths in the UN, developing these foundational skills isn’t just helpful—it’s essential. Because at the end of the day, a well-equipped JPO isn’t just managing up—they’re building forward. 

Through the UNSSC’s Managing Up Masterclass, JPOs are equipped with a comprehensive toolkit to navigate the complex architecture of UN careers. From strategic communication to time and energy management, these core competencies help lay a solid foundation for both immediate success and long-term advancement. For any inquiries, please email: jpo@unssc.org