Department/ Office:
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Duty Station: OTHER
Posting Period:
22 February 2012-8 March 2012
Job Opening number:
12-HRA-OCHA-22994-R-OTHER (O)
United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity
Org. Setting and Reporting
This vacancy is issued for roster purposes. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, through its roster program, will preselect qualified and suitable individuals and deploy them to field assignments across the globe in accordance with operational requirements. Applicants to this roster must be willing to serve in non-family duty stations, such as Juba (South Sudan) and Mogadishu (Somalia) among others. The Head of OCHA Field Office supports the UN Resident Coordinator/Humanitarian Coordinator under the overall leadership of the Director of the Coordination and Response Division of OCHA.
Responsibilities
Operates within the limits of delegated authority, and under the overall leadership and direction of the Director of the Coordination Response Division (CRD) of OCHA and supporting the UN Resident Coordinator/Humanitarian Coordinator, the Head of Office will discharge and be responsible for the following functions: Humanitarian Policy 1. Serve as senior policy advisor to the UN RC/HC, the UN Country Team (UNCT) and the humanitarian country team on humanitarian principles and initiatives; 2. Develop and maintain contacts with the international community in order to raise awareness and advocate for issues of humanitarian concerns; 3. Act to strengthen cooperation among the humanitarian community on policy issues of inter-agency concern and serve as a key interlocutor with relevant Government partners; 4. Advise, promote and provide guidance to the UN RC/HC, the UNCT and the humanitarian county team on humanitarian reform initiatives including cluster coordination, humanitarian financing, etc. Humanitarian Programming / Coordination 5. Provide strategic support to the UN RC/HC in the preparation, implementation and monitoring of the work plan of the humanitarian community (usually expressed thought the CHAP/CAP), soliciting and negotiating inputs with relevant authorities, UN agencies, NGOs, etc.; 6. Consult on a regular basis with the HC, Heads of UN Agencies and Programmes, NGOs heads of mission, the government and the donor community on all appropriate aspects of the implementation and delivery of humanitarian activities, to ensure that coordination structures at local, provincial and national levels operate in a coherent and cost-effective manner. 7. Support the planning, monitoring, and evaluation of humanitarian programs, facilitating incorporation of lessons learned, policy guidelines etc. into humanitarian response activities. 8. Promote best practices in humanitarian planning, response and evaluation; 9. Facilitate inter-agency resource mobilization efforts, including the provision of specialized international assistance to respond to ongoing as well as new and /or emerging emergencies; 10. Develop, reinforce and maintain effective coordination mechanisms with the humanitarian county team and other key humanitarian stakeholders; 11. Establish / manage information management systems to effectively map areas of humanitarian needs and response activities in support of coordination efforts; 12. Foster and reinforce linkages between field monitoring, information management and coordination efforts; 13. Ensure timely and appropriate assistance to the UN RC/HC and (if applicable) the United Nations Disaster Management Teams (UNDMT) in response to disasters and emergencies; 14. Support inter-agency efforts to build in-country UN capacity to manage natural disaster response; 15. Provide substantive support and leadership to government institutions and local humanitarian entities to build national capacity for emergency and/or disaster management; 16. Promote dialogue, regional alliances, sharing of knowledge and resources, among national and, as appropriate, regional humanitarian actors in disaster risk reduction, disaster/emergency preparedness and response. 17. Promote and lead contingency planning processes in close cooperation with UNDMT and Regional Disaster Reduction Advisers (RDRA) as applicable; 18. Develop joint initiatives on disaster management with other UN and (if applicable) regional actors; including early warning mechanisms; 19. Under the overall guidance of the Director of the CRD and in partnership with other branches of OCHA, work to reinforce regional networks and mechanisms for swift, effective response to emerging humanitarian situations. Office Management / OCHA Representation 20. Serve as the OCHA Head of Office in designated duty station, providing oversight of all programmatic/administrative tasks necessary for the efficient functioning of the OCHA office and any sub-offices, and being accountable for the use of resources and for the results obtained; 21. Lead work planning and budgeting process, support resource mobilization and ensure sound financial management; 22. Ensure regular and effective supervision of OCHA staff, particularly by leading, managing, developing, and training staff; foster teamwork and communication amongst staff; and strengthen linkages between the staff in field, regional and headquarters offices. 23. Promote OCHA's mandate, objectives and tools in the designated area through contacts with the government, diplomatic missions, UN entities, non-governmental organizations and the media. 24. Ensure the Office produces timely, high-quality outputs including comprehensive workplans, concise and factual situation reports, analytical papers, comprehensive and fact-based information products, etc.; 25. Perform other duties as requested by the UN RC/HC and / or Director of CRD.
Competencies
Core Competencies:
Professionalism: -Expert knowledge of complex, multifaceted humanitarian affairs issues with wide exposure to humanitarian and emergency relief operations -Ability to advise the UN RC/HC as well as the OCHA’s senior management team on tactical -approaches and techniques to address complex and sensitive humanitarian issues -Conceptual and strategic analytical capacity to thoroughly analyse and evaluate critical matters pertaining to a broad spectrum of humanitarian and emergency relief issues -Ability to effectively handle major policy and project development and its implementation -Ability to work under pressure including in insecure environments, while maintaining productivity and effectiveness -Excellent understanding of institutional mandates, policies and guidelines related to humanitarian affairs and of the institutions of the UN system, in particular, the mandate of OCHA as well as its core policies and guiding humanitarian principles -Knowledge of OCHA institutional mandate, its policies, and organizational procedures as well as understanding of the core UN policies and guiding principles pertaining to international humanitarian affairs -Ability to examine, edit, and provide analytical inputs and intellectual guidance for the work of others -Rediness to serve in hardship environment.
Planning and Organizing: -Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies -Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required -Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work -Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning -Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary -Uses time efficiently.
Accountability: -Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments -Delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards -Operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules -Supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments -Takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable.
Managerial Competencies:
Leadership: -Serves as a role model that other people want to follow -Empowers others to translate vision into results -Is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives -Establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support -Anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions -Drives for change and improvement; does not accept the status quo -Shows the courage to take unpopular stands. -Commitment to the goal of achieving gender balance in staffing.
Judgement/Decision-making: -Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly -Gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them -Takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization -Proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information -Checks assumptions against facts -Determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.
Education
An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in political science, business or public administration, sociology, law, international relations, economics, management, or related area of studies. A first level university degree (Bachelor's degree or equivalent) in combination with qualifying relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work Experience
Fifteen (15) years of progressively responsible professional experience in the field of humanitarian affairs, relief coordination, disaster management and response, complex emergencies and natural disasters, rehabilitation and development, inter-agency coordination, resource mobilization and advocacy, or in related area. Relevant professional experience must include a mimimum of four (4) years at the international level, including considerable experience at a senior management level. Extensive professional experience within the UN common system is strongly desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the UN Secretariat. For all OCHA field duty stations, excellent command of oral and written English is required. For French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese or Russian-speaking OCHA field duty stations, fluency of that respective language is required on the basis of the operational needs of the particular field duty station.
Assessment Method
Competency-based interview and/or other assessment method will be conducted
Special Notice
This vacancy is issued for roster purposes. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, through its roster program, will pre-select qualified & suitable individuals and deploy them to field assignments across the globe in accordance with operational requirements. Please indicate in your cover note/PHP the duty station(s) that you would be interested in being considered for as well as any duty station(s) that you would not be in a position to serve in, explaining why.
United Nations Considerations
The United Nations shall place no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. (Charter of the United Nations - Chapter 3, article 8). The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.
No Fee
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.
To apply for this position go to the following link:
https://inspira.un.org/psc/UNCAREERS/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/UN_CUSTOMIZATIONS.U...
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