Org. Setting and Reporting
This
position is located in the Executive Office (EO), Office for the Coordination
of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), in New York. OCHA is the part of the United
Nations Secretariat responsible for bringing together humanitarian actors to
ensure a coherent response to emergencies and natural disasters. OCHA also
ensures there is a framework within which each actor can contribute to the
overall response effort. OCHA's mission is to mobilize and coordinate effective
and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and
international actors in order to alleviate human suffering in disasters and
emergencies; advocate for the rights of people in need; promote preparedness
and prevention and facilitate sustainable solutions.
The Senior Humanitarian Affairs Officer/Chief of Evaluation and Oversight
Section reports to the Executive Officer.
Responsibilities
Within
delegated authority, the Senior Humanitarian Affairs Officer/Chief of
Evaluation and Oversight Section will be responsible for the following duties:
• Provides authoritative technical and policy advice to senior management in
OCHA and other agencies in the UN system, Member State officials, international
and regional organizations on programmes, projects and issues of significant
impact on humanitarian, emergency relief and disaster response/management
efforts, and particularly as they refer to performance/results monitoring,
evaluation and guidance.
• Monitors the performance of the institution’s humanitarian mandate;
influences the development and evolution of the UN approach to humanitarian
affairs; designs and implements significant policy and programme changes to
address country, regional, global humanitarian affairs issues, including gender
considerations; conceptualizes the linkages with other entities in the
Secretariat.
• Coordinates the engagement and reporting on oversight activities by OIOS, JIU
and the BoA; ensures a close follow up on the action plan with the senior
management on the implementation of the recommendation, work closely with the
OIOS and BoA on the workplan and organizes and supports the country offices
with regard to the oversight exercises.
• Provides strategic direction to the undertaking of OCHA and inter-agency
humanitarian evaluations, and to the OCHA evaluation and guidance functions.
• Conceptualizes, formulates and manages major projects; leads and directs a
multi-agency team in carrying out disaster assessment or other missions;
prepares situation reports to the international community, apprising of
situation to date and specifying unmet requirements of stricken countries.
• Leads capacity building initiatives; identifies bottlenecks and gaps and
develops proposals to improve response systems and mechanisms, to include
technical assistance in the design of specific coordination and other
systems/mechanisms; organizes and participates as trainer/resource person in
national and international training seminars.
• Serves as primary liaison with non-UN entities, including the OCHA donor
support group, retreats, senior host government officials, donor representatives,
NGO officials, the media, etc., in emergency situations.
• Establishes overall work plan and budget for the Section.
• Leads and directs a team of staff; oversee activities for the section; plans
and allocates work assignments; coaches, mentors and evaluates staff;
participates in recruitment, selection and training of new staff and in the
development of training programs.
• Organizes and/or chairs inter-agency and other international meetings,
conferences, task forces; presents views and policies of the unit/institution.
• Initiates, supervises and finalizes position papers and related submissions;
prepares diverse reports, papers, policy guidelines, parliamentary documents,
statements, presentations, etc. for senior management.
Competencies
•
Professionalism: Knowledge of full range of humanitarian and emergency relief
assistance and related human rights issues. Ability to advise senior management
and other senior officials on approaches and techniques to address highly
complex/sensitive issues. Demonstrated capacity for intellectual leadership;
conceptual and strategic analytical capacity and ability to thoroughly analyze
and evaluate critical matters pertaining to a broad spectrum of humanitarian
and emergency relief issues/problems. Demonstrated capacity for original and
creative thinking, independent judgment and discretion in advising on and
handling major policy, project and other issues/problems. Ability to negotiate
and ability to influence others to reach agreement on difficult issues. Ability
to work under extreme pressure, on occasion in a highly stressful environment
(e.g. civil strife, natural disasters and human misery). Knowledge of
institutional mandates, policies and guidelines related to humanitarian affairs
and seasoned knowledge of the institutions of the UN system. Shows pride in
work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of
subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments,
observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather
than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or
challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for
incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women
and men in all areas of work.
• Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational
goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is
willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports
and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may
not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and
accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
• 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.
• 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
improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take
unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for
incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women
and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and
commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.
• Managing Performance: Delegates the appropriate responsibility,
accountability and decision-making authority; makes sure that roles,
responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; accurately
judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches
task to skills; monitors progress against milestones and deadlines; regularly
discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; encourages
risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative; actively supports the
development and career aspirations of staff; appraises performance fairly.
Education
Advanced
university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in political science, social
science, public administration, international studies, economics, engineering,
earth sciences or a related field is required. A first-level university degree
in combination with an additional two (2) years of qualifying experience may be
accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work Experience
A
minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in
humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief
management, rehabilitation, development, or other related area is required.
Experience in programme planning, monitoring and reporting, planning and
evaluation in the UN common system organizations or comparable international
organization is required.
A minimum of four (4) years in the last ten (10) years of international field
experience in aid operations is desirable.
Experience managing cross functional teams composed of persons from diverse
professional and cultural backgrounds is desirable.
Languages
French
and English are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For
the positions advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another
UN official language is desirable.
Assessment
The
evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may
be followed by competency-based interview.
Special Notice
The
duration of this post is for one year with the possibility of extension.
For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are
unrepresented or underrepresented in the UN Secretariat as of 30 June 2023, are
strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and
Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, Central African
Republic, Chad, China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti,
Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Israel, Japan,
Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Liberia, Libya,
Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia
(Federated States of), Monaco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Oman,
Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent
and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia,
Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan,
Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu.
At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and
employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of
efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity.
All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and
organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and
inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and
employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race,
religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities.
Staff members of the United Nations Secretariat must fulfil the lateral move
requirements to be eligible to apply for this vacancy. Staff members are
requested to indicate all qualifying lateral moves in their Personal History
Profile (PHP) and cover letter.
The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance
and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly
encouraged to apply for this position.
Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to
assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move
periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established
rules and procedures.
United Nations Considerations
According
to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the
paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of
securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.
Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if
they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of
international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment,
or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in
the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any
actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power,
or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting
monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another.
The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a
sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The
term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that
might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation,
when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or
creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the
gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working
relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic
offences may not be considered for employment.
The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff
shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency,
competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations
staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and
assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in
accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally
recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new
functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the
Secretary-General.
Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the
online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants
may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on
“Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder
homepage.
The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information
submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job
opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations
including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General
Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and
guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information
pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the
instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening.
No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to
applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration
for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information
provided in the application.
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