Closing date: Friday, 23 January 2015

Posting Title: Humanitarian Affairs Officer, P4

Job Code Title: HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS OFFICER

Department/ Office: Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Duty Station: NEW YORK

Posting Period: 24 November 2014-23 January 2015

Job Opening number: 14-HRA-OCHA-38337-R-NEW YORK (X)

United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity

Special Notice

This position is funded for a finite period of one year. Extension of the appointment is subject to extension of the mandate and/or the availability of the funds.

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.

Organizational Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in New York. The incumbent will report to Senior Humanitarian Affairs Officers/Section Chiefs within the Coordination and Response Division (CRD).

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Humanitarian Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

• Monitor, analyze and report on humanitarian developments, disaster relief/management programmes or emergency situations in assigned country/area;
• Lead and/or participate in large, complex projects, to include disaster assessment or other missions; coordinate international humanitarian/emergency assistance for complex emergency/disaster situations; ensure necessary support (e.g. staff, funding, specialized equipment, supplies, etc.); prepare situation reports to the international community, apprising of situation to date and specifying unmet requirements of stricken countries.
• Assist in the production of appeals for international assistance; ensure the proper use and spending of donor contributions channeled through OCHA.
• Assist member states in capacity-building for handling emergency situations; develop country-specific indicators for countries of concern in collaboration with area experts and ensure the subsequent monitoring of these indicators; recommend actions based on the analysis of pertinent information.
• Initiate and coordinate activities related to technical cooperation and technical assistance projects in disaster response and disaster response preparedness; formulate project proposals and relevant project documents; provide technical support to field work; review and clear project reports for submission to governments.
• Analyze and assist in introducing new technologies for disaster warning/management.
• Organize and prepare studies on humanitarian, emergency relief and related issues; organize follows-up work, including interagency technical review meetings to support policy development work and decision-making on important issues; and ensure the implementation of recommendations emanating from relevant studies.
• Assist or lead, as appropriate, in the preparation of OCHA reports, studies, background papers, policy guidelines, correspondence, presentations, background papers, policy guidelines, parliamentary documents, etc.; with respect to the latter, take the lead in providing support and information to relevant councils or other entities on specific issues.
• Partner with other humanitarian agencies to plan and evaluate complex humanitarian and emergency assistance programmes; help ensure that latest findings, lessons learned, policy guidelines, etc. are incorporated into these activities, including gender-related considerations.
• Establishes and maintain contacts with government officials, other UN agencies, non-governmental organizations, diplomatic missions, media, etc.; ensure appropriate mechanisms to facilitate collaboration and exchange of information both in and outside the UN system, including on early warning and contingency planning, etc.
• Serve as the primary focal point on specific topics or policy-related issues; keep abreast of latest developments, liaise with other humanitarian organizations, donors, etc., ensure appropriate monitoring and reporting mechanisms; provide information and advice on a range of related issues.
• Organize and participate in work groups, meetings, conferences, consultations with other agencies and partners on humanitarian and emergency relief-related matters.
• May participate in planning and preparation of unit budget and work program.
• Provide leadership and work direction to assigned work team, and/or mentors and supervise the work of new/junior officers.
• Perform other duties as required.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: Comprehensive knowledge of, and exposure to, a wide range of humanitarian assistance, emergency relief and related humanitarian issues; Conceptual and strategic analytical capacity, to include ability to analyze and articulate the humanitarian dimension of issues which require a coordinated response; Demonstrated problem-solving skills and strong research skills; knowledge of region or country of assignment, including the political, economic and social dimensions; Ability to work under pressure; knowledge of institutional mandates, policies and guidelines pertaining to humanitarian affairs. Demonstrated ability to synthetize information and formulate clear recommendations and action points; and understanding of the roles of, and first hand experience from working with, different humanitarian organizations, including non-UN humanitarian organizations. Knowledge of institutional mandates, policies and guidelines pertaining to humanitarian principles and humanitarian law; Sound knowledge of the institutions of the UN system; 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.

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. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, rehabilitation, development, or other related area. Experience in producing substantive research and analytical reports is desirable. Experience in coordinating relief/humanitarian response is desirable. Field experience in emergency situations is desirable. Experience in contingency planning is desirable. Experience in the UN Common System is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language is desirable.

Assessment Method

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by a competency-based interview.

United Nations Considerations

Job openings posted on the Careers Portal are taken off at midnight (New York time) on the deadline date.

Applications are automatically pre-screened according to the published evaluation criteria of the job opening on the basis of the information provided by applicants. Applications cannot be amended following submission and incomplete applications shall not be considered. The selected candidate will be subject to a reference checking process to verify the information provided in the application.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the At-a-Glance on 'The Application Process' and the Instructional Manual for the Applicants, which can be accessed by clicking on 'Manuals' on the upper right side of the browser on Inspira.

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.

Candidates will be required to meet the requirements of Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter as well as the requirements of the position. The United Nations is committed to the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity for all its human resources, including but not limited to respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to whether they have committed, or are alleged to have committed criminal offences and/or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.

Application information: https://inspira.un.org/psc/UNCAREERS/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/UN_CUSTOMIZATIONS.UN_JOB_DETAIL.GBL?Page=UN_JOB_DETAIL&Action=A&JobOpeningId=38337&