TA: Watch Assistant, GS-6, Emergency Operations Centre (OPSCEN), EMOPS, New York HQ (6 Months)

OPSCEN’s mission is to support UNICEF to achieve its commitments to children in emergencies and to staff security through the provision of vital, 24/7 global information and communications services. This position will support by manning the Emergency Operations Centre (OPSCEN) on a shift basis, monitoring and reporting on key global event, and providing emergency communications support as required. To know more about OPSCEN please visit: https://www.unicef.org/emerg/index_24755.html.

UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of every child. UNICEF has spent 70 years working to improve the lives of children and their families. Defending children's rights throughout their lives requires a global presence, aiming to produce results and understand their effects. UNICEF believes all children have a right to survive, thrive and fulfill their potential – to the benefit of a better world.

OPSCEN’s mission is to support UNICEF to achieve its commitments to children in emergencies and to staff security through the provision of vital, 24/7 global information and communications services. This position will support by manning the Emergency Operations Centre (OPSCEN) on a shift basis, monitoring and reporting on key global event, and providing emergency communications support as required. To know more about OPSCEN please visit: https://www.unicef.org/emerg/index_24755.html.

For Every Child, a Commitment

The incumbent will be reporting to the OPSCEN Manager and monitors emergency-related developments, communicates critical events through real-time alerts and media monitoring reports, provides real-time support to staff around the world, and support NYHQ business continuity. In order to support 24/7 operations, the Watch Assistant is required to work on rotating shifts, including evenings, nights, weekends and holidays.

How can you make a difference?

1. Provide UNICEF staff globally with 24/7 emergency information and communication services

· Provide 24/7 emergency assistance to UNICEF staff globally through immediate advice, follow-up and/or referral;

· Facilitate emergency-related conference calls, videoconferences and bilateral calls;

· Maintain global staff contact database, Headquarter (HQ), Regional Office (RO) and Country Office (CO) staffing lists, and distribution lists organized by function, responsibility and location;

· Review, distribute and archive information from COs, ROs and HQs, including situation reports, updates and appeals, etc.

2. Issue real-time alerts and/or daily media monitoring reports to update key staff on critical humanitarian and/or security developments globally

· Monitor global events with potential humanitarian implications for children and/or security implications for UNICEF staff;

· Disseminate alerts and advisories to key staff at CO, RO and HQ levels;

· Create and disseminate daily media monitoring reports

· Following a critical security incident, establish location and safety of UNICEF staff and dependents and ensure immediate follow-up by UNICEF security staff.

3. Upon the decision of the UNICEF Crisis Management Team, activate business continuity procedures to ensure that OPSCEN remains operational in the event of a critical incident affecting NYHQ

· Ensure OPSCEN remains functional in the event of a serious incident in New York through activation of OPSCEN’s business continuity plan;

· Support monthly operational handovers to OPSCEN’s back-up team;

· Disseminate messages to NYHQ staff by SMS concerning security incidents and weather events affecting NYHQ

To qualify as a Champion for every Child you will have…

· Completion of secondary education, preferably supplemented with technical or university courses related to the work of UNICEF.

· A minimum of 6 (six) years of relevant experience in providing administrative support services with 1 (one year) specifically in monitoring emergency-related developments, communicating critical events through real-time alerts and media monitoring reports is required.

· Strong writing, interpersonal and communications skills.

· Fluency in English. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language as an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

Our core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply.