Coordination Officer-UNDOCO-United Nations Operations and Coordination Office-New York-Deployed by NORDEM - Expert Deployment/ NORCAP

NORCAP is the Norwegian Refugee Council’s expert deployment capacity. It consists of several, world-leading standby rosters, one of which is NORDEM, the Norwegian resource bank for democracy and human rights. NORCAP strengthens international and national partners’ capacity to prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from crisis. We do this by delivering the right expertise, building strategic partnerships and advocating for more effective action. Our NORDEM experts specialise in human rights and support for democracy.

In support of the UN Secretary General’s reform agenda, NORDEM is seeking a Coordination Officer to strengthen coordination with the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee is the primary decision-making forum of the Secretary General. It aims at increasing coordination across the UN and at strengthening its work on prevention. The Coordination Officer will be embedded in the United Nations Development Operations and Coordination Office (UNDOCO).

Grade level P3 - Starting date as soon as possible. Contract until 31 December 2018 with a possibility of extension subject to funding.

Objectives: Provide support to the coordination functions of DOCO in filling its role in the Executive Committee, which is the primary decision-making forum of the Secretary-General, with a view to increasing coordination across the UN and strengthening its work on prevention, in line with the Secretary General’s reform agenda.

Organizational Setting and Reporting Relationships: The Coordination Officer will support the work of the Executive Committee, a key feature of the UN reform agenda under the leadership of Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The position will be located in the UN Development Operations Coordination Office (DOCO) and report into the Directorate of DOCO for day-to-day tasking. The expert, while embedded in UN DOCO, will facilitate the work of the Executive Committee (EC), including by attending the meetings of the EC Secretariat.

Responsibilities:  The Coordination Officer hosted by DOCO will be responsible for the following: 

• Support UN DOCO’s coordination efforts, as secretariat of the UN Development Group (UNDG), to ensure members of the UNDG are informed, consulted and contribute to the Executive Committee/Deputies Committee process in a systematic manner;

• Support DOCO’s coordination and consultation efforts aimed at ensuring that Executive Committee background materials reflect a cross-pillar approach;

• Liaise with UNDG members as well as the EOSG Political, Peacekeeping, Humanitarian and Human Rights Unit (PU); the Rule of Law Unit (RoLU); the Strategic Planning and Monitoring Unit (SPMU), and the Sustainable Development Unit (SDU) to follow-up on the implementation of Executive Committee decisions;

• Provide secretariat support to Executive Committee and Deputies Committee meetings, including through planning and back stopping, and maintaining and updating the decision tracking platform related to UNDG-related decisions;
• Liaise with gender and human rights capacities of the UNDG for their inputs.
• Perform other related duties as requested by the Director of the UN Development Operations Coordination Office.

Competencies:

• Professionalism: Knowledge of the substantive humanitarian role of the UN in general and of UN interventions on specific areas/themes. Shows ability to produce reports and papers on substantive issues and to coordinate, review and edit the work of others. Shows ability to apply UN rules, regulations, policies and guidelines in work situations. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence 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.

• Communication: Excellent drafting skills; speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed as appropriate;

• 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 Unit’s shortcomings.

• 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.

• Qualifications:

•  Education:    Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in public administration, international relations, law, social or political sciences or related areas is required. A first-level university degree in the above specializations, in combination with qualifying experience, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

• Experience:  A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in political analysis, peace and security, conflict prevention, humanitarian, human rights, or related fields, is required. Experience with the preparation of analytical reports, background papers, and talking points for senior management is required. Experience with analysis and planning for UN humanitarian, peacebuilding, or conflict response is required. Experience with work on human rights and/or gender mainstreaming is required. A minimum of three years of field experience obtained outside the applicant’s country of nationality in a transitional, developmental, conflict or post conflict setting is required. Experience working with Member States and delegations in the context of international organizations is desirable.

• Language:    English and French are the working languages of the UN Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable.  Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.         

Background information

On 3 January 2017, the new Secretary-General announced an initial set of decisions on the work of the Secretariat “to improve our effectiveness and efficiency (…) and bring us closer together in recognition of our interconnectedness and in pursuit of our shared goals.”

The first of these measures was the establishment of an Executive Committee (and a subsidiary Deputies Committee) to assist the Secretary-General in taking decisions on issues of strategic consequence requiring principal-level attention across all pillars of UN work. The Executive Committee meets on a weekly basis at the Principal level, and its composition reflects an integrated approach of all pillars of the UN.

The Deputies Committee prepares the Executive Committee meetings, reviews the implementation of decisions on a regular basis, and holds a monthly discussion on demands and opportunities for preventive action.

There is a need to strengthen the capacity to ensure adequate preparation of Executive Committee/Deputies Committee meetings, broad consultations with relevant UN entities (including non-Executive Committee members) to ensure a cross-pillar approach, and adequate follow-up to the implementation of Executive Committee decisions.

Remuneration in accordance with NORDEM terms of appointment for P3 level positions.