Chief, Information Management Branch, D1

Org. Setting and Reporting
This position is located in the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) which is the part of the United Nations Secretariat responsible for bringing together humanitarian actors to ensure a coherent response to emergencies. OCHA also ensures there is a framework within which each actor can contribute to the overall response efforts. OCHA’s mission is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principles humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors in order to alleviate human suffering in disasters and emergencies, advocate the rights of people in need, promote preparedness and prevention, and facilitate sustainable solutions. The Chief, Information Management Branch will work under the overall strategic guidance of the Under-Secretary General / Emergency Relief Coordinator (USG/ERC) and the direct supervision of the Assistant Secretary General / Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator (ASG/DERC).

Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Chief, Information Management Branch formulates and implements the substantive work programme of the Branch under his/her supervision. The Chief, Information Management Branch provides technical leadership for all of OCHA’s internal and inter-agency information management tools, platforms, and processes, ensuring stakeholders have appropriate access to the information they require. S/he oversees the management of activities undertaken by the Branch, ensures that programmed activities are carried out in a timely fashion and co-ordinates work in the different areas both within the Branch and Department, and with other organizations of the United Nations System, as appropriate. Specifically, the Chief, Information Management Branch will be responsible for the following:

• Leads, supervises and carries out the work programme of the Information Management Branch under his/her responsibility. Co-ordinates the work carried out by different work units under the Branch and by other agencies and bodies of the United Nations system; provides programmatic/substantive reviews of the drafts prepared by others. Oversees the development and execution of a new or revised data architecture and business workflow for OCHA to ensure that staff have access to key data for their work. Ensures that sound methodologies are used to support analysis and decision-making. Provides strategic and technical leadership across OCHA to ensure: authoritative, comprehensive information, and analysis on humanitarian needs and response; common, adaptable tools and services to manage information in humanitarian crises; and common analysis of risk, vulnerability, and capability.
• Co-ordinates and oversees the preparation of reports for presentation to intergovernmental bodies such as the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budget Questions, Committee for Programme Coordination, Economic and Social Council, the General Assembly and other policy-making organs, as appropriate. Ensures the USG/ERC and ASG/DERC have high quality and comprehensive information and data to make informed decisions – both decision-making internal to OCHA and those affecting the broader humanitarian community. Develops and implements common risk and vulnerability assessment methodologies and tools.
• Reports to intergovernmental bodies on budget/programme performance or on programmatic/ substantive issues, as appropriate, particularly those presented in biannual and/or annual reports. Provides consolidated information and analysis on crises and high-risk countries (e.g., multi-stakeholder inter-sectoral analysis outputs). Produces reports and information products on humanitarian needs and response. Gathers and shares quality-assured data for use by operational partners.
• Ensures that the outputs produced by the Branch maintain high-quality standards; that reports are clear, objective and based on comprehensive data. Ensures that all outputs produced by the Sections under his/her supervision meet required standards before completion to ensure they comply with the relevant mandates. Develops and implements integrated information/data services and platforms to manage information in humanitarian crises. Develops information management service standards, reporting templates, and guidance, including shared data standards amongst operational partners. Offers technology solutions for optimal internal staff functioning and engagement with external clients in the humanitarian sector. Ensures the Branch’s work programme meets objectives laid out in the “Creating a Better OCHA” document, the OCHA Strategic Plan and the results Framework.
• Develops and prepares the strategy and the work programme of the Branch, determining priorities, and allocating resources for the completion of outputs and their timely delivery. Promotes an open data policy for the humanitarian community by leading or helping to set policy. Contributes to the formulation of OCHA’s overall strategies and policies by participating in various committees, preparing documents on policy issues, and acting, as required, in an advisory capacity to the USG/ASG; contributes to the overall management of the Department’s activities and operations. Advises the USG/ERC and ASG/DERC on OCHA’s proactive engagement in information management for the humanitarian community.
• Undertakes or oversees the programmatic/administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of the Branch, including preparation of budgets, reporting on budget/programme performance, evaluation of staff performance (PAS), interviews of candidates for job openings, evaluation of candidates and preparation of inputs for results-based budgeting.
• Recruits staff, taking due account of geographical balance, gender balance and other institutional values.
• Manages, guides, develops and trains staff under his/her supervision. Provides leadership to the development of innovative and/or change management programmes.
• Fosters teamwork and communication among staff in the Branch and across organizational boundaries.
• Leads and supervises the organization of meetings, seminars, etc. on substantive issues. Manages the substantive preparation and organization of such meetings or seminars.
• Participates in international, regional or national meetings and provides programmatic/substantive expertise on information management issues, or holds programmatic/substantive and organizational discussions with representatives of other institutions.
• Represents the Branch at international, regional or national meetings.
• Performs other related duties as requested by the senior management of the Organization.

Competencies
• PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of the substantive field of work in general and of specific areas being supervised. Ability to produce reports and papers on technical issues and to review and edit the work of others. Ability to apply UN rules, regulations, policies and guidelines in work situations. 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.

• CLIENT ORIENTATION: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

• TECHNOLOGICAL AWARENESS: Keeps abreast of available technology; understands applicability and limitation of technology to the work of the office; actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks; shows willingness to learn new technology.

• 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 information technology, data science and management, business or public administration, finance, accounting, law, social sciences or related area, is required. 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 fifteen years of progressively responsible experience in information services, web and mobile services or related field, is required. At least five years of senior managerial experience is required. Experience in the design, delivery and marketing of information, data and technology services to clients, is desirable. Experience in the latest approaches to information technology solutions in a humanitarian context is desirable. Experience in information services or a related field in a humanitarian context is desirable. At least five years of experience at the international level with the United Nations organization or other comparable international organization is desirable.

Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

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

Special Notice
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.

Extension of the appointment is subject to extension of the mandate and/or the availability of the funds.

The United Nations is Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential.

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 or sexual abuse, or crimes other than minor traffic offences, 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.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places 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. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

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.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

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.

Please apply through this link.