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Director, Operations and Advocacy Division, D2

Washington D.C. | New York City

  • Organization: UNOCHA - Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
  • Location: Washington D.C. | New York City
  • Grade: Senior level - Senior - Internationally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Operations and Administrations
    • Legal - Broad
    • Political Affairs
    • Disaster Management (Preparedness, Resilience, Response and Recovery)
    • Managerial positions
    • Advocacy/Communications
  • Closing Date: Closed

Org. Setting and Reporting
This position is located in the Operations and Advocacy Division, 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 Director of the Operations and Advocacy Division 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, lead and manage the Operations and Advocacy function within OCHA, working collaboratively with other function leads to help deliver the blueprint set out in the “Creating a better OCHA” document. S/he will provide primary support to the ERC, Humanitarian Coordinators (HCs), and Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Principals for Advocacy on behalf of affected people. Working with a team, s/he will ensure the necessary flow of information, knowledge, and service occurs between the field, headquarters, and the ERC for this purpose, and will provide real-time, authoritative perspectives, insights, situational awareness, and facts from field-based OCHA leadership to inform Advocacy efforts across OCHA. The Director will provide oversight of the OCHA Heads of Offices and maintain responsibility for operations in the field. Specifically, the Director will be responsible for the following:

  • Directs and manages the Operations and Advocacy Division of OCHA. Provides strategic and technical leadership across OCHA to ensure: effective and efficient OCHA operations in the field to ensure humanitarian aid reaches the intended affected people with maximum impact; public and private advocacy and negotiation to address specific access and protection priorities; and public and private advocacy on behalf of the humanitarian system for the rights and needs of affected people.
  • Contributes to the formulation of the department’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; contribute to the overall management of the Department’s activities and operations; Advises the USG/ERC and ASG/DERC on appropriate engagement by OCHA in humanitarian aid and coordination, and provides them with real-time, accurate information from the field to inform their advocacy efforts, both internal to the United Nations and externally. Through the work of OCHA’s country and regional offices, monitors developing and on-going emergencies, provides analysis of early warning information, and makes recommendations to the USG/ERC and ASG/DERC for appropriate action.
  • Provides leadership to the development of innovative and/or change management programmes. Provides day-to-day management and support to OCHA’s field offices to ensure effective and timely response in crisis situations.
  • Formulates and implement the substantive work programme of the Division under his/her supervision, determining priorities, and allocating resources for the completion of outputs and their timely delivery. Ensures Division’s work programme meets objectives laid out in the OCHA Strategic Plan and results Framework. Working across all of OCHA, leads on the development of coherent strategies for crisis-affected countries, including the development of exit strategies, as necessary. Ensures full organizational alignment and provides leadership during the response to major, acute crises. In support of the USG/ERC and ASG/DERC, as well as independently as a senior member of OCHA’s leadership team, engages in public advocacy on behalf of the humanitarian community on the rights and needs of affected people; makes recommendations to the USG on negotiations required with parties and neighboring countries over access to victims and beneficiaries.
  • Oversees the management of activities undertaken by the Division, ensuring that programmed activities are carried out in a timely fashion and co-ordinates work in the different areas both within the Division and throughout all of OCHA, and with other organizations of the United Nations System, donors and agencies as appropriate. Oversees and aligns organizational priorities across OCHA’s field offices for coordinated support for the delivery of humanitarian assistance in complex emergencies, natural disasters, and protracted crises. Coordinates with other OCHA Divisions at headquarters to consistently bring the best of OCHA’s skillsets to the field, and ensures timely and accurate flow of information up and down the organization.
  • 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.
  • Reports to intergovernmental bodies on budget/programme performance or on programmatic/substantive issues, as appropriate, particularly those presented in biannual and/or annual reports. At the request of the USG/ERC and/or ASG/DERC, represents OCHA at governmental and institutional meetings concerned with humanitarian aid.
  • Ensures that the outputs produced by the Division maintain high-quality standards; that reports are clear, objective and based on comprehensive data. Ensures that all outputs produced by the office/division under his/her supervision meet required standards before completion to ensure they comply with the relevant mandates. Develops system-wide messages and advocacy products, and engages informal advocacy-outreach activities, campaigns, and networks for joined-up advocacy priorities with partners. Working closely with the Humanitarian Financing and Resource Mobilization Division, advocates and provides real-time facts from the field for resource mobilization to support consolidated humanitarian response plans, flash appeals, and other financing plans, including the Global Humanitarian Overview and regular funding updates.
  • Undertakes or oversees the programmatic/administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of the Division, including preparation of budgets, assigning and monitoring of performance parameters and critical indicators, reporting on budget/programme performance, preparation of inputs for results-based budgeting, evaluation of staff performance (PAS), interviews of candidates for job openings and evaluation of candidates. Working closely with the Information Management Branch, provide real-time information and guidance for situation reports, public information services, standards, templates, technical guidance, and trainings.
  • Oversees the recruitment of staff for Division taking due account geographical and gender balance and other institutional values.
  • Manages, guides, develops and trains staff under his/her supervision; fosters teamwork and communication among staff in the Division and across organizational boundaries.
  • Chairs meetings, seminars, etc., on substantive-related issues; represents the Organization at international, regional, inter-agency meetings, seminars and conference; provides programmatic/substantive expertise on an issue, or holds programmatic/substantive and organizational discussions with representatives of other institutions. Engages in private diplomacy to secure access to affected people. Monitors and provides evidence-based reporting on humanitarian access constraints and issues. Ensures effective coordination and complementary interface between Secretariat political and peacekeeping efforts and humanitarian assistance, and with development actors, particularly over transition issues. Supports the USG/ERC and ASG/DERC to deliver briefings to the Security Council, push advocacy efforts on implementation of Security Council and General Assembly resolutions, and advise the Secretary General, as appropriate.
  • Perform 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. Shows ability to produce reports and papers on technical issues and to 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 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.

• COMMUNICATION: 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.

• 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.

•JUDGEMENT / DECISION-MAKING: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.

Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in 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
Over fifteen years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian assistance, emergency preparedness, disaster or crisis management, or related area is required. At least five years of senior managerial experience is required. At least five years of experience at the international level with the United Nations organisation, or other comparable international organisation is desirable.

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

Assessment
The evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which will 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.

An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. All staff at the D2 level and above are required to submit a financial disclosure statement upon appointment and annually thereafter.

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

For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or underrepresented in the UN Secretariat as of 30 September 2017, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belarus, Belize, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Central African Republic, China, Comoros, Cyprus, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Iraq, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Monaco, Mozambique, Nauru, Norway, Oman, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, South Sudan, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and Viet Nam.

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.

This vacancy is now closed.
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