JOINT OPERATIONS OFFICER

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Joint Operations Center (JoC) of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), Juba. Juba is currently classified as an "E" hardship and a non-family duty station. The Joint Operations Officer reports to the Chief JoC through one of the team leaders. The Joint Operations Officer undertakes qualitative and quantitative analysis to provide Mission leadership with a 24/7 common situational overview of operational activity, to include developments of a regional nature, and to prepare consolidated reports, including daily integrated situation reports and special incident reports, based on inputs received from mission components and other relevant sources. The reporting team also supports the Mission's crisis management process; acts as a communications link with various components and offices and provides operational coordination, on request.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, and under the supervision of Chief JoC, incumbent will be part of the team mandated to provide mission leadership with a 24/7 common situational awareness overview, to support coordination and operational planning, and facilitate crisis management. S/he will be responsible for – but not limited to - the following duties:

Monitoring and reporting:
• Seek and maintain a high degree of situational awareness and understanding of events, developments, and trends in the mission area (political, governance, humanitarian, human rights, military, security and economic development), particularly their geographic area of responsibility including through effective cooperation, coordination and information sharing, with UN entities (mission and UNCT), and with other international organizations and NGOs.
• Supervise and review the drafting of the JOC reporting and briefing products of other colleagues as needed.
• As necessary, research and draft special reports and prepare presentations, briefings, background notes related to operational issues, draft Code Cables addressing current operations, and official e-mails;

Information and Data management:
• Produce visualization from the JoC incidents database (SAGE) and other operations trackers, and be ready to respond to various information queries in a timely manner
• Provide and implement solutions in strengthening data collection and analysis.

Crisis management support:
• Support crisis management activities in the Mission area, including to the crisis management team, revision of policies, procedures and exercises and ensure continuity of channels of communication, reporting, and information management.

Coordination and Operational Support
• Support integrated operational planning efforts in his/her area of responsibility and keep track of all integrated activities in timely manner.
• Support coordination of integrated early warning and response mechanism.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM: 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. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

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.

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.

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

Education

Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in International Relations or a related subject is required. A first-level university degree in combination with other relevant academic qualifications and/or experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in political affairs, civil affairs, humanitarian affairs, human rights, public information/journalism, military, police, security, crisis operations and management, or related field is required.

Professional experience preparing high-quality, time-sensitive summary and analytical briefings on political and/or security issues is required.

Experience in data management and production of visual data products is required.

Experience working in a conflict or post-conflict setting, in a situational room context is required.

Experience in East Africa is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position advertised, fluency in English (both oral and written) is required.

Assessment

Previously rostered candidates are not subject to any further assessment and as such, will not be invited for such an assessment.

Special Notice

This "Recruit from Roster" job opening is only open to roster applicants who are already placed on pre-approved rosters, following a review by a United Nations Central Review Body. Only roster applicants who were placed on rosters with similar functions at the same level are considered to be eligible candidates. Eligible applicants receive an email inviting them to apply. Rostered applicants are encouraged to apply only if they are interested and available to take up the position at the duty station/s specified in the Job Opening. Applying to this job opening carries an expectation to accept the offer, if selected.

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

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, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, 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. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

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.

The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.

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.