Humanitarian Affairs Officer

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located within the External Relations and Partnerships Section, Partnerships and Resource Mobilization Branch, Humanitarian Financing and Resource Mobilization Division, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Washington D.C. OCHA is the part of the United Nations Secretariat responsible for bringing together humanitarian actors to ensure a coherent response to emergencies and natural disasters. OCHA's mission is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors in order to alleviate human suffering; advocate for the rights of people in need; promote preparedness and prevention and facilitate sustainable solutions.

The Humanitarian Affairs Officer reports to the Chief of External Relations and will cover a specific geographical portfolio.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Humanitarian Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

•As a senior policy officer, support the Chief of Section and OCHA’s Senior Leadership in outreach, liaison and partnership-building with a particular focus on U.S.-based stakeholders engaged in the humanitarian sector.
•Prepare policy position papers for review
•Lead and/or participate in projects and the development of partnership engagement strategies; ensure necessary support (e.g. staff, funding etc.); prepares reports to supervisor.
•Support advocacy efforts to mobilize resources including for UN wide Humanitarian Response Plans.
•Initiate and coordinate activities; formulate proposals and relevant project documents; draft reports for submission.
•Organize and prepare talking points and background notes for leadership;
•Assist or lead, as appropriate, in the preparation of OCHA reports, studies, background papers, policy guidelines, correspondence, presentations, and background papers.
•Establish and maintain contacts with government officials, other UN agencies, non-governmental organizations, diplomatic missions, media, etc.; ensure appropriate mechanisms to facilitate collaboration and exchange of information both in and outside the UN system.
•Serve as the primary focal point on specific topics or policy-related issues; keep abreast of latest developments, liaises with other humanitarian organizations, donors, etc., ensure appropriate monitoring and reporting mechanisms; provide information and advice on a range of related issues.
•Organize and participate in work groups, meetings, conferences, consultations with other agencies and partners humanitarian and emergency relief-related matters.
•Participate in planning and preparation of unit budget and work program.
•Provide leadership and work direction to assigned work team, and/or mentor and supervise the work of new/junior officers.
•Perform other duties as required.

Competencies

•Professionalism: Knowledge of wide range of humanitarian/development assistance policy and program issues with a particular focus on the U.S. context, emergency relief and related human rights issues. Demonstrated problem-solving skills and judgment in applying expertise to resolve a wide range of complex issues/problems. 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.

•Planning & 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.

•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

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in political science, social science, public administration, international studies, economics, engineering, earth sciences or a related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, rehabilitation, development, or other related is required.

Work experience in relationship-management and building partnerships for humanitarian purposes is required.

Experience in maintaining effective working relationships with a wide range of partners including from governmental, legislative, diplomatic and civil society sectors is required.

A minimum of three (3) years in the last seven (7) years of international field experience in aid operations is desirable.

Relevant experience in the UN Common System or other comparable international organization is desirable.

Languages

English or French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is desirable.

Assessment

The evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by a competency-based interview.

Special Notice

Appointment or assignment against this position is for an initial period of one year. Extension of the appointment is subject to extension of the mandate and the availability of the funds.

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.

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.

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, 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.