Current Vacancies at United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Senior Humanitarian Affairs Officer (Head of Office) will be responsible for the following duties:

• Serves as senior policy advisor to the UN RC/HC, the UN Country Team (UNCT) and the humanitarian country team on humanitarian principles and initiatives.
• Provides authoritative technical and policy advice to senior management in OCHA and other agencies in the UN system, Member State officials, international and regional organizations on programmes, projects and issues of significant impact on humanitarian, emergency relief and disaster response/management efforts.
• Monitors the performance of the institution's humanitarian mandate; influences the development and evolution of the UN approach to humanitarian affairs; designs and implements significant policy and programme changes to address country, regional, global humanitarian affairs issues, including gender considerations; conceptualizes the linkages with the political and peacekeeping functions in the Secretariat.
• Develops/ensures implementation of coherent humanitarian/disaster response strategies and procedures.
• Conceptualizes, formulates and manages major projects; leads and directs a multi-agency team in carrying out disaster assessment or other missions; initiates, mobilizes and coordinates international humanitarian/emergency assistance for exceptionally complex situations or major disasters; ensures necessary support (e.g. staff, funding, specialized equipment, supplies, etc.); prepares situation reports to the international community, apprising of situation to date and specifying unmet requirements of stricken countries.
• Manages the production of appeals for international assistance; ensures the proper use and spending of donor contributions channeled through OCHA.
• Leads capacity building initiatives; identifies bottlenecks and gaps and develops proposals to improve response systems and mechanisms, to include technical assistance in the design of specific coordination and other systems/mechanisms; organizes and participates as trainer/resource person in national and international training seminars.
• Serves as primary liaison with non-UN entities, including senior host government officials, donor representatives, NGO officials, the media, etc., in emergency situations.
• Establishes overall work plan and budget.
• Leads and directs a team of staff; may oversee activities for a discrete work section or equivalent; plans and allocates work assignments; coaches, mentors and evaluates staff; participates in recruitment, selection and training of new staff and in the development of training programs.
• Organizes and/or chairs inter-agency and other international meetings, conferences, task forces; presents views and policies of the unit/institution.
• Initiates, supervises and finalizes position papers and related submissions; prepares diverse reports, papers, policy guidelines, parliamentary documents, statements, presentations, etc. for senior management.
• Performs other duties as requested by the UN RC/HC and OCHA Director of Operations and Advocacy Division.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM:

• Knowledge and understanding of humanitarian, emergency relief assistance and related humanitarian issues. Ability to identify issues, analyze and participate in the resolution of issues/problems. Ability to develop sources for data collection. Conceptual analytical and evaluative skills to conduct independent research and analysis, including familiarity with and experience in the use of various research sources, including electronic sources on the internet, intranet and other databases. Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, work under pressure, on occasion in a highly stressful environment (e.g., civil strife, natural disasters, and human misery). 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.

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.

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.

Managerial competencies.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in political science, social science, international studies, public administration or management, economics, engineering, earth sciences or a related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with an additional two (2) years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

• A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, rehabilitation, development, or other related area, is required.
• Experience in leading and coordinating humanitarian and relief operations in complex emergencies or natural disasters situations at the country-wide level is required.
• Experience in advising on humanitarian access and/or international humanitarian law is required.
• At least four (4) years in the past ten (10) years of international field experience (actual setting where a mission or project is being implemented) in aid operations (complex emergency or natural disaster) is desirable.
• Experience in the Southern and/or Eastern Africa region is desirable.
• Experience in a humanitarian context within the UN Common System or other comparable international organization is desirable.

Languages

• French and English are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in 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 competency-based interview.

Closing date

24 Jan 2024

go to method of application »

• The Regional Human Resources Officer reports to the Chief of Human Resources Section, through a Human Resources Officer, P-4. The post is physically hosted in OCHA's Regional Office for Southern and Eastern Africa (Nairobi). On a day-to-day basis, the Regional Human Resources Officer is expected to work in close coordination with the management of the Regional Office, especially with the respective Head of Administration, which will also be the additional supervisor.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, and focusing on the services and clients within the assigned region, the Regional Human Resources Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

Recruitment and placement

• Provides advice on effective succession management and workforce planning through timely and accurate projection of vacancies and staffing requirements for the field offices in the assigned region.
• Provides advice on recruitment and selection processes in line with corporate guidelines and policies, leading to the timely sourcing, selection and placement of the required talent. For centralized recruitments, this includes initiating transparent and competitive recruitment and selection processes (from the review of job descriptions to the screening of candidates) as well as ensuring the timely management of the process.
• Arranges and conducts interviews to select candidates.
• Reviews recommendation on the selection of candidate by client offices.
• Monitors and evaluates recruitment and placement related activities of client offices, and recommends changes or corrections related to procedures to these offices.
• Supervises and monitors the work of the Human Resources Assistants in carrying out all human resources activities.

Administration of contracts

• Prepares and Interprets workforce data and statistics using UMOJA or other Business Intelligence Enterprise platforms and make recommendations on workforce requirements based on HR analytics.
• Supports management in the contract administration by monitoring contractual status of staff in clients offices.
• Provides advice on contract administration in accordance with internal policies and in line with relevant rules and regulations.
• Reviews and recommends level of remuneration for consultants.

Staff development and career support

• Identifies and analyzes staff development and career support needs and designs programmes to meet identified needs. Prepares monitoring reports on staff development and career support programmes.
• Provides advice on mobility and career development to staff.
• Provides performance management advice to staff and management. Assists supervisors and staff with understanding and using the performance appraisal system (PAS).
• Monitors the completion rates and timelines of the performance evaluation in the field and provide support as needed to the client offices.
• Assesses training needs, identifies, designs and delivers training programmes to staff at all levels throughout the assigned region.

Other duties

• Supports OCHA’s change management in its field operations, by providing advice on the implementation and monitoring of OCHA corporate HR programmes, and by advocating for the best application of HR practices.
• Advises and counsels staff in respect of rights, responsibilities, code of conduct and difficulties associated with work and entitlements.

Competencies

• Professionalism: Knowledge of human resources policies, practices and procedures and ability to apply them in an organizational setting. Ability to identify issues, formulate opinions, make conclusions and recommendations. 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in human resources management, business or public administration, social sciences, education or related area is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two (2) years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

• A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in human resources management, administration or related area is required.
• Experience using SAP, PeopleSoft, or a similar Enterprise Resource Planning System (ERP) for Human Resources Management is required.
• Experience in providing strategic HR advisory support to managers and staff in an international organization is desirable.
• Experience in HR Management in the UN Common System or other comparable international organization is desirable.
• A minimum of two (2) years within the last five (5) years of relevant human resources experience at the international level in the field (in complex emergency or natural disaster contexts) 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 desirable.