Position description
Org. Setting and Reporting
This position is located in the Office of the Assistant Secretary General/Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator and the Office of the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator (USG/ERC), Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in New York. 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 in disasters and emergencies; advocate the rights of people in need; promote preparedness and prevention and facilitate sustainable solutions.
The Associate Humanitarian Affairs Officer will report to the Programme Adviser to the ASG/Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator. The Associate Humanitarian Affairs Officer will also work in coordination and as part of the broader OCHA Front Office.
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Associate Humanitarian Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties for both the ASG and USG:
- In consultation with the Special Assistants to the Under Secretary-General and Assistant-Secretary-General, the Associate Humanitarian Affairs Officer, sends out all taskings related to meetings of the ASG and USG and all issues that fall within the OUSG and OASG's purview and in various follow-up activities;
- Serves as technical focal point for OCHA in all Executive Committee Secretariat meetings, including Executive and Deputies Committees and Senior Management Group, liasing with relevant OCHA sections and EOSG, including tasking and consolidating inputs for participation in meetings;
- Researches, analyzes and presents information gathered from diverse sources on assigned topics/issues;
- Prepares and reviews the timely preparation of relevant background documents, briefing books for travel and the organization of briefings for meetings and ensure that relevant staff is informed and/or called to attend;
- Assists in the follow-up to meetings, including the preparation of relevant notes and briefing to staff, as appropriate, contributing in the preparation of various written documents, e.g. drafts sections of studies, background papers, policy guidelines, parliamentary documents etc.;
- Develops and maintains reference/resource information on specific topics; responds to various inquiries and information requests internally and externally;
- Prepares the organization of meetings, seminars, conferences, workshops, etc. with other agencies and partners to facilitate exchanges of professional expertise and views on specific humanitarian-related subjects/issues;
- Maintains awareness of current humanitarian affairs and related issues, to include relevant political, policy, gender considerations or other developments in specific subject area, country or region concerned;
- Participates in the development and monitoring of communication flows being maintained through appropriate electronic media, including but not limited to, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs' (OCHA) corporate website and intranet;
- Participates in substantive and technical meetings under the OCHA Front Office’s purview as appropriate;
- Performs other duties as required.
Competencies
- PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge and understanding of humanitarian, emergency relief assistance and related human rights 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. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work;
- 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;
- 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 or equivalent) in political science, social science, international studies, public administration, economics, engineering, earth sciences or a related field. 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 two years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, rehabilitation, development, or related area is required;
- No experience is required for candidates who have passed the United Nations Young Professionals Programme Examination, United Nations National Competitive Recruitment Examination (NCRE) or the General Service to Professional Examination (G to P);
- Experience working in the Front Office of a senior official is desirable;
- Field experience in a related area is desirable.
Languages
- English and French are the working languages of the UN Secretariat. Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is desirable.
Application instructions
Please be sure to indicate you saw this position on Globaljobs.org
