United States of America: Deputy Director - D1
Country: United States of America
Closing date: 31 Jan 2014
Duty Station: New York
Estimated Start Date: 15/02/2014
Duration of need: 6 months with a possibility of extension
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
This position is located in the Office of Director, Coordination and Response Division, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in New York. Deputy Director reports to the Director, Coordination and Response Division.
Responsibilities:
Reporting to the Director of the Coordination and Response Division (CRD), Deputy Director will oversee the management of activities undertaken by the Division, ensure that programmed activities are carried out in a timely fashion and co-ordinates work in the different areas both within the Division and Department, and with other organizations of the United Nations System, as appropriate.
• Leads, formulates, supervises and carries out the work programme of the Division under his/her responsibility. Co-ordinates the work carried out by different work units under the Division, including Regional and Country Offices in the field, and by other agencies and bodies of the United Nations system; provides programmatic/substantive reviews of the drafts prepared by others.
• Co-ordinates and oversees the development and preparation of reports, including Common Humanitarian Action Plans and agreed policies and principles of humanitarian actions 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.
• Facilitates provision of administrative support to the field. This includes overseeing the management of activities undertaken by the Division by directing efforts to provide improved field-based coordination and planning which involves leading and/or organizing contingency planning, fact-finding and needs assessment missions; leading, supervising and guiding the field-based inter-agency consultation and planning processes; promoting linkages with rehabilitation, humanitarian strategies and principles,common action plans and programme monitoring and evaluation; facilitating mobilization and coordination of support to OCHA field offices and UN Country Teams in complex emergencies and natural disasters around the world including advising, training, briefing and orientation;
• 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 Sections under his/her supervision meet required standards before completion to ensure they comply with the relevant mandates.
• Assists the Director in preparing the work programme of the Division, determining priorities, and allocating resources for the completion of outputs and their timely delivery.
• Undertakes or oversees the programmatic/administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of the Division, including preparation of budgets, reporting on budget/programme performance, evaluation of staff performance (PAS), interviews of candidates for job openings, evaluation of candidates and preparation of inputs for results-based budgeting.
• Recruits staff, taking due account of geographical balance.
• Manages, guides, develops and trains staff under his/her supervision.
• Fosters teamwork and communication among staff in the Division and across organizational boundaries.
• On behalf of the Director, acting as the coordinator for field staff movements; participating in the policy development and direction of OCHA, providing input to the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) and its Working Group; promoting and directing the implementation of the humanitarian reform in the field in particular, the application of Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) grants to new, deteriorating or under-funded emergencies.
• Represents the Division at international, regional or national meetings.
• In the absence of the Director of the Division deputizes for the Director and act as the Officer-In- Charge of the Coordination and Response Division. Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of the Division.
COMPETENCIES
Professionalism: Expert knowledge of complex, multifaceted humanitarian affairs issues with wide exposure to humanitarian and emergency relief operations; Ability to advise the UN RC/HC as well as the OCHA's senior management team on tactical approaches and techniques to address complex and sensitive humanitarian issues; Conceptual and strategic analytical capacity to thoroughly analyse and evaluate critical matters pertaining to a broad spectrum of humanitarian and emergency relief issues;Ability to effectively handle major policy and project development and its implementation; Ability to work under pressure including in insecure environments, while maintaining productivity and effectiveness; Excellent understanding of institutional mandates, policies and guidelines related to humanitarian affairs and of the institutions of the UN system, in particular, the mandate of OCHA as well as its core policies and guiding humanitarian principles; Knowledge of OCHA institutional mandate, its policies, and organizational procedures as well as understanding of the core UN policies and guiding principles pertaining to international humanitarian affairs; Ability to examine, edit, and provide analytical inputs and intellectual guidance for the work of others; Readiness to serve in hardship environment.
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.
For Managerial Positions:
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 that the actions proposed willsatisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.
QUALIFICATIONS
Experience: A minimum of fifteen years of progressively responsible experience including at the international level, in emergency management, disaster relief coordination, humanitarian assistance, human resources management, administration, financial management, budget or related field. Managerial experience, including in inter-organizational relief coordination in emergency situations in the field locations is required. Qualifying years of experience are calculated following the receipt of thefirst level university degree recognised by the United Nations.
Education: Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in international affairs, political science, business or public administration, finance, accounting, law, social sciences, or related area. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Languages: English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position fluency in English (oral and written) is required. The knowledge of French is desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.
How to apply:
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED:
- Cover Letter
- Personal History Profile (visit https://inspira.un.org to generate a PHP)
- Last two completed Performance Appraisal or two Reference Letters for external applicants
ALL SUBMISSIONS TO BE SENT TO:
Contact Name: Yasuko Sawada (Email Address: sawada@un.org)
Copy (cc): Etiam Fiagan (Email Address: fiagan@un.org)
