Humanitarian Affairs Officers (TJO) at the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian

OCHA is the part of the United Nations Secretariat responsible for bringing together humanitarian actors to ensure a coherent response to emergencies. OCHA also ensures there is a framework within which each actor can contribute to the overall response effort.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Humanitarian Affairs Officer (TJO), P3

Job Opening number: 15-HRA-OCHA-48232-J-MULTIPLE D/S
Locations: Damaturu and Gombe

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

• Monitors, analyzes and reports on humanitarian developments, disaster relief/management or emergency situations in assigned area.
• Organizes and prepares studies on humanitarian, emergency relief and related issues.
• Organizes follow-up work, including interagency technical review meetings to support policy development work and decision-making on important issues.
• Drafts and prepares regular situation papers/reports highlighting relevant operational factors affecting the humanitarian situation and response efforts.
• Prepares or contributes to the preparation of various written reports, documents and communications, e.g. humanitarian bulletins, situation reports, key messages, briefing notes/kits, press releases, background papers, policy guidelines, parliamentary documents, briefings, case studies, presentations, correspondence, etc.
• Assists in the preparation, implementation and monitoring of the Office’s humanitarian work plan, usually expressed in the Humanitarian Response Plan (HPR) process.
• Ensures appropriate monitoring and reporting mechanisms; provides information and advice on a range of related issues.
• Reviews and provides advice on policy issues related to safeguarding humanitarian principles and ensuring the effective delivery of humanitarian assistance.
• Partners with other humanitarian agencies to plan and evaluate humanitarian and emergency assistance programmes and help ensure that latest findings, lessons learned, policy guidelines, etc. are incorporated into these activities, including gender-related considerations.
• Establishes and maintains contacts with government officials, other UN agencies, non-governmental organizations, diplomatic missions, media, etc.
• Support advocacy initiatives on issues impacting humanitarian needs and response efforts through the collection of information, liaison with humanitarian partners, government officials, the media, etc.
• Manages the production of appeals for international assistance; ensures the proper use and spending of donor contributions channeled through OCHA.
• Undertakes and provides support to technical assistance and other field missions, e.g. participates in field trips to undertake in-depth reviews of specific country work mechanisms.
• Organizes and participates in working groups, meetings, conferences, consultations with other agencies and partners on humanitarian and emergency relief-related matters.
• Performs other duties as required.

Competencies
Professionalism:

• Knowledge of a range of humanitarian assistance, emergency relief and related humanitarian issues, including approaches and techniques to address difficult problems.
• Analytical capacity and in particular the ability to analyze and articulate the humanitarian dimension of issues which require a coordinated UN response. 
• Ability to identify issues and judgment in applying technical expertise to resolve a wide range of problems.
• Ability to conduct research, including ability to evaluate and integrate information from a variety of sources and assess impact on the humanitarian rights situation in assigned country/area.
• Ability to work under extreme pressure, on occasion in a highly stressful environment (e.g. civil strife, natural disasters and human misery); ability to provide guidance to new/junior staff.
• 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.

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree 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 an additional two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience:

• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, rehabilitation, development, or other related area.

Languages:

• English and French 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 Method:

• Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Application Closing Date
24th September, 2015.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online

Note: This is a temporary job opening for two positions, open to internal as well as external candidates. The positions are available until 31 December 2015, with possibility of extension, and the selected candidates are expected to start as soon as possible.