HEAD OF POLICY & HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS COORDINATOR DEPUTY PERMANENT OBSERVER At

ICRC DELEGATION TO THE UN (NEW YORK)

HEAD OF POLICY & HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS COORDINATOR

DEPUTY PERMANENT OBSERVER

ONLY US CITIZENS OR RESIDENTS (GREEN CARD HOLDERS) MAY APPLY

The ICRC Delegation in New York City, as a Permanent Observer to the United Nations, plays a key role in humanitarian diplomacy. Key international policies that originate at the UN in New York can affect the ICRC’s field operations and development of the law and policy; ICRC NYC thus engages in humanitarian diplomacy in the countries of concern where the ICRC is operational, and on priority concerns of the ICRC’s field delegations which translate into thematic ICRC concerns to be raised with UN Member States, UN entities and other relevant interlocutors.

PURPOSE

The Humanitarian Affairs Coordinator oversees designing, planning, and coordinating the implementation and the follow up of the delegation diplomatic engagements on policy issues and contexts. The Humanitarian Affairs coordinator contributes to the institution’s understanding of the UN multilateral system and to the broader strategic alignment of diplomatic engagement, across HQ and relevant delegations.

FUNCTIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Coordinates the design and the delivery of effective diplomatic and policy strategies and shapes the NY delegation engagement with the UN system and Permanent Missions.
• Advises the Delegation on the global main trends and issues that relate to the humanitarian action and to the ICRC mandate and action.
• Builds and maintains a strong stakeholders’ networks relevant for the delegation and engage with them on issues of substance and on the priority humanitarian issues.
• Supervises and coordinates the engagement of the humanitarian advisers.
• Interacts and interfaces with the Policy and humanitarian diplomacy team in the HQ. Proactively gives feedback on outcomes and contributes to new initiatives,
• Liaises regularly with the Head of the Humanitarian Diplomacy team, the Head of the Policy team at LDP_POL and Operational regions to align approaches on issues, contexts and fora covered by the respective teams in New York and Geneva and to anticipate diplomatic opportunities and challenges requiring concerted action.
• Interacts with the network of delegations in London, Moscow, Paris, Beijing, Brussels, African Union to design an effective and concerted humanitarian diplomacy in New York, in coordination with LDP_POL.
• Coordinates ICRC’s representation in UN and Multilateral fora independently on complex policy / diplomacy issues to diverse audiences.
• Supervises, coaches, and provides support to the Humanitarian diplomacy advisers and other team members (6 HAA and regional expert supports).
• Supervises the Communications (COM) team and ensures adequate and strategic COM support to humanitarian diplomacy objectives (2 COM experts).
• Acts as the focal point for the UNGA and High-level week events / meetings.
• Coordinates interaction with the IFRC and other Movement partners present in NYC, and actively engages in priority related discussions with the HAA and COMs team.

SCOPE AND IMPACT

• Steers the design of the delegation humanitarian diplomacy objectives and defines the annual priority issues based on the global trends, the UN system dynamics, and the strategic importance of New York delegation.
• Has financial responsibilities for the Policy and Humanitarian Affairs team and Communications team / budget
• Participates in the APM and budgeting process.
• Is the lead on the definition of objectives for policy & humanitarian affairs departments
• Is responsible for the plan of action and the work priorities, monitors the impact and outcomes.

Relationships:

• Reports to the Head of Delegation.
• Interacts with the Policy & HD Division at HQ and with other Heads of policy & Humanitarian Affairs / DHoD and the Humanitarian Affairs Advisors network, in particular of London, Moscow, Paris, Washington, Brussels, AU.
• Externally, independently interacts with PM, UN agencies, humanitarian actors, Movement representatives, Think tanks.
• Externally, assumes representation roles as Deputy Permanent Observer. Replaces the HoD in her/his absence.

REQUIRED BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE:

• University degree in a relevant subject (e.g. international relations, social/political sciences)
• Master’s degree or specialization in a related subject/policy issue a must.
• Fluent command of English and another UN language, knowledge of other UN languages a plus (French, Arabic, Spanish, Russian or Chinese)
• Computer proficiency

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

• 10 years overall professional experience with at least 5 years’ experience in humanitarian action or political affairs.
• Proven people management experience required
• Prior ICRC or National Society field experience and/or experience with government Foreign Affairs or similar
• Proven experience in cultivating networks and influencing others, in particular expert diplomatic knowledge and skills
• Strategic understanding of national/regional/global relations and their interplay with humanitarian affairs
• Knowledge of, and experience with multilateral organizations/fora/agencies and platforms

SALARY RANGE

· 120’000 – 172’000 based on experience