Org. Setting and Reporting
This position is located in the Inter-Agency Services Branch (IASB), Coordination Division, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Geneva. 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 efforts. 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 ProCap GenCap Projects are inter-agency projects that aim to reinforce gender and protection capacity in support of Humanitarian Coordinators (HCs) and Humanitarian Country Teams with the aim of strengthening prioritization and mainstreaming of protection and gender. The Projects deploy senior technical advisers, as inter-agency resources, to address capacity needs in protection and gender efforts. Both Projects have been managed by OCHA since their establishment in 2005/7 in partnership with the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC).
The Senior Programme Management Officer reports to the Chief of IASB.
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Senior Programme Management Officer will oversee and be accountable for the implementation of the Projects’ Strategic Framework and workplan, with the support of project staff (OCHA and NRC/NORCAP) based in Geneva and Oslo. The Senior Programme Management Officer undertakes the following duties: •Takes the lead to develop, implement and evaluate ProCap/GenCap Projects; directs subordinates in programme/project development, implementation, monitoring and assessment; directs review of relevant documents and reports; identifies priorities, problems and issues to be addressed in the Projects, including performance and quality/performance and availability of roster members and proposes corrective actions; liaises with relevant parties; identifies and initiates follow-up actions. •Ensures implementation of protection and gender mainstreaming guidelines by assessing the implications of any planned action, policies or programmes, in all areas and at all levels. •Directs research and programme evaluation and presents information gathered from diverse sources. •Coordinates policy development, reviews the assessments of issues and trends, preparation of evaluations or research activities and studies on gender and protection related issues. •Undertakes survey initiatives; guides design of data collection instruments, including the mapping of strategic and capacity needs related to gender and protection mainstreaming in support of HCs and HCTs; reviews, analyzes and interprets responses, identifies problems/issues and prepares conclusions. •Supervises preparation of various written outputs, e.g. annual reports, background papers, analysis, substantial sections of reports and studies, inputs to publications, etc. •Directs substantive support to consultative and other meetings, including overseeing appropriate Secretariat support to the Projects’ Advisory Groups, conferences, etc., to include proposing agenda topics, identifying participants, preparation of documents and presentations,etc. •Manages outreach activities, including with RC/HCs, key IASC partners and structures; supports the design and conducting training workshops, seminars, etc., makes presentations on assigned topics/activities. •Leads field missions, including provision of guidance to Humanitarian/Resident Coordinators, Humanitarian Country Teams and other parties and drafting mission summaries, etc. •Coordinates activities related to budget and funding (programme/project preparation and submissions, progress reports, financial statements, etc.) and ensures preparation of related documents/reports (pledging, work programme, programme budget, etc.). •Serves as an effective spokesperson and establishes collaboration and partnerships with key officials at all levels inside and outside the organization, including representatives of members of IASC and IASC-associated bodies, as well as other entities such as the IASC secretariat, the Humanitarian Leadership Support Section, the Peer-to-Peer Project, the Global Protection Cluster, the Gender Reference Groups, etc. •Ensures effective utilization, supervision and development of staff; Guides, evaluates and mentors staff •May perform other duties as required.
Competencies
•Professionalism: Ability to identify key strategic issues, opportunities and risks. Ability to generate and communicate broad and compelling organizational direction. Ability to communicate clearly links between the Organization’s strategy and the work unit’s goals. Demonstrated ability to provide innovative technical leadership by performing and/or overseeing the planning, development, and management of operation. Strong people and partnership management skills. Demonstrated ability to negotiate and apply good judgment. 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. Knowledge of institutional mandates, policies and guidelines related to humanitarian affairs. Excellent drafting skills in English and strong attention to detail. 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.
•Planning & 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.
•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.
•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 the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.
Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in business administration, management, economics or a related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work Experience
A minimum of ten years (10) of progressively responsible experience in project or programme management, administration or related area is required.
Experience supporting executive leadership in international organizations is required.
Experience in managing multi-donor funds and/or donor relations is required.
Experience in working or leading the design and/or implementation of inter-agency projects is required.
A minimum of four (4) years in the last ten (10) years of international field experience in humanitarian contexts is desirable.
Experience working on gender/protection issues is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in English (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of French is desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language is desirable.
Assessment
The evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by a competency-based interview.
Special Notice
The duration of the assignment on the post of Senior Programme Management Officer [31035647], in the Inter-Agency Services Branch, of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Geneva, will be for an initial period of one year. If the assignment is subsequently extended, the total period of the assignment may not exceed the maximum period of four years.
Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-general and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.
The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.
An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential.
Staff members of the United Nations Secretariat must fulfill the lateral move requirements to be eligible to apply for this vacancy. Staff members are requested to indicate all qualifying lateral moves in their Personal History Profile (PHP) and cover note.
United Nations Considerations
According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.
Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.
The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.
Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.
The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.
Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.
No Fee
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.