Humanitarian Affairs Officer/Special Assistant – UNOCHA-ROSC

Humanitarian Affairs Officer/Special Assistant – UNOCHA-ROSC

BACKGROUND

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is 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

This job opening is being advertised for the position of Humanitarian Affairs Officer (Special Assistant) located in the OCHA Regional Office for Syria Crisis and reports to the Head of the Office.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITES

Under the general supervision of the Head of the Office (HoO). The Humanitarian Affairs Officer (Special Assistant) will be responsible for the following duties:

• Keep abreast with the main issues facing the Head of Office (HoO) and identify issues requiring HoO’s attention.
• Ensure the smooth flow of relevant information within the entire office through daily consultations with the HoO
• Liaise with Units in the office, OCHA offices in Damascus Field Offices, and HQs and dissemination of information to Units and external contacts.
• Advise the HoO on possible courses of action and strategic issues to raise with management. This requires keeping in close contact with all Units and participating in key management meetings, reading relevant correspondence emanating from Units, and highlighting relevant issues.
• Review all correspondence addressed to the HoO; organize and draft responses and provide editorial and substantive input as necessary in correspondence submitted for the signature of the HoO. This requires reading all correspondence, forwarding to relevant units, keeping track of deadlines, and reviewing all drafts submitted for signature, to ensure that editorial content as well as substantive issues are in line with the policies of the office and direction and keeping the HoO informed of all actions taken.
• Organize, prepare agendas and summaries as well as follow up on decisions of ad-hoc internal management meetings; act as secretary of the weekly management meetings; request, collate, and consolidate inputs for reports and briefing notes; analyze, requests for information/ action submitted through the Office of the HoO from, Units, draft responses and/ or ensure that the requests are addressed.
• Overseeing the day-to-day management of the Office of the HoO through interaction with Office staff and ensuring its ready response capacity to requirements of the HoO. This involves regular interaction with the staff of the Office.
• Preparation of official travels and related materials for travel of the HoO, including briefing packages for missions through regular contact with unit heads.
• Ensuring timely preparation of substantive materials, including background papers, speeches and speaking notes for meetings by the HoO with governments, senior UN agencies, and NGO personnel, and the diplomatic corps, as well as internal, and donor meetings; participating in such meetings as required, reporting on outcomes, and following up on actions decided, within established deadlines.
• Ensuring timely preparation of the Annual Workplan and reporting for the office through consultation with unit heads.
• Frequent interaction with the Regional Humanitarian Coordinator’s office, as well as the HQ.
• Represent the HoO in meetings with UN Agencies, on ad-hoc bases.
• Performing any other duties as requested by the HoO.

Competencies

Professionalism:

• Knowledge of organizational information infrastructure, including hardware, software and application systems. Knowledge of relevant programming language(s) and ability to use programming skills to develop information systems. Knowledge of system development workflow and document flow processes, ability to conduct research and gather information from a wide variety of standard and non-standard sources. Ability to respond to changing requirements and assignments, ability to apply good judgment in the context of assignments given. 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. Commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of work. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

Communication

• Proven ability to write in a clear and concise manner and to communicate effectively, including the ability to prepare reports and conduct presentations, articulate options concisely, convey maximum information, making and defend recommendations. Excellent communication skills which can drive advocacy and high-level communications.

Teamwork

• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to: operate effectively across organizational boundaries; and establish and maintain effective working relations with people in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment, with sensitivity and respect for diversity

Planning and Organizing

• Proven ability to plan and organize, establish priorities, manage and monitor work plans, coordinate competing demands, and work to tight deadlines

Qualifications

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in political science, social science, international studies, public administration, economics, or a related field is required
• A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

• Up to two years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, rehabilitation, development, or other related area is required.
• Background in international affairs or development is required.
• Experience in a humanitarian context within the UN Common System or other comparable international organizations is desirable.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Excellent computer literacy and skills (word, excel, Outlook, and internet).

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in both English and Arabic is required.

Other

• Availability for travel.
• Ability to work with moderate supervision, efficiency, competency, and integrity in a multicultural environment.

Scam warning

The United Nations does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing, or other fees in connection with the application or recruitment process. Should you receive a solicitation for the payment of a fee, please disregard it. Furthermore, please note that emblems, logos, names, and addresses are easily copied and reproduced. Therefore, you are advised to apply particular care when submitting personal information on the web.

للتقدم على الوظيفة