Emergency Specialist (Desk Officer), P-4, Office of Emergency Programmes (EMOPS), New York, USA #53103

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, [insert tagline]

The Humanitarian Field Support Section (HFSS) aims to provide a ‘one-stop-shop” approach to coherent field support in humanitarian crises, in addition to strengthening the UNICEF’s field capacity on emergency response, as well as on early recovery programming, humanitarian advocacy and engagement with integrated missions and presences. Within the framework of the OMP, the team will not only be instrumental in providing support to the field on principled humanitarian action and a strengthened integration of the protection of children dimension in our engagement but will also strive to focus on the quality of the response in close collaboration with key other EMOPS sections. The team is also instrumental in providing briefings, data and analysis to UNICEF senior leaders across the organisation to inform their decision making on behalf of strengthened UNICEF’s action for children in humanitarian contexts. The section coordinates closely with all other EMOPS Sections, and other HQ Divisions. HFSS provides effective and timely communication lines and support between EMOPS, ROs and COs and day to day coordination and oversight of headquarters’ support to country offices (technical guidance and engagement, humanitarian financing management of the EPF and GHT, inter-agency collaboration, direct guidance on global approaches on country specific crises, etc). The Section supports the EMOPS Director’s Office and OED with timely updates and analyses on humanitarian crises to inform decision-making. It coordinates the deployment of the Emergency Response Team.

How can you make a difference?

Under the guidance of the Chief of HFSS, serve as focal point for the overall coordination of humanitarian action (encompassing preparedness, response, post-crisis recovery, and integrated planning) in a defined allocation of countries/regions working in close collaboration with HQ inter-divisional focal points, inter-agency partners, Country Offices (COs) and Regional Offices (ROs). This role requires frequent travel to the field to support and coordinate humanitarian responses directly.

1. Serve as focal point for the analysis and review of humanitarian responses in an allocation of region(s), supporting UNICEF’s response in sudden-onset, chronic and protracted crises, as well as health emergencies.
2. Ensure timely and efficient coordination of HQ support (technical, financial, human resource, security, policy/advocacy) and direct assistance to CO/RO to enable quality humanitarian action in line with the Core Commitments for Children humanitarian action (CCCs) and new Emergency Procedures.
3. Assist RO and COs in critical phases of preparedness, and humanitarian response including through mission travel. Support complex emergency countries during strategic moments of interagency assessment and planning, including planning for integrated UN presences.
4. Through UNICEF’s Emergency Operations Centre (OPSCEN), other EMOPs sections and other HQ divisions, in close contact with CO, RO and sister UN agencies, monitor emerging humanitarian political, and recovery trends, and potential socio-political instability. Identify potential humanitarian risks and strategies for preparedness and risk reduction before a new crisis occurs and best approaches for UNICEF to engage in early recovery and transition processes.
5. In collaboration with COs, ROs, and key HQ Divisions, provide guidance and coordinate the preparation and review of humanitarian appeals, as well as  related resource mobilization documents (including EPF, CERF and others).
6. Provide UNICEF senior leadership (including within EMOPS) with timely updates and analysis on the impact of humanitarian crises in assigned countries. Provide inputs for UNICEF documentation/reports such as updates to the Executive Board, inputs to reports by the Secretary General as well as his Special Representatives and the Executive Committee/Deputies Committee, as required.
7. Ensure key interagency advocacy/ coordination fora related to emergency response, crisis management and integrated assessment/planning are informed by UNICEF’s priorities and reflect a child-centred narrative. Engage with member states on key humanitarian crises through public and private advocacy.
8. Serve as back-up to Supervisor and other Emergency Specialists in his/her absence.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Advanced University degree in International Relations, Public Administration/Public Policy, Humanitarian Affairs, Development, Social Sciences, or a related technical field.
• Work Experience: At least eight [8] years of progressively responsible work experience at the international and national level in developing countries is required.
• Skills: Knowledge and field experience of UNICEF programmes and prior emergency response experience with UNICEF especially in complex humanitarian environment is required.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in both written and spoken English and French is required. Working knowledge of other UN languages is a strong asset.

Desirables:

• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others

[add the 8^th competency (Nurtures, leads and manages people) for a supervisory role].

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

[Remove the following paragraph if not a child safeguarding elevated risk role] This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is either a role with direct contact with children, a role that works directly with identifiable children’s data, a safeguarding response role, or an assessed risk role. Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) apply.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per 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.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.