Senior Emergency Specialist (ERT), P-5, Humanitarian Field Support (HFSS), Office of Emergency Programmes, Istanbul, Türkiye #71790

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, hope

The overall purpose of this post is to enhance the UNICEF s’ ability to jointly provide timely and effective response to acute emergencies occurring in countries and territories in line with UNICEF policies, procedures and guidelines (e.g. Core Commitments for Children, Emergency Procedures and Preparedness Procedure).

If required by EMOPS Director, the incumbent will provide technical guidance and leadership on humanitarian responses in countries affected by emergencies through deployment and/or remote support. Support to humanitarian responses can be for countries covered and not covered by a UNICEF Country Programme Document (CPD), with or without a NatCom.

How can you make a difference?

Purpose for the job

Under the general guidance of the Deputy Director and supervision of the Chief, Humanitarian Field Support Section (HFSS), EMOPS New York, and as a member of the ERT, the position will provide support to the coordination of UNICEF’s emergency response in crisis situations, through deployment to affected country offices, in full contact and consultation with Regional and Country Offices, and in close collaboration with the Office of Emergency Programmes. The position will provide support to overall leadership, guidance and direction to the UNICEF Emergency Response Team for programme planning, implementation and analysis to emergency programmes.

When deployed to a CO:

• Participate in/coordinate rapid needs assessment in collaboration with the government and other humanitarian actors.
• Informed by the preparedness plan, support the development of an emergency response strategies and plans to ensure the timely scale-up and delivery of humanitarian assistance as per CCCs and emergency procedures, including issues of gender equality, PSEA and disabilities.
• Support the provision of managerial field-based guidance and support teams on humanitarian programming and policy, and with the Representative, determine priorities for intervention and any changes that may be required to design and scale up result-based humanitarian emergency operations.
• Collaborate with sectoral programme officers to ensure that sectoral programmes in all regions of an emergency situation are coherent with UNICEF’s country programme and its Core Commitments for Children in Emergencies (CCCs) are met and emergency procedures implemented.
• Continuously analyse the context, define priorities for intervention and identify any changes that may be required to adjust and/or scale up the emergency operations.
• Work towards maximizing humanitarian access, realization of child rights and monitoring of violations including human security issues and staff security within the organizational context with partners.
• Provide support to inter-agency policy consultations in the emergency situation to ensure a coordinated timely response and to ensure evolution of programme focus with changes in context. Coordinate with RO/HQs to establish a clear position and coherent strategy.
• Identify needs for technical support, supplies, human, financial and other resources.
• In collaboration with the RO and HQ, provide technical leadership on internal emergency coordination mechanisms to review progress and address bottlenecks in a timely manner.
• Collaborate with sectoral and cross sectoral staff to ensure that the humanitarian response is coherent with UNICEF’s Core Commitments for Children in Emergencies (CCCs) and emergency procedures implemented.
• Promote and identify opportunities for partnerships and networks to achieve results.
• Oversee the provision of managerial field-based guidance, coaching and mentoring to response teams. In specific cases, the incumbent may be tasked with providing leadership and supervision to field-based teams.
• Provide guidance in the establishment of a results framework and a system for monitoring, evaluation and reporting as per the response plan.
• Undertake frequent field visits to assess and monitor progress.
• As required, represent UNICEF in briefings with donors and engagement with partners.
• Prepare an End of Mission/handover Report for submission to the Representative, Regional Director and Director EMOPS. Ensure regular liaison with regional offices, headquarters and partners to ensure follow-up actions at the respective levels and information needs are met.

When not deployed to the field:

• Provide overall support to EMOPS preparedness and response initiatives, in particular on HFSS and DO’s priorities.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in International Relations, Public Administration/Public Policy, Humanitarian Affairs, Development, Social Sciences, or a related technical field.
• A minimum of ten years of professional work experience at national and international levels in humanitarian response. Experience in emergency preparedness and response at field level, preferably with UNICEF, is highly valued.
• Fluency in English and fluency in at least another UN language (French, Spanish or Arabic) is required.

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: https://uni.cf/UNICEFValues

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)

Works Collaboratively with others (2)

Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)

Innovates and Embraces Change (2)

Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)

Drive to achieve impactful results (2)

Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

Nurtures, leads and manages people (2)

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework here.

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 benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.
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 promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, 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.

Remarks:

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

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station, which will be facilitated by UNICEF, is required for IP positions. Appointments are also subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Government employees that are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government 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.