Org. Setting and Reporting
This position is located in the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) in Kinshasa. Kinshasa is classified at “C” hardship level and is a family duty station. The incumbent reports to the Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) through the Mission Chief of Staff.
Responsibilities
• Direct, coordinate and supervise the work of the Joint Operations Centre (JOC), including preparing, implementing, and monitoring the JOC work plan and managing the JOC staff which is comprised of an integrated team including military, police, and civilians with a range of expertise and to include seconded personnel from other Mission components. • Management responsibilities will include the prompt recruitment and selection of staff, management of staff (including performance management), development of a roster of coverage for the JOC, and oversee the development and promulgation of standard operating procedures for the work of the JOC. • The Senior Operations Officer is responsible for the accuracy, consistency and quality of JOC products and performance. The Senior Operations Officer ensures that the Mission. leadership has a common situational overview and oversee the Mission’s integrated daily and weekly situation reports for approval by the Head of Mission and transmittal to UN Headquarters; timely production of Significant Incident Reports (‘Flash Reports’) and exceptional ad hoc reports on current operations; and that the JOC maintains appropriate databases of submitted reports for ready access by appropriate Mission components. The senior operations officer with delegated authority of mission leadership, coordinates integrated operations/mission response, including planning mechanism, in close coordination with field offices, relevant components of the Mission, the UN Country Team, UN Headquarters and the authorities as deem appropriate. • The Senior Operations Officer manages the day-to-day functioning of the JOC, its relations with other Mission components and UN Headquarters, and the processing and timely dissemination of operations reports. He/she provides briefings on current operations to senior UN staff and visiting delegations, maintains contact with heads of Mission components to indicate, and respond to, needs that may arise within the Mission. • He/she also oversees the coordination of Requests for Information between the JOC, other Mission components, the UN Country Team, and UN Headquarters, at the same time ensuring an appropriate level of confidentiality for UN operations. • In crisis situations, the Senior Operations Officer plays a key role in reporting and supporting the leadership, including the Chief of Staff, in managing the crisis by ensuring close operational coordination through established mechanisms (i.e. Crisis Management Team and and Crisis Management Working Group) and ensuring the prompt execution of crisis response actions/activities by all concerned. • The Senior Operations Officer also serves as the substantive focal point for information and coordinated response to casualty evacuation (CASEVAC). • Supports sections and the field offices in the development of contingency plans and conducts TableTop Exercise and Field Training Exercise. • Performs other relevant duties as directed by the Mission Chief of Staff.
Competencies
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. Building trust: Provides an environment in which others can talk and act without fear of repercussion; places Confidence in colleagues, staff members and clients; gives proper credit to others; operates with transparency; follows through on agreed upon actions; treats sensitive or confidential information appropriately. Judgement/decision-making: Identifies key issues in complex situations and comes to the heart of problems quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary. Professionalism: Sound operational comprehension, effective analytical skills, and appropriate operations experience in information collection, management, and representation. Excellent drafting and editing skills, with the proven ability to produce cogent reports often under strict time constraints, and to critically review and edit the work of others. Ability to identify politically sensitive and operationally significant issues. Ability to coordinate with various actors including Mission components, the UN Country Team, government officials, civil society organisations, regional and intergovernmental organisations. Commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all areas of work. Expertise in crisis management, particularly in an operations room context at the Mission (theatre) level. Comprehensive understanding of UN peacekeeping operations, and a good knowledge of the UN system. Take responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives in their work and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. Communication: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors’ language, tone, style, and format to match audience; and demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
Education
Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in political science, international relations, foreign affairs or related area. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Job – Specific Qualification
Formal training in the conduct of joint operations at the operational and strategic levels (military or government staff colleges) is desirable.
Work Experience
A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in joint operations in peacekeeping, military, intelligence, crisis operations or related context is required. At least two years of experience in a UN peacekeeping mission is required. A proven track record of management of complex operations in multi-cultural settings, including management and coordination of multi-disciplinary teams, in the Great Lakes region is required. Experience in managing complex crisis and ensuring coordinated responses to crisis is required. Experience in facilitating and coordinating multi-stakeholder planning processes for joint operations, responding to crisis and ensure business continuity is required. Experience in managing a joint operations centre/analysis centre or a similar 24/7 operational environment is desirable
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in oral and written English and French is required.
Assessment
Previously rostered candidates are not subject to any further assessment and as such, will not be invited for such an assessment.
Special Notice
This “Recruit from Roster” job opening is only open to roster applicants who are already placed on pre-approved rosters, following a review by a United Nations Central Review Body. Only roster applicants who were placed on rosters with similar functions at the same level are considered to be eligible candidates. Eligible applicants receive an email inviting them to apply. Rostered applicants are encouraged to apply only if they are interested and available to take up the position at the duty station/s specified in the Job Opening. Applying to this job opening carries an expectation to accept the offer, if selected. Appointment or assignment against this position is for an initial period of one year. The appointment or assignment and renewal thereof are subject to the availability of the post or funds, budgetary approval or extension of the mandate. 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. 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. Staff members of the United Nations Secretariat must fulfil 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 letter.
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. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile 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.