Emergency Specialist (Geospatial Risk Analysis) - P-3, Fixed Term, Office of Emergency Programmes (EMOPS) NYHQ

Contract

This is a P-3 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 5 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 140,639 USD and 184,155 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

UNICEF HQ Locations are currently undergoing organizational changes; therefore, the exact location of the post has yet to be determined. Selected candidates may be required to commence duties remotely until the location is confirmed. If reassigned or relocated to another location****, candidates may be expected to relocate to a new location again during the initial contract or assignment period.

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, save lives

As emergencies become more frequent, the expectations of UNICEF to deliver on the Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action (CCCs) in a timely and effective manner will continue to increase. Emergency preparedness significantly enhances UNICEF’s ability to meet these expectations and save time and resources in the response. In 2019, the Office of Emergency Programmes (EMOPS) established Risk Analysis and Preparedness Section (RAPS) to enhance UNICEF’s ability to anticipate crises and be ready to respond efficiently, fast, and at scale. The Emergency Specialist (Geospatial Risk Analysis) is based in New York, UNICEF Headquarters, Office of Emergency Programmes (EMOPS), Risk Analysis and Preparedness Section, and reports to the P4 Emergency Specialist, (Risk Analysis).

How can you make a difference?

The Emergency Specialist will support emergency-related activities in EMOPS including risk analysis and preparedness, emergency response coordination, evidence and learning, and emergency programming analysis. This includes liaison with EMOPS’ sections responsible for these functions. The Specialist will perform research and draft analytical reports, conduct spatial data analysis and produce related static and interactive visualization (including but not limited to maps, infographics, dashboards and story maps), liaise with key partners and allies, and support the development of EMOPS’ analytical systems, policies and technologies pertaining to geospatial technology.

Functions/accountabilities:

1. Produce geospatial risk analysis and predictive products, with emphasis on potential humanitarian impacts to children and those who care for them, including via direct collaboration with country offices.

• Geospatial risk analysis to support risk-informed programme design and emergency preparedness.
• Predictive analyses of the humanitarian impact of natural hazards such as floods, cyclones, droughts, earthquakes, etc.
• Geospatial models of sub-national conflict probability and potential humanitarian impacts
• Predictive analysis for potential displacement resulting from threats as above

2. Develop online tools for geospatial risk analysis, including baseline and dynamic risk

• Use ArcGIS Online and open-source tools to develop online tools that combine data on population vulnerability, hazard, exposure, and coping capacity to inform risk-informed programming and emergency preparedness
• Use ArcGIS Online and open-source tools to develop operational dashboards, web-apps and/or story maps that combine dynamic hazard information with dynamic vulnerability analysis and operational data, including user-edited layers.

3. Automate data flows and geospatial analysis

• Improve UNICEF’s connections to automatically access external data, and internal data from across the organization
• Develop scripts to automate pre-defined analytical and map-making processes

4. Produce spatial products to support emergency response decision-making, including early analysis of the impacts of natural and human caused events.

• On-demand maps in support of UNICEF decision making on humanitarian situations, including for example:

i. Data related to natural hazards, conflict and public health emergencies

ii. Logistics and humanitarian access information

iii. Humanitarian needs and population vulnerability

5. Liaise with other headquarters divisions to support development and implementation of UNICEF geospatial strategies

• Contribute technical inputs to support development of a plan to build and imbed geospatial capacity in EMOPS.
• Contribute technical inputs to UNICEF efforts to develop an organization-level geospatial strategy
• Provide technical support to staff developing GIS skills

6. Build and maintain geospatial focused partnerships with other humanitarian, development, and adjacent academic actors

• Identify sources to meet information needs, and liaise with providers for access
• Contribute to drafting agreements as necessary, and support moving these through necessary channels
• Liaise with other UNICEF stakeholders as needed (e.g. ICT, DAPM) to determine data storage needs, and identify/implement solutions. d. Support UNICEF’s contribution to the UN Geospatial Network, as needed

7. Other related tasks as identified with/by supervisors

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

• Education: Advanced degree in Geographic Information Systems, Geospatial Science, environmental sciences, geography, epidemiology, or other field relevant to geospatial risk analysis
• Experience: At least five years of experience in geospatial data collection, analysis, process automation and visualization
• Experience in humanitarian or other emergency-related risk analysis, for both natural and human-caused hazards
• Proficiency in GIS software (ArcGIS pro, Arc GIS online, QGIS, Geonode, Geoserver), mobile data collection tools such as KoBo toolbox/ODK, business intelligence software (PowerBI/Tableau) required
• Experience automating map production using dynamic map layouts, data driven pages, map series and/or through custom scripting
• Experience working with web mapping services/APIs
• Experience using Python/ArcPy to automate analysis and data processes Working knowledge of PostGIS, SQL, JavaScript and/or R is an advantage
• Experience in Microsoft Azure and Databricks environment is an advantage
• Demonstrated abilities in predictive analysis is an advantage
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English required; proficiency in another UN language highly desirable.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA)

The core competencies required for this post are:

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
• Works Collaboratively with others (1)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (1)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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 also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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.

UNICEF only considers Higher education qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net

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