Emergency Specialist (Preparedness), P-4, Fixed Term, Office of Emergency Programmes (EMOPS), New York, USA

Overview

Strengthen global early warning and preparedness systems for humanitarian response.

You have:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in relevant fields required.
• A minimum of eight (8) years of progressively responsible professional work experience in preparedness and/or humanitarian action is required.
• Complementary experience in international development is an advantage.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

Contract

This is a P-4 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 7 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 159,743 USD and 205,956 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 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 fulfil 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, a better life

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favouritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfil their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

Strategic office context:

As emergencies become more frequent, and resources invested in humanitarian action grow, expectations for UNICEF to deliver on the Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action (CCCs) in a timely and effective manner increase. Emergency preparedness significantly enhances UNICEF’s ability to meet these expectations, not only saving lives but making our emergency operations faster, greener and more cost-efficient. Emergency preparedness at UNICEF is being increasingly mainstreamed as everyone’s responsibility, beyond specific functions or typical emergency contexts.

The Risk Analysis and Preparedness Section (RAPS) in UNICEF’s Office of Emergency Programmes (EMOPS) main purpose is to support UNICEF in being ready to meet the CCCs in humanitarian emergencies. Thus, it focuses on ensuring that UNICEF anticipates future events that could adversely affect children’s lives and prospects, prepares for emergency responses as part of longer-term development goals and has the resources to implement preparedness actions.

UNICEF has made preparedness planning mandatory and adopted new and more systemic ways to promote it across the organization and in its work with partners. The mandatory Procedure on Preparedness for Emergency Response ensures that preparedness is mainstreamed across UNICEF. It includes mandatory Minimum Preparedness Actions and Minimum Preparedness Standards for Country Offices (CO), Regional Offices (RO) and Headquarters (HQ). The Emergency Preparedness Platform (EPP) is an online tool for implementing the procedure. The EPP helps teams analyze risks, self-assess and monitor their operational preparedness. and identify high-return actions to get ready for immediate response. EMOPS supports RO and CO emergency preparedness efforts through guidance and capacity building, technical assistance related to the EPP, as well as capacity within EMOPS to frequently scan the horizon for imminent risks.

Purpose for the job:

Under the supervision of the Chief of the Risk Analysis and Preparedness Section (RAPS), the Emergency Specialist (Preparedness) will work to strengthen global, regional and country early warning and preparedness systems and capacities to improve readiness for humanitarian response.

How can you make a difference?

Under the guidance of the Section Chief, RAPS, the Emergency Preparedness Specialist will:

1. Initiate, lead and support policy development and capacity-building for emergency preparedness:

• Act as the preparedness focal point for UNICEF, in direct support to COs and ROs, and in coordination with HQ divisions.
• Review and update the emergency preparedness procedure and related guidance documents, within UNICEF with inter-agency partners.
• Represent UNICEF in inter-divisional discussions. seeking linkages to address risk analysis and preparedness more comprehensively as an organization.
• In collaboration with other divisions, develop guidance on preparedness for anticipatory action and global level catastrophes including pandemics.
• Support the implementation of the Humanitarian recommendations related to preparedness.
• Document good practices and lessons learned in preparedness.

2. Lead the improvement and effective use of the Emergency Preparedness Platform (EPP), and related preparedness efforts:

• Review the EPP’s fitness for purpose and develop structural improvements as needed.
• Develop and update EPP guidance and resources; link guidance on anticipatory action and preparedness for global emergencies to the EPP.
• Support COs and ROs in capacity-building efforts to promote the effective use of the EPP.
• Coordinate with ICTD, GSSC and others as relevant on software feature design and improvement, user acceptance testing, planning, monitoring, and troubleshooting.
• Coordinate and provide technical assistance to ROs and COs in implementing the EPP, including quality assurance.
• Connect analysis of CO preparedness levels/capability to UNICEF’s horizon scanning and risk analysis work.

3. Support and monitor implementation of preparedness funds, support fundraising efforts and facilitate reporting:

• Support and monitor the implementation of preparedness funds allocated by EMOPS.
• Collaborate with the Private Partnerships Division (PPD), the Division of Private Fundraising and Partnerships (PFP) and other relevant actors on reporting and fundraising.
• Coordinate annual reporting, Executive Board updates, Consolidated Emergency Report, and other reporting requirements.
• Provide briefings and promote data analysis on emergency preparedness to senior management.

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

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in one of the following fields: International Relations, Public Administration/Public Policy, Humanitarian Affairs, Development, Social Sciences, or related technical field. *A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.

• A minimum of eight (8) years of progressively responsible professional work experience in preparedness and/or humanitarian action is required.

• Complementary experience in international development is an advantage. Experience of work at national, regional and HQ levels is an advantage. Experience in coordinating multi-stakeholder processes.

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

Core competencies skills

• Builds and maintains partnerships
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
• Drive to achieve results for impact
• Innovates and embraces change
• Manages ambiguity and complexity
• Thinks and acts strategically
• Works collaboratively with others
• Nurtures, leads and manages people

Functional Competencies

• Analyzing (III)
• Deciding and initiating action (III)
• Persuading and influencing (III)
• Applying technical expertise (III)
• Planning and organizing (III)

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

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.

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

Potential interview questions