OPSCEN Emergency Officer (Watch Coordinator), P-2, Office of Emergency Programmes (EMOPS), New York, USA #574455

Entry Mid Security Crisis & Emergency Response

Contract

This is a P-2 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 2 years of experience, depending on education. More about P-2 contracts and their salaries.

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, hope!

The Office of Security Coordination (OSC) within the Emergency Programmes Division (EMOPS) supports UNICEF’s mandate to protect and advance the rights of children by facilitating security risk-informed decision making for programme delivery in all environments. It engages with the various entities of the United Nations Security Management System to shape the development and implementation of UN security policies and procedures to ensure compatibility with UNICEF’s mandate and enable the delivery of programs for children and people in need.

To help OSC fulfill its role, the Operations Centre (OPSCEN) has been providing essential 24/7 information and communication services to UNICEF globally since its establishment in January 1996. Beginning with its support during the Kosovo crisis in 1999, OPSCEN’s mission is to support UNICEF in meeting its core commitments to children in humanitarian situations. It delivers a range of real-time services that enhance global situational awareness, support senior management in making informed decisions during emergencies, facilitate the sharing of critical emergency and security information, and ensure timely crisis communication. Additionally, it serves as the primary point of contact for personnel during crises and emergencies.

The OPSCEN Emergency Officer (Watch Coordinator) is based in UNICEF Headquarters within the Office of Emergency Programmes (EMOPS), Security Section, Emergency Operations Centre (OPSCEN). This position reports directly to the OPSCEN Manager (Emergency Specialist) and has a secondary reporting line to the Deputy Security Coordinator (OSC).

How can you make a difference?

The Emergency Officer (Watch Coordinator) supports the OPSCEN Manager by providing strong leadership and daily supervision to the OPSCEN Watch function. This role directly oversees a team of Emergency Watch Associates working on a 24/7 rotational shift schedule and is essential for enhancing the quality of OPSCEN’s services and products while strengthening the technical capacity of the Watch Team.

The OPSCEN Watch Team is responsible for continuous monitoring of global security events and emergency-related developments. It delivers real-time alerts and media monitoring reports, supports UNICEF leaders with risk-informed decision-making, and ensures OPSCEN operates effectively as a crisis center. This support covers global Level 3 (L3) emergencies and humanitarian crises, UNICEF personnel worldwide, and maintains business continuity at NYHQ.

Beyond improving OPSCEN’s communication and information services, the Emergency Officer (Watch Coordinator) will also play a key role in fostering a positive work culture and environment. This also involves ensuring the Operations Centre remains dynamic, agile, adaptable to change, and responsive to evolving client needs.

The Emergency Officer (Watch Coordinator) supervises the OPSCEN Watch function and quality assures assigned deliverables, which includes:

1. Providing 24/7 emergency information and communication services to UNICEF personnel and offices worldwide. This involves preparing and disseminating internal and external situational awareness products such as real-time alerts (focused on man-made crises and natural disasters), media summaries, and/or other reports These products aim to enhance risk-informed decision-making, particularly concerning events that may impact personnel safety, operational implementation, or assets.
2. Providing effective operational support to emergency management team meetings, including L2/L3 emergencies.
3. Serving as a key contact point at HQ, facilitating effective crisis communication during emergencies or significant security events, and offering referrals and delegations as needed for timely support.
4. Implementing robust business continuity systems to ensure that OPSCEN remains operational, especially during critical incidents affecting NYHQ.

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: A Master's degree in social sciences, international development, international politics, international relations, business administration or other related disciplines OR a bachelor’s degree with additional work experience.
• Work Experience: Candidates with a Master's degree must have at least-two years of humanitarian-related work experience. Those with a Bachelor’s must have at least four years’ humanitarian-related work experience.
• ****Skills:**** Proven coordination and supervisory experience such as managing small teams, particularly in international or local organizational contexts, is a strong asset.
• Data visualization skills are highly desirable, with familiarity in tools such as Esri ArcGIS Pro, Google Earth Pro, and Power BI.
• Information and knowledge management skills, including experience in reporting, are advantageous.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English required, proficiency in another UN language is a strong asset.

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

(8) Nurtures, leads and manages people

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

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.

Apply now

Added 3 hours ago - Updated 3 hours ago - Source: unicef.org