Programme Associate (Watch), G-6, Fixed Term, OPSCEN/EMOPS, NYHQ

Contract

This is a G-6 contract. This kind of contract is known as General Service and related categories. It is normally only for nationals. It usually requires 6 years of experience, depending on education. More about G-6 contracts.

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, a chance

The Emergency Watch Associate position is based in UNICEF Headquarters, in the Office of Emergency Programmes (EMOPS) Division, in the Office of Security Coordination (OSC) Section, within the Emergency Operations Centre (OPSCEN) and reports directly to the OPSCEN Watch Coordinator and the OPSCEN Manager as a secondary supervisor.

The OSC 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 fulfil this role, the OSC relies on OPSCEN to provide 24-hour, 7 days-a-week information and communication services to support UNICEF staff and offices globally. OPSCEN maintains global situational awareness of security and humanitarian emergencies, provides support and monitors/alerts on developments, in addition to acting as the UNICEF Crisis Coordination Centre in the event of a critical security incident or humanitarian emergency.

How can you make a difference?

The OPSCEN Emergency Watch Associate provides real-time support to staff around the world, monitors emergency-related developments, communicates current and emerging trends through real-time alerts, develops text and data visualization-based products. To support 24/7 operations, the OPSCEN Emergency Watch Associate is required to work on rotating shifts, (this includes Day Shifts from 07:00 – 15:00; Evening Shifts from 15:00 – 23:00 and Night Shifts from 23:00-7:00) as well as weekends and holidays, for which internal compensatory mechanisms are in place.

Specific duties include:

1. Provide UNICEF offices and staff globally with quality and timely 24/7 emergency information and communication services:

• Provide 24/7 on-call emergency assistance to UNICEF staff globally through immediate advice (via phone and email), follow-up and/or referral.
• Produce alerts for critical humanitarian and/or security developments:
  • Monitor global media for events with potential humanitarian implications for children and/or security implications for UNICEF staff.
  • Timely produce and disseminate alerts and updates on breaking/unfolding events to key staff at country, regional and headquarter levels.
  • Following a critical security incident establish, in coordination with security professionals or focal points on the ground, the presence and safety of UNICEF staff and dependents and ensure immediate follow-up by UNICEF security staff.
• Produce media monitoring products, briefs and infographics and any other products related to emergency and security contexts:
  • Produce regular media summaries using media monitoring tools.
  • Develop and timely disseminate briefs on emergency and at-risk situations, based on media monitoring.
  • Create emergency-related maps and infographics to support humanitarian and security decision-making.
• Timely disseminate and archive emergency/security related information from the country, regional and headquarter offices and external entities. This includes the dissemination as well as the upload and publication of UNICEF’s Humanitarian Situation Reports onto the Drupal platform.

2. Contribute to optimizing OPSCEN services through preparation of quality and timely products:

• Regularly update assigned emergency products (e.g. factsheets and infographics) for emergencies and high-level meetings.
• Create emergency-related data visualization (e.g. ArcGIS and google maps) to support humanitarian and security decision-making.
• Generate and disseminate OPSCEN Dashboard alerts.

3. Support an enhanced quality of internal daily operation:

• Support the maintenance of OPSCEN internal database (e.g. global staff contacts) and the update of mailing/distribution lists.
• Support the coordination and facilitation of emergency meetings in the OPSCEN Conference Room (including managing the OPSCEN calendar for scheduling meetings; distributing supporting documents for meetings as needed; supporting the facilitation of emergency-related videoconferences, conference calls, and bilateral calls, etc.).
• Support the supervisors and the team members in the smooth planning for and implementation of the quarterly Watch Associate shift schedule.
• Upon the decision of the UNICEF Crisis Management Team, activate business continuity procedures to ensure that OPSCEN remains operational in the event of a critical incident affecting NYHQ. This also includes disseminating messages to NYHQ staff via the Emergency Notification System concerning security incidents and weather events affecting NYHQ.

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

• Completion of secondary education.
• At least six (6) years of relevant technical experience or university courses related to the work of the organization/functional role.
• Fluency in English required; proficiency in another UN language highly desirable.

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.

Core Competencies:

• Builds and maintains partnerships [II]
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness [II]
• Drive to achieve results for impact [II]
• Innovates and embraces change [II]
• Manages ambiguity and complexity [II]
• Thinks and acts strategically [II].
• Works collaboratively with others [II]

Functional Competencies:

• Planning and Organizing [II]
• Analysing [II]
• Persuading and Influencing [I]
• Adapting and Responding to Change [I]
• Coping with Pressure and Setbacks [II]

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

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:

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

Passing the GGST Exam (Global General Service Test) or UN ASAT in English is required.

Non-US candidates must be in possession of an existing US G4 visa or be a US permanent resident/citizen.