Regional Online Volunteer Service Officer

Contract

This is a UNV International Specialist contract. This kind of contract is known as International UN Volunteer. It is normally internationally recruited only. More about UNV International Specialist contracts.

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme is the UN organization that contributes to peace and development through volunteerism worldwide. Volunteerism is a powerful means of engaging people in tackling development challenges, and it can transform the pace and nature of development. Volunteerism benefits both society at large and the individual volunteer by strengthening trust, solidarity and reciprocity among citizens, and by purposefully creating opportunities for participation. UNV contributes to peace and development by advocating for recognition of volunteers, working with partners to integrate volunteerism into development programming, and mobilizing an increasing number and diversity of volunteers, including experienced UN volunteers, throughout the world. UNV embraces volunteerism as universal and inclusive and recognizes volunteerism in its diversity as well as the values that sustain it: free will, commitment, engagement and solidarity.

UNV engages around 8000 volunteer assignments annually. With an average age of 38 years and the requisite professional skills and qualifications of some 5 to 10 years relevant experience. The majority – 81 per cent – come from developing countries themselves. One third of UN Volunteers served in their own countries, with the others carrying out international assignments. The financial equivalent of programme activities exceeds US$ 235 million annually.  

UNV is headquartered in Bonn, Germany and has approximately 120 staff positions – with a large presence in Bonn and some positions with different UN peacekeeping and political missions, and in other Headquarters locations (e.g. New York and Tokyo) and Regional Offices (Nairobi, Dakar, Bangkok, Panama, Istanbul and Amman).

The Volunteer Solutions Section (VSS) oversees the application of standard policies and procedures at all levels of the Volunteer Management Cycle and programme development and management as well as the coordination and facilitation of communication and collaboration with Regional Offices.

On-site and on-line solutions team is in charge for the Volunteer Management Cycle architecture, corporate volunteer management tools and business processes and overall product management.

The Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP) is in charge for demand generation and partnerships building.

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Regional Manager or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UN Volunteer Regional Online Volunteer Service Officer will:

• Coordinate UNV Online Volunteering (OV) service at regional level:

• Lead the OV service in the region with increasing numbers of Online Volunteering assignments and Online Volunteers
• Coordinate multi-region outreach/marketing efforts for Online Volunteer assignments
• In coordination with the regional communications team, support design of corporate outreach materials, success stories, other communications products

• Provide OV service management and advisory support to partners in Asia and the Pacific:

• Interact with partners in the region to ensure growing demand for the OV service, especially in synergies with onsite UN Volunteer mobilization
• Promote OV solutions through quarterly partnership meetings and regular consultations
• In coordination with the RBM Analyst, share monthly updates on current trends and perspectives of the OV service by analyzing OV service users and partner organizations
• Ensure OV assignments quality review and advice partners on suggested changes
• Ensure that OV assignments are posted and timely advertised
• Monitor collaboration with partners and escalate to the product manager when and if relevant
• Lead regular dialogues with partners through all relevant channels to answer their questions and share with innovative solutions
• Help users of the OV service to fix technical and other issues such as systems bugs, etc.
• Prepare and share with regional team analysis on the OV service users’ feedbacks upon request

• Explore OV and UN Volunteer synergies and promote onsite-online integration in the region:

• In coordination with the regional portfolio team, identify OV and UN Volunteer synergies and lead on development of creative business solutions to extend onsite-online integration efforts in the region
• Coordinate multi-regional engagement and outreach/marketing of onsite-online synergies through networking and partnership development efforts
• Support planning and organization of webinars, workshops and other events promoting OV and UN Volunteer integration among UN entities and partners
• Support development/production of communication material and content on onsite-online integration to promote synergies between Online Volunteer and UN Volunteer mobilization

• Support improvement of the corporate OV offer:

• In coordination with the Regional Office and VSS, provide inputs on the corporate OV strategy and mobilization
• Support and provide inputs on OV business requirements and systems improvements for continuous systems optimization
• Support development and updating of internal and external OV guidance and promotion material
• Regular follow-up on trends and brief the Regional Office and VSS on mitigation measures or new business requirements/solutions regarding OV
• Provide inputs on the OV service to the corporate global and regional reporting, addressing the progress of performance in line with the new Strategic Framework for 2022 – 2025

• Ensure knowledge management and exchange, marketing and capacity building on the OV service

• Build capacities of the regional team on the OV service and its synergies with onsite UN Volunteer mobilization
• Lead regional research on product line approaches and marketing
• Drafts inputs and visuals for internal and external presentations, communications, leaflets, guidance notes
• Supports knowledge management and exchange on the OV service
• Develop and implement marketing plans for the OV service with the focus on synergies with the onsite UN Volunteer mobilization
• Identify priority countries and partners for the OV service and draft tailored solutions for them
• Partner with the regional portfolio team to advocate for the OV service and related onsite UN Volunteer mobilization

• Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

• Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to UNV; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to UNV procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented; • Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNV in daily activities and behaviors while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behavior; does not abuse power or authority; • Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity; sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age; commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues; • Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment. • Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities; • Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups; • Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary; • Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNV’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

• Advanced University Degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Marketing, Digital Communications and Design, Management, Analysis or other relevant field • At least, 3 years of professional work experience at national and/or international level in marketing, promotion, advocacy, preferably, of digital solutions, information technology with the focus on marketing; • Experience in the UN or other international organizations is an asset; • Motivated to contribute towards peace and development and to serve others; • Good interpersonal, networking and communication skills; • Willingness to contribute and work as part of a team; • Flexible and open to learning and new experiences; • Respect for diversity and adaptability to other cultures, environments and living conditions; • Previous experience as a volunteer and/or experience of another culture, (i.e. studies, volunteer work, internship) would be highly regarded; • Experience in developing countries is desirable. • Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills; • Accuracy and professionalism in document production and editing; • Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development; • Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel; • Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment; • Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines; • Sound security awareness; • Have affinity with or interest in volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.

Bangkok is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. Like most of Thailand, Bangkok has a tropical savanna climate and is under the influence of the South Asian monsoon system. It experiences three seasons: hot, rainy, and cool, although temperatures are fairly hot year-round. The city has grown from its original center along the river into a sprawling metropolis surrounded by swaths of suburban residential development extending north and south into neighboring provinces. Bangkok is the economic center of Thailand, and the heart of the country's investment and development. Much of Thailand's educational (including international schools) and medical resources are concentrated in the capital. Security threat level for most of Thailand has been assessed as Level 1 (Minimal) or 2 (Low). Criminal activities in Thailand are considered low when compared to other countries in the region. Like any metropolis, crimes of opportunity exist in Bangkok. Increases in bag-snatching incidents have been reported occurring opportunistically throughout the country. There have been cases where victims have been injured in such incidents, as they are dragged along the street if they fail to give up the desired handbags, knapsacks, etc. Organized crime such as credit card/internet fraud, human trafficking, as well as drug related offences reported increasing.