Overview
The Head of Office, D1, is responsible for overseeing all programmatic and administrative tasks for the efficient functioning of the OCHA office and any sub-offices, and for ensuring the use of resources and results obtained.
Key Responsibilities
- Serve as senior policy advisor to the UN RC/HC, UNCT and humanitarian country team on humanitarian principles and initiatives.
- Develop and maintain contacts with the international community to raise awareness and advocate for humanitarian concerns.
- Strengthen cooperation among the humanitarian community on policy issues.
- Advise and guide on humanitarian reform initiatives.
- Provide strategic support to the UN RC/HC in the preparation, implementation and monitoring of the humanitarian community's work plan.
- Provide strategic leadership on humanitarian access negotiations.
- Consult with the RC/HC, Heads of UN Agencies, NGOs, government and donors on humanitarian activities.
- Support the planning, monitoring, and evaluation of humanitarian programs.
- Promote best practices in humanitarian planning, response and evaluation.
- Facilitate inter-agency resource mobilization efforts.
- Develop, reinforce and maintain effective coordination mechanisms.
- Establish/manage information management systems.
- Foster and reinforce linkages between field monitoring, information management and coordination efforts.
- Ensure timely and appropriate assistance in response to disasters and emergencies.
- Support inter-agency efforts to build in-country UN capacity for disaster response.
- Provide substantive support and leadership to government institutions and local humanitarian entities to build national capacity for emergency management.
- Promote dialogue, regional alliances, and knowledge sharing among humanitarian actors.
- Promote and lead contingency planning processes.
- Develop joint initiatives on disaster management.
- Reinforce regional networks and mechanisms for swift, effective response to emerging humanitarian situations.
- Provide oversight of all programmatic/administrative tasks for the efficient functioning of the OCHA office and any sub-offices.
- Lead work planning and budgeting process, support resource mobilization and ensure sound financial management.
- Ensure regular and effective supervision of OCHA staff.
- Promote OCHA's mandate, objectives and tools.
- Ensure the Office produces timely, high-quality outputs.
- Perform other duties as requested.
Required Experience
- A minimum of fifteen (15) years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, rehabilitation, development, or other related area is required.
- At least five (5) years of humanitarian experience at the international level in the field (actual setting where a mission and/or project is being implemented) in aid operations (complex emergency or natural disaster) in a humanitarian context within the UN Common system or other comparable international organization is required.
- Experience leading and coordinating humanitarian relief operations at management level in complex emergency or natural disaster situation is required.
- Experience in a mission setting is desirable.
Qualifications
An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in political science, social science, international studies, public administration or management, economics, engineering, earth sciences or a related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with an additional two (2) years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
