Associate Operations Officer 162 views

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the United Nations Operations and Crisis Centre (UNOCC). The incumbent reports to the Head of the UNOCC Watch Room. The UNOCC provides rapid situational awareness and analysis of events in the field, in order to enable informed, coordinated and timely decision-making and strategic engagement on operations and crisis management at UN Headquarters (UNHQ) through 24/7 support to senior managers across the UN system.

The UNOCC is part of the Office of the Director for Coordination and Shared Services (ODCSS) serving the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) and Peace Operations (DPO). ODCSS enables, directs and coordinates departmental efforts to ensure the effective integration and management of both Departments.

The Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) focuses primarily on five action areas in international peace and security, ensuring sound analysis and early warning, preventing conflict and engaging in peacemaking, managing political crises and violent conflicts, sustaining peace, and enhancing partnerships. The Department’s mandate is to prevent and resolve conflict through inclusive political solutions.

The Department of Peace Operations (DPO) serves as a center of excellence for peace operations, responsible for preventing, responding to and managing conflict and sustaining peace in countries where peace operations under its purview are deployed, and provides support to other entities on peace and security issues.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Associate Operations Officer will be responsible for the following duties:

• Monitors political, military, police, humanitarian, logistics and other relevant developments in assigned DPO peacekeeping, peace-building, special political missions and non-mission settings.
• Gathers and interprets information from a variety of sources, including internet-based open source media, field mission reports and information from Member States.
• Acts as an initial point of contact for Headquarters, peacekeeping missions, and Permanent Missions in New York when required.
• Interacts routinely with peacekeeping missions in the field and with other Headquarters elements.
• Acts as a designated UN Watch Officer during silent hours, weekends, and holidays.
• Tracks the overall security situation in assigned areas.
• Drafts and edits daily situation reports
• Prepares presentations, briefings and reports using visual tools.
• Prepares and updates maps of UN field missions using cartographic and information systems where applicable.
• Researches and drafts special reports related to operational issues as required.
• Responds to requests for information from senior managers at Headquarters, in field missions/offices and from Member States.
• Provides point of contact services between Headquarters, UN field presences and permanent missions in New York when required.
• Maintains detailed and confidential contact information databases on array of UN leadership and affiliated organizations, bridging and connecting calls when requested.
• Facilitates crisis and emergency procedures when necessary.
• As part of the 24/7 staffing of the Watch Room, the Associate Operations Officer performs 12-hour shifts, alternating day and night shifts, including during silent hours, early mornings, holidays and weekends.
• Performs any other duties as requested by the Head of Watch Room or direct supervisor.

Competencies

PROFESSIONALISM
• Is able to conduct independent research and analysis, identify issues, formulate options, and present conclusions and recommendations.
• Demonstrates understanding of field mission mandates and associated regional dynamics
• Shows pride in work and in achievements.
• Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter.
• Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results
• Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns.
• Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges.
• Remains calm in stressful situations.
• Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work.

TEAMWORK
• Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals.
• Solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise.
• Is willing to learn from others.
• Places team agenda before personal agenda.
• Supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position.
• Shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.

CLIENT ORIENTATION
• Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view.
• Establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect.
• Identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions.
• Monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems.
• Keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects.
• Meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.

Education

An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in political science, history, international relations, journalism and media, or a related field is required. A first level university degree, in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience, may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

A first-level university degree and no experience will be accepted for candidates who have passed the United Nations Young Professionals Programme Examination (YPP), the United Nations National Competitive Recruitment Examination (NCRE) or the General Service to Professional Examination (G to P).

Work Experience

A minimum of two years of progressively responsible experience in political analysis is required.
Experience in conducting briefings on political issues is desirable.
Experience in dealing with an emergency or crisis management situations is desirable.
Experience in drafting reports and briefing documents based on analytical assessments of electoral/politically related situations is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which will be followed by a competency-based interview.

Special Notice

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures.

This post is financed by the Support Account for Peacekeeping Operations. This position is funded for a period of one year. Extension of appointment will be subject to budgetary approval.
The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

Applicants from troop and police-contributing countries who are found most suitable and recommended for selection will be given due consideration for positions in a peacekeeping operation or Headquarters support account funded positions in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, taking into account their contribution to United Nations peacekeeping, in accordance with General Assembly resolutions 66/265 and 67/287.

United Nations Considerations

According to 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. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment.

Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.