Chief of section, P5

Job Opening number 11-ADM-OCHA ISDR SECRETARIAT-21229-R-GENEVA (O)

United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the secretariat of the United Nations Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction, Geneva, Switzerland. The incumbent reports to the Director.

By its resolution 54/219, the General Assembly established the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction secretariat to serve as the focal point in the United Nations system for the coordination of disaster-reduction activities of the United Nations system and regional organizations and activities in socio-economic and humanitarian fields. In 2005, the World Conference for Disaster Reduction held in Hyogo, Kobe, Japan adopted the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015: Building the resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters, a strategy for reducing vulnerabilities and risks to hazards and strengthening international cooperation in support of member states and communities.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Chief of Section will be responsible for the following:

- Provides timely and effective support to UNISDR regional offices, helps identify opportunities for interventions and partnerships, review impact of work, and facilitate coordination with key partners (i.e. Multilateral and bilateral donors, European Commission, Regional Development Banks, the World Bank, UN Resident Coordinator system) to work on joint programming and complementary support to strengthen regional and national disaster risk reduction processes.
- Oversees a team of regional desks in Geneva that will serve to ensure coherence and coordination within the UNISDR, as resource persons for the regions, and ensure liaison with all relevant units of the UNISDR secretariat and external partners.
- Oversee a policy and practice support function which coordinates and supports all reporting obligations of the Regional Offices and the Program support entities.
- Serve as the first reporting officer for all the Heads of Regional offices.
- As an experienced manager, he/she will provide coaching and mentoring to regional office staff and oversee budgeting and work plan monitoring of the section.
- As team leader and an experienced manager, assist and support the Director of ISDR and the Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) on ISDR system regional and national level partnerships and advise Heads of Regional Offices and UNISDR senior management in this regard on policy and programmatic issues to ensure coherent mobilization of resources.
- Coordinates with regional offices in identification of opportunities for collaboration with national, regional and international development partners towards specific regions or sub-regions; supports monitoring of impact of the work and analysis of trends; and guides the Heads of Regional Offices to translate global ISDR system, UN and other relevant international agendas into the regional strategies and plans to facilitate coherence, including related to national platforms for disaster risk reduction and national HFA focal points.
- Promotes greater integration of the work of ISDR system policies and programs through cooperation with the Resident Coordinators system, UN Country teams mechanisms and UN System Staff College, in particular related to training, reviews and preparation of Common Country Assessments (CCA) /UNDAFs ( United Nations Development Assistance Framework ) and Poverty reduction Strategies related to disaster risk reduction.
- Oversees the management of global programs and projects and implementation at regional level, in particular the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery, European Commission support and others, in close collaboration with the Resource Management Unit.
- Leads the development of technical policy for National Platforms and National coordinating mechanisms for disaster reduction through appropriate advice to the Regional offices and national Governments.
- Backstops regional offices and represents UNISDR at regional forums to encourage cooperation at the global level through consultations, joint meetings or workshops, so as to ensure a greater coherence across regions with impact at the regional and national levels.
- Acts as representative on behalf of regional offices in Geneva to ensure that regional demands are fulfilled and appropriately reflected and integrated into UNISDR secretariat planning, implementation and information systems.
- Supports the Regional Heads of Offices in the recruitment of staff, for the Regional Offices.
- Participates in the Senior Management Team of the secretariat and contributes to the strategic direction, planning and monitoring of the secretariat’s achievements.
- Perform other duties as required and requested by the Director and the SRSG.

Competencies

Professionalism

- Knowledge of national and regional policy, disaster risk reduction, project management and development in specific areas being supervised.
- Ability to produce reports and papers on technical issues and to review and edit the work of others.
- Ability to apply UN rules, regulations, policies and guidelines in work situations.

Planning and Organizing 

- Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies;
- Identifies priority activities and assignments;
- Adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work;
- Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning;
- Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary;
- Uses time efficiently, define and know roles and responsibilities.
- Be present.
- Set time frames and quality standards for deliverables.
- Adheres to agreed activities and stick to decisions taken.
- Take responsibility for your own setbacks and take corrective action.

Leadership

- Lead by example.
- Inspire the organization to realise its 'dream', communicate clearly the vision.
- Dare to take decisions, follow through and be consistent and fair.
- Delegate authority and provide growth opportunity.
- Recognize efforts and creativity.
- Identifies strategic issues, opportunities and risks.
- Clearly communicates links between the Organization’s strategy and the work unit’s goals.
- Generates and communicates broad and compelling organizational direction, inspiring others to pursue that same direction.
- Conveys enthusiasm about future possibilities.

Education

- Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in economics, social sciences, international relations or related area.
- A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work Experience

- A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in disaster risk reduction, development economics, crisis and disaster management , environment, engineering or related fields.

Languages

- Fluency in English (both oral and written) is required.

Assessment Method

- A competency-based interview and an essay exercise.

Special Notice

This vacancy is subject to availability of post. Staff members of the United Nations Secretariat must fulfill the lateral move requirements to be eligible to apply for this vacancy. Staff members are requested to indicate all qualifying lateral moves in their Personal History Profile (PHP) and cover note.

This post is funded from the extra-budgetary resources. Extension of the appointment is subject to the availability of the funds.

United Nations Considerations

The United Nations shall place 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. (Charter of the United Nations - Chapter 3, article 8). The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment.