Job and Career Info

Job Title CHIEF, External Relations and Partnership Section, P5
Department/ Office OFFICE FOR THE COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS
Duty Station NEW YORK
Closing Date: Saturday, 09 April 2011
Job Opening number 11-HRA-ocha-18070-R-NEW YORK
United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity



Org. Setting and Reporting
This position is located in the External Relations and Partnership Section in the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The incumbent will report to the Director, Corporate Programmes.

Responsibilities
Under the overall guidance of the Under-Secretary-General (USG) for Humanitarian Affairs, the Chief of External Relations and Partnerships Section reports to the Director, Corporate Programmes, and to the Chief of the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) Secretariat for the implementation of the CERF Resource Mobilization Strategy, and supports the USG, Assistant Secretary-General (ASG) and the Director in their work on donor and external relations and partnership building. Within delegated authority, the Chief of Section will be responsible for the following:
Provide inputs to the Executive Office of the Secretary-General for Secretary General’s meetings with high level officials of Member States based on priorities and strategies (e.g., through General Assembly outreach activities; mobilizing support for the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), international humanitarian system and OCHA; etc.).
Lead on preparing and implementing partnership building strategies both for Member States and the private sector in close cooperation with other Branches and Sections within OCHA.
Lead on preparing and implementing CERF Resource Mobilization Strategy in close cooperation with the CERF Secretariat, other Branches and Sections within OCHA.
Lead on preparing and implementing resource mobilization strategy for humanitarian country-based pooled funds in close cooperation with Funding Coordination Section (FCS) and other relevant Sections within OCHA.
Lead on negotiating, organizing and preparing events related to outreach and partnership building in New York, at regional and national levels, to enhance support for the work of OCHA and CERF from Member States and other humanitarian partners in special focus of engaging non-traditional multilateral humanitarian partners in close coordination with other Branches and Sections within OCHA – e.g. Group of 77, Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), League of Arab States (LAS), Association of Southwest Asian Nations (ASEAN), Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), etc., parliamentarians, non-governmental organizations, foundations and the private sector.
Lead and coordinate the implementation of a private sector strategy for CERF and OCHA, in particular on information management in close collaboration with the Communications, Information and Services Branch (CISB). Manage relations with and organize meetings and briefings with the Humanitarian Liaison Working Group (HLWG) in New York. In close cooperation with Coordination and Response Division (CRD) and relevant colleagues in Geneva, ensure the attention of HLWG members (and, in some cases, all Member States) to critical humanitarian crises.
Support Donor Relation Section (DRS) in Geneva in managing relations with OCHA Donor Support Group (ODSG) and liaise with the Chair and Troika, ODSG New York for its related activities.
In close cooperation with relevant Branches and Sections within OCHA including Coordination and Response Division (CRD), Geographical Coordination and Monitoring Section (GCMS), Consolidated Appeals Process/Financial Tracking System Unit (CAP/FTS Unit) , CERF Secretariat and FCS, monitor funding gaps in the financial requirements of the CAP, flash appeals, the CERF and country-based pooled funds, drawing the attention of the Senior Management Team of OCHA (SMT) and donors to these gaps.
Support relevant units within OCHA on Good Humanitarian Donorship (GHD) initiatives.
Provide policy advice to the Director, Corporate Programmes, on conceptual strategy development and management of the implementation of overall strategies of the section, and to the Chief of the CERF Secretariat on the strategic positioning of the CERF.
Lead on implementing the Objective 1.1 and 1.2 of OCHA’s Strategic Framework on broadening partnerships with member states, regional organizations and the private sector.
Plan and oversee the management of activities undertaken by the Section; ensure that substantive work programmes and activities are carried out in high-quality standards and a timely fashion, coordinating diverse projects in the Section, and in liaison with other organizations of the United Nations System, Member States, donors and other external partners as appropriate. Carry out programmatic/administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of the Section, including preparation of budgets, assigning and monitoring of performance parameters and critical indicators, reporting on budget/programme performance, preparation of inputs for results-based budgeting, evaluation of staff performance, interview candidates for job openings and evaluation of candidates. Recruit staff for Section taking due account of geographical and gender balance and other institutional values; and manage, guide, develop and train staff under his/her supervision.

Competencies
Core Competencies:
Professionalism:
Comprehensive knowledge of, and exposure to principles and practices of multilateral humanitarian response mechanisms; ability to represent an organization to a wider diplomatic or private sector community; ability to maintain effective working relationships with various actors, including governments, parliamentarians, foundations, NGOs, communities and UN partners; problem solving skills; ability to influence others to reach agreement; ability to work under stress and ability to formulate conclusions and recommendations.

Planning & 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

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

Managerial Competencies:
Leadership:
-Serves as a role model that other people want to follow
-Empowers others to translate vision into results
-Is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives
-Establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support
-Anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions
-Drives for change and improvement; does not accept the status quo
-Shows the courage to take unpopular stands

Judgement/ Decision-making:
-Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly
-Gathers relevant information before making a decision
-Considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them
-Takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization
-Proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information
-Checks assumptions against facts
-Determines that the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision
-Makes tough decisions when necessary

Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in international relations, communication, social sciences, journalism, public administration or other related field. 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 humanitarian affairs, of which at least five years must be in the UN system. At least five years experience in donor and external relations and fundraising with Member States and other partners. Experience mobilizing resources for the UN from the private sector is highly desirable. Experience with multilateral funding mechanisms, regional organizations and regional groupings of the UN is desirable.

Languages
English and French are the working languages of the UN Secretariat. For this position, English (both oral and written) is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.

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.

Assessment Method
A competency based interview and/or other forms of assessment will be used to evaluate applicants.
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 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.

No Fee
THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, TRAINING OR ANY OTHER FEES). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON BANK ACCOUNTS.