Senior Emergency Specialist, P-5, Fixed Term, Kabul, Afghanistan #106661 (Open to Non-Afghan Nationals Only)

Afghanistan country office is seeking an experienced Senior Emergency Specialist responsible for the implementation and management of regional initiatives, strategies and activities in the assigned sector (e.g., Health, Nutrition, Child Protection, WASH) within the context of Emergency programme, with particular emphasis on the cluster approach and the cluster leadership for the assigned sector.

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built: we offer our staff diverse opportunities for personal and professional development that will help them develop a fulfilling career while delivering on a rewarding mission. We pride ourselves on a culture that helps staff thrive, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, a future

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbkJiMmvKqk

How can you make a difference? 

Under the general guidance of the supervisor, responsible for the implementation and management of regional initiatives, strategies and activities in the assigned sector (e.g., Health, Nutrition, Child Protection, WASH) within the context of Emergency programme, with particular emphasis on the cluster approach and the cluster leadership for the assigned sector. Responsible for provision of authoritative advice, expert analysis and technical leadership to the Regional Offices and to Country Offices in the Region with regard to Emergency programme management policies, operational strategies, implementation and evaluation related to the sector in Emergency.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

Within the delegated authority and under the given organizational set-up, the incumbent may be assigned the primary, shared, or contributory accountabilities for all or part of the following areas of major duties and key end-results.

• Cluster approach to the sector in an emergency situation in the Region are effectively formulated and implemented to meet its cluster leadership responsibility in accordance with the global policy and regional operational strategy.
• Brings together perspectives and experiences from global level and the countries in the Region on emergency preparedness and response and formulates them in the context of UNICEF's sectoral policy, institutional priorities and the cluster leadership responsibilities and implications of the UN Humanitarian Reform.

2. Emergency support to country offices:

• Innovative leadership and expertise are provided for supporting emergency preparedness and response in the sector in the country offices throughout the Region.
• Disseminates state of the art documentation/knowledge related to the sector in emergencies to the country offices, including an innovative approach in emergency interventions to assist children and mothers in humanitarian contexts.

3. Capacity Building:

• Capacities of UNICEF and key implementing counterparts staff in the sector in Emergency are strengthened through sharing latest knowledge/ information/practices, providing leadership to regional network for coordination/collaboration of sectoral intervention, and supporting capacity building efforts for UNICEF staff and implementing partners.
  
• Provides expert support for strengthening the capacities of UNICEF and key counterpart staff in the sector in emergencies.

4. Resource Mobilization:

• Availability of financial resources for the implementation of appropriate sectoral Emergency Preparedness and Response interventions is increased in the Region through effective coordination and support for resource mobilization in Emergency.
• Contributes to increasing the availability of financial resources for the implementation of appropriate sectoral emergency preparedness and response interventions in the Region.

5. Regional Early Warning:

• Effective contribution is made to the monitoring and the identification of changes in the sector of vulnerable areas to trigger and coordinate prompt action within Early Warning/Early Action system.
• In collaboration with the Regional Offices of other Organizations, contributes to the monitoring and the prompt identification of changes in the sector in vulnerable countries/zones of the Region.

6. Emergency Preparedness:

• Technical leadership and guidance are effectively provided to the country offices in the development and implementation of Emergency Preparedness and Response measures in the sector.
• Advises country offices to ensure that adequate emergency preparedness measures for the sector are adopted and incorporated in the development and updating of country contingency plans and establishment of early warning mechanisms.

7. Emergency Responses:

• Emergency response measures are deployed promptly, local conditions are assessed and sectoral emergency assistance are prioritized and swiftly implemented.
• In the event of an emergency, takes prompt action, as Team Leader or member of the Emergency Response Team which is deployed immediately to establish UNICEF's presence and implement sectoral emergency assistance as necessary

8. Emergency Project Management:

• Sectoral emergency strategies are mainstreamed in the regional and country offices' workplan and operations through provision of strong leadership, innovative vision and expert advice, including sectoral input in the Situation Analysis and the Country Programme.
• Advises to ensure that disaster prevention, mitigation, preparedness and response strategies pertaining to the sector are mainstreamed in the regional and country offices' workplans.  Provides expert advice and input in the sectoral components of the Situation Analysis, the Country Programme document. and sectoral emergency project planning process.

9. Inter-Agency and Implementing Partners Coordination:

• Effective governmental and inter-agency sectoral coordination is realized at the regional level within the framework of the cluster approach and based on the Core Commitment for Children.
• Advises to ensure that the UNICEF support is effectively provided to governments with respect to sectoral coordination within the framework of the cluster approach and based on the Core Commitment for Children.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: JD - Senior Emergency Specialist, P5, Kabul

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum requirements:

• Advanced University degree in one of the following fields: social sciences, public administration, international law, public health, nutrition, international relations, business administration or other related disciplines. Preferably a combination of management, administration, and relevant technical fields.
• Ten years of progressively responsible professional work experience at the national and international levels in all aspects of programme/project management and administration.
• Experience in managing Partnerships in complex environments is required.
• Leadership experience in managing medium to large teams is required.
• Field experience, managing Field Offices is an advantage.
• Developing country work experience (for IP).
• Specialized training/experience in emergency response management highly desirable.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

(8) Nurtures, leads and manages people 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is either a role with direct contact with children, a role that works directly with identifiable children’s data, a safeguarding response role, or an assessed risk role. Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) apply.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

We offer a wide range of measures to include a more diverse workforce, such as paid parental leave, time off for breastfeeding purposes, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination. UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per 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.

UNICEF’s active commitment to diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Eligible staff members on fixed-term, continuing or permanent contracts applying to IP TA positions in a duty station designated as L2/L3, may be able to retain a lien and their fixed-term entitlements, subject to approval by their Head of Office. The conditions of the temporary assignment will vary depending on the status of their post and relocation entitlements may be limited as per the relevant policies.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.