Strategic Planning Officer, P3, Geneva

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The Strategic Planning Officer works within HQ, Regional Bureau or Country Office and normally reports to a more senior staff member depending on the office setup. The incumbent normally supervises local and international staff.
The Strategic Planning Officer works on scenario building exercises to help UNHCR prepare for the future, as well as prepares analytical reports based on various internal and external data sources to identify relevant trends, opportunities and threats. These will feed into the development of UNHCR¿s strategic plan for the next planning period in close collaboration with internal and external stakeholders. The incumbent also supports regional strategic dialogues between the senior management and Regional Bureaux and other parties as relevant to review progress against objectives and targets, assesses significant strategic developments and considers potential strategy reorientations. The incumbent provides dedicated technical support in strategic planning and analysis to key counterparts on an on-demand¿ basis through punctual assistance and deployments.

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR¿s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties

• Provide support with organizing exercises with the participation of internal and external stakeholders, developing scenarios for the future with implications for UNHCR to inform executive decision making and strategic planning processes.
• Conduct horizon scanning activities to identify trends and their likely impacts on UNHCR (opportunities and threats) and prepare regular analytical reports to inform executive decision making and strategic planning processes.
• Conduct of research into specific issues of relevance to UNHCR to inform executive decision making and strategic planning processes
• Analyse the performance/impact/budget of past major operations/situations (performance, impact, budget/expenditures) to identify strengths and weaknesses to inform strategic planning processes.
• Provide input to the review of sectoral strategies to identify misalignments, opportunities for synergies.
• Provide input to UNHCR¿s strategic plan for the next planning period, upon consultations with various internal and external stakeholders, if appropriate.
• Work towards the alignment of corporate reporting systems including impact and outcome indicators in UNHCR¿s RBM system, Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) indicators and key performance indicators and identify variations from expected results that would require adjustments in planning.
• Provide input to regular regional strategic dialogues between the senior management and Regional Bureaux and other parties as relevant, including preparing regional scans and analytical frameworks, to review progress against objectives and targets, assess significant strategic considerations and consider potential reorientations of strategy.
• Provide technical expertise to key counterparts to support/accompany strategic planning exercises, review UNHCR¿s approach to a thematic issue or a situation on an as-needed basis.
• Support efforts to cultivate a more analytical and critical thinking mentality within UNHCR in cooperation with the Strategic Planning and Management colleagues. Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P3/NOC – 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
Economics, Law; Business Administration;
Social Sciences; Mathematics; or other relevant field.
(Field(s) of Education marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Certificates and/or Licenses
HCR Management Lrng Prg; Programme Mgmt; Business Intelligence(BI) Trng;
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Knowledge of and experience in strategic planning and analysis in development and/or humanitarian organizations. A balance of headquarters and field experience, including at the operational/country level (i.e. not a regional office but with direct involvement in/responsibility for delivery at the field level). Experience working with complex partnerships and various stakeholders, particularly in an inter-agency context. A diverse range of functional experience is an asset ¿ e.g. programme management, protection, community development, external relations, head of office. Solid understanding of forced displacement issues. Driven, proven sense of initiative, results orientation, flexibility, as well as effective teamwork skills. Effective facilitation skills are essential in both virtual and in-person contexts. Ability to work flexibly, creatively and to multitask if the need arises. A high degree of self-motivation, positive attitude and drive.
Desirable
Not specified.