UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
Org. Setting and Reporting
This position is based in the Joint Coordination Centre (JCC) in Istanbul, Türkiye. The JCC was established as part of the Initiative on the Safe Transportation of Grain and Foodstuffs from Ukrainian ports (the “Black Sea Grain Initiative” or BSGI), signed by the Russian Federation, Türkiye, Ukraine on 22 July 2022, to facilitate safe navigation for the export of grain and related foodstuffs and fertilizers from designated Ukrainian ports. The United Nations signed the BSGI as a witness, and the Parties request the assistance of the Secretary-General in its implementation, in furtherance of the humanitarian mission of the United Nations and subject to its authorities and mandates.
The Joint Operations Officer reports directly to the Head of Operations
Responsibilities
Under the supervision of the Head of Operations, the Joint Operations Officer will perform the following duties and responsibilities;
Monitoring and reporting: – Ensures that staff members (watchkeepers) in the Watch Room operation receive guidance and directives for the collection of information, monitoring, and reporting. – Helps to develop and ensure the production and timely dissemination of integrated reports (including real-time, daily, and weekly situation reports) among the JCC participants and other stakeholders. – Manages data of operational activities, supervise data collection, and monitoring, and makes data accessible by, and for the use of, JCC and other stakeholders.
Crisis management support: – Helps ensure that the Watch Room and other JCC components/key actors are prepared for crises and familiar with the procedures and that SOPs and other guidance are up to date. – Under the supervision of JCC leadership supports crisis management meetings (secretariat support, presentations, talking points if required, liaison with technicians and facilities management) – Liaises promptly and with senior management and JCC participants to evaluate and resolve or escalate the response to a crisis
Coordination of operations: – Supports the organization of operational coordination meetings, as required, liaising with JCC components, and monitoring the implementation of decisions related to the Watch Room operations and procedures. – Collaborates with all the JCC components, including but not limited to JCC Inspection Teams, Liaison Officers in the ports, Political/Mediation, PIO, and Mission Support units, as required
Assists the Head of Operations with management, including: – Supervision of the Watch Room operations, recruitment, training and management of Watchkeepers; establishment of duty rosters, as necessary; and oversight of budget submissions, as required; relations with the JCC’s components, partners, and stakeholders. – Development of the operations-level standard operating procedures, tools and templates (for reporting, crisis management, communications, etc., reflecting the UN Secretariat policy and guidance) and help to ensure their implementation (including through training and evaluation). – Preparation and briefing for the UN Coordinator, Deputy UN Coordinator, high-level delegations, diplomatic corps, and/or as instructed by the JCC senior leadership. – Acts as OiC Head of Operations, as required
Performs other tasks as required by the JCC senior leadership
Competencies
PROFESSIONALISM: 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.
COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
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.
JUDGMENT/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 social sciences, international relations, business administration, marine transportation, maritime management, or related area is required. A first-level university degree in combination with an additional 2 years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
Work Experience
A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in international affairs, military, police, security, civil affairs, humanitarian affairs, crisis operations, and management, or related field is required.
At least two years of experience working in or in support of a field/logistical operations of the United Nations Common System or a comparable international organization is desirable.
Naval/maritime/merchant shipping experience is desirable.
Experience working in an integrated civilian-military-police environment, including Situation Center, Joint Operations, or a similar 24/7 operational environment is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the UN Secretariat. For this position, fluency in English (both oral and written) is required; knowledge of Russian is desirable. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage.
Assessment
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by a competency-based interview.
Special Notice
• This position is temporarily available for a period of six months with a possibility of extension. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment.
• While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post.
• Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station.
• This temporary job opening may be limited to “internal candidates,” who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15.
• Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply.Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation.
• Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as “retirement.” Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service.
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.
The paramount consideration in the appointment, transfer, or promotion of staff shall be the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. By accepting an offer of appointment, United Nations staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and assignment by him or her to any activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). In this context, all internationally recruited staff members shall be required to move periodically to discharge new functions within or across duty stations under conditions established by the Secretary-General.
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.