Senior Humanitarian Affairs Officer / Ebola Lead

The Senior Humanitarian Affairs Officer / Ebola Lead is responsible for advising on policy direction, developing humanitarian response strategies, monitoring humanitarian developments, coordinating emergency assistance, and leading complex projects related to humanitarian action in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The role involves partnership with other agencies, capacity-building, and leadership within the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a senior policy officer advising on overall policy direction and reviewing diverse policy issues related to humanitarian principles and assistance delivery.
• Prepare policy position papers for review.
• Develop and ensure implementation of coherent humanitarian/disaster response strategies and procedures.
• Monitor, analyze and report on humanitarian developments, disaster relief/management programmes or emergency situations in assigned country/area.
• Lead and/or participate in large, complex projects including disaster assessment or other missions; coordinate humanitarian/emergency assistance in DRC; ensure necessary support such as staff, funding, equipment, and supplies.
• Assist in the production of appeals for international assistance and emergency response plans; ensure proper use and spending of donor contributions channeled through OCHA.
• Assist Congolese authorities in capacity-building for handling emergency situations; develop country-specific indicators and monitor them; recommend actions based on analysis.
• Organize and prepare studies on humanitarian, emergency relief and related issues; follow-up work including interagency technical review meetings; ensure implementation of recommendations.
• Assist or lead in preparation of OCHA reports, studies, background papers, policy guidelines, correspondence, and presentations.
• Partner with other humanitarian agencies to plan and evaluate complex humanitarian and emergency assistance programmes; incorporate latest findings, lessons learned, policy guidelines, including gender considerations.
• Establish and maintain contacts with government officials, UN agencies, NGOs, diplomatic missions, media; facilitate collaboration and information exchange including early warning and contingency planning.
• Serve as focal point on specific topics or policy-related issues; keep abreast of developments; liaise with humanitarian organizations and donors; ensure monitoring and reporting mechanisms; provide information and advice.
• Organize and participate in work groups, meetings, conferences, consultations with other agencies and partners on humanitarian and emergency relief matters.
• Participate in planning and preparation of unit budget and work program.
• Provide leadership and work direction to assigned work team; mentor and supervise new/junior officers.
• Perform other duties as requested by OCHA Head of Office.

Requirements

• An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in political science, social science, international studies, public administration, economics, engineering, earth sciences or a related field is required.
• A first-level university degree in combination with an additional two (2) years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian affairs, emergency preparedness, crisis/emergency relief management, rehabilitation, development, or other related area is required.
• Humanitarian experience in the field (actual setting where a mission and/or project is being implemented) in aid operations (complex emergency or natural disaster) is required.
• Management experience at a senior level is required.
• Experience in a humanitarian context within the UN Common System or other comparable international organization is desirable.
• Experience in health emergency is desirable.
• Experience in the West and Central Africa Region is desirable.
• English and French are required at UN Level III for reading, writing, listening, and speaking.

Skills

• Humanitarian Affairs
• Emergency Preparedness
• Crisis Relief Management
• Humanitarian Response Strategy
• Humanitarian Coordination
• Project Leadership
• Policy Advising
• Capacity Building
• Humanitarian Experience
• Senior Management
• Health Emergency Preparedness
• UN Common System Experience
• Complex Emergency Operations
• Humanitarian Project Monitoring
• Partnership Development

Languages

English, French