Senior Joint Operations Officer, Mogadishu, Somalia, Qaran Jobs

Posting Title: SENIOR JOINT OPERATIONS OFFICER, P5 (Temporary Job Opening)

Job Code Title: SENIOR JOINT OPERATIONS OFFICER

Department/ Office: United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia

Duty Station: MOGADISHU

Posting Period: 8 May 2018-14 May 2018

Job Opening number: 18-POL-UNSOM-96752-J-MOGADISHU (M)

Staffing Exercise ID: N/A

United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity

Organizational Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM). The incumbent will be based in Mogadishu and reports to the Chief of Staff (COS).

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Senior Joint Operations Officer (Chief Integrated Information Hub – IIH) will be responsible for the following duties: Directly, coordinate and supervise the work of the IIH, including preparing, implementing and monitoring the IIH work plan and managing the IIH staff. Management responsibilities will include the prompt recruitment and selection of staff, management of staff (including performance management), development of a roster of coverage for the IIH, and oversee the development and promulgation of standard operating procedures for the work of the IIH. The Senior Joint Operations Officer is responsible for the accuracy, consistency and quality of IIH products and performance. The Senior Joint Operations Officer ensures that the Mission leadership has a common situational overview and reviews the Mission’s integrated daily situation reports for approval on behalf of the Head of Mission/COS and transmittal to UN Headquarters; timely production of Significant Incident Reports (‘Flash Reports’) and exceptional ad hoc reports on current operations; and that the IIH maintains appropriate databases, including the SAGE system, of submitted reports for ready access by appropriate Mission components. The Senior Joint Operations Officer manages the day-to-day functioning of the IIH, its relations with other UNSOM components, UNSOS, UN Country Team, AMISOM and UN Headquarters, and the processing and timely dissemination of operations reports. He/she provides briefings on current operations to senior UN staff and visiting delegations, maintains contact with heads of Mission components to indicate, and respond to, needs that may arise within the Mission. He/she also oversees the coordination of Requests for Information between the IIH, UNSOM Mission components, UNSOS, AMISOM, the UN Country Team and UN Headquarters, at the same time ensuring an appropriate level of confidentiality for UN activities. He/she undertakes coordination oversight role, on behalf of the Head of Mission/COS, for cross sector activities and projects, including for high level visits and events in Somalia. In crisis situations, the Senior Joint Operations Officer also manages the crisis management centre for the SRSG (Crisis Leader) and other members of the UN Somalia core Crisis Management Team, providing them with an effective and uninterrupted channel of communication, reporting and information management. The Senior Joint Operations Officer may also be required to temporarily perform the duties of the COS in his/her absence. Perform other relevant duties as directed by the COS.

Competencies

Professionalism – Sound operational comprehension, effective analytical skills, and appropriate operations experience in information collection, management and representation. Excellent drafting and editing skills, with the proven ability to produce cogent reports often under strict time constraints, and to critically review and edit the work of others. Ability to identify politically sensitive and operationally significant issues. Ability to coordinate with various actors including UNSOM components, UNSOS, AMISOM, the UN Country Team, government officials, civil society organisations, regional and intergovernmental organisations and international partners. Ability to effectively conduct presentations by clearly summarizing and articulating operational issues, proposing options and concisely conveying information. Capacity to provide clear, timely direction, including under stressful and demanding circumstances. Commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all areas of work. Expertise in crisis management, particularly in an operations room context at the Mission (theatre) level. Comprehensive understanding of UN peace operations, and a good knowledge of the UN system. 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.

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; and demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.

Client Orientation – Considers all those to whom services are provided to be ‘clients’ and seeks to see things from the clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; and meets timelines for delivery of products or services to clients.

Judgement/decision-making – Identifies key issues in complex situations, and comes to the heart of problems quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; 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.

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 improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in political science, international relations, foreign affairs, law or related area. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Formal training in the conduct of operations at the operational and strategic levels (military or government staff colleges) is desirable.

Work Experience

A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in peacekeeping, military operations, intelligence work or related field. Two years of experience in UN peace operations or other field operation in a conflict or post-conflict country is required. Management in multi-cultural settings, including management and coordination of multi-disciplinary teams, and complex operations in Africa, is required. Experience managing a joint operations centre/situation centre is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this position, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of a second official United Nations language is an advantage.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice

Note: This is a Temporary Job Opening. A Temporary Appointment/Assignment against this Temporary Job Opening will be for a duration through 31 August 2018.

• A current staff member who holds a fixed-term, permanent or continuing appointment may apply for temporary positions no more than one level above his or her current grade. However, a current staff member who holds an appointment at the G-6 or G-7 level may also apply to temporary positions in the Professional category up to and including the P-3 level, subject to meeting all eligibility and other requirements for the position. A staff member holding a temporary appointment shall be regarded as an external candidate when applying for other positions, and may apply for other temporary positions at any level, subject to section 5.7 below and staff rule 4.16 (b) (ii). Therefore, a staff member holding a temporary appointment in the General Service or related categories may only apply to positions within those categories. For full information on eligibility requirements, please refer to section 5 of ST/AI/2010/4Rev.1 on Temporary Appointments. In its resolution 66/234, the General Assembly further ‘stressed that the Secretary-General should not recur to the practice of temporarily filling posts in the Professional and higher categories with General Service staff members who have not passed the General Service to Professional category examination other than on an exceptional basis, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure that temporary occupation of such posts by the General Service staff shall not exceed a period of one year, effective 1 January 2013…’ Consequently, eligible candidates in the General Service or related categories for temporary job openings in the Professional category that have not passed the competitive examination may be selected only on an exceptional basis endorsed by the Office of Human Resources Management where no other suitable candidate could be identified.
• Upon separation from service, including, but not limited to, expiration or termination of, or resignation from, a fixed-term, continuing or permanent appointment, a former staff member will be ineligible for re-employment on the basis of a temporary appointment for a period of 31 days following the separation. In the case of separation from service on retirement, a former staff member will be ineligible for re-employment for a period of three months following the separation. This equally applies, mutatis mutandis, with respect to a former or current staff member who has held or holds an appointment in another entity applying the United Nations Staff Regulations and Rules and who applies for a temporary position with the Secretariat.
• Subject to the funding source of the position, this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station.
• 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. An external candidate selected for this position is bound by the prevailing condition of the staff selection system under ST/AI/2010/3, as amended, and ST/AI/2010/4/Rev.1. A staff member holding a temporary appointment who is recruited in the Professional and above categories on a temporary appointment, and placed on a position authorized for one year or longer may not apply for or be reappointed to his/her current position within six months of the end of his/her current service. This provision does not apply to staff members holding temporary appointments and placed on positions authorized for one year or more in duty stations authorized for peacekeeping operations or special political missions.
• The expression ‘Internal candidates’, shall mean staff members who have been recruited after a competitive examination under staff rule 4.16 or after the advice of a central review body under staff rule 4.15.
• Please note that candidates will be required to meet the requirements of Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter as well as the requirements of the position. The United Nations is committed to the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity for all its human resources, including but not limited to respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to whether they have committed, or are alleged to have committed criminal offences and/or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.
• For information on special post allowance, please refer to ST/AI/1999/17. For more details on the administration of temporary appointments please refer to ST/AI/2010/4/Rev.1.
• The Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and administrative issuances governing staff appointments can be viewed at: http://www.un.org/hr_handbook/English
• 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.

United Nations Considerations

Candidates will be required to meet the requirements of Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter as well as the requirements of the position. The United Nations is committed to the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity for all its human resources, including but not limited to respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to whether they have committed, or are alleged to have committed criminal offences and/or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law.

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.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the At-a-Glance on ‘The Application Process’ and the Instructional Manual for the Applicants, which can be accessed by clicking on ‘Manuals’ hyper-link on the upper right side of inspira account-holder homepage.

Applications are pre-screened by the system according to the published requirements of the job opening on the basis of the information provided in the application. In relation to the requirements of the job opening, applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their qualifications, including their education, work experience, and language skills. Each applicant must bear in mind that submission of incomplete or inaccurate applications may render that applicant ineligible for consideration for the job opening. Initial screening and evaluation of applications will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted. Applications cannot be amended following submission. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to a reference-checking process to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at midnight (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.