Director, United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, Geneva, D2

 15-ADM-UNISDR-42326-D-GENEVA (G)

United Nations Core Values:

Integrity ● Professionalism ● Respect for diversity

Special Notice

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In this context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. This post is funded from project funds and extension is subject to availability of funds.

Organization Setting and Reporting

Created in December 1999, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) is the designated focal point in the United Nations system for the coordination of disaster reduction and to ensure synergies among the disaster reduction activities of the United Nations and regional organizations and activities in socio-economic and humanitarian fields. Led by the United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction (SRSG/ASG), UNISDR has over 100 staff located in its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, and 5 regional offices and other field presences. Specifically, UNISDR coordinates international efforts in disaster risk reduction, and guides, monitors and reports on the progress of the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030; campaigns to create global awareness of disaster risk reduction benefits and mobilize communities and empowers people to reduce their vulnerability to hazards; advocates for greater investments in disaster risk reduction to protect people's lives and assets, for increased and informed participation of men and women in reducing disaster risk; informs and connects people by providing practical services and tools, including evidence and data generation, and by leading the preparation of the biannual Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction and the organisation of Regional Platforms and the biannual Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction. This position is located in the UNISDR Headquarters in Geneva and the incumbent reports to the SRSG/ASG.
 

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority, the Director will be responsible for the following.

• Directs and manages activities related to management of operations, internal coordination, administration, planning and programme support of the Organization.
• Contributes to the formulation of the department's overall strategies and policies by participating in various committees, preparing documents on policy issues, and acting, as required, in an advisory capacity to the SRSG/ASG; contribute to the overall management of the Department's activities and operations.
• Ensures adequate support to inter-governmental processes, the organization of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction and regional platforms for disaster risk reduction that result from, inter alia, the World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. 
• Provides leadership to the development of change management programmes, such as IPSAS and Umoja.
• Leads the formulation and coordinates implementation of the substantive work plan and programme of the UNISDR. Ensures management arrangements enabling resources for the completion of outputs and their timely delivery.
• Oversees the management of activities undertaken, ensuring that programmed activities are carried out in a timely fashion and co-ordinates work in the different areas both within UNISDR and with other organizations of the United Nations System, donors and agencies as appropriate.
• Co-ordinates and oversees the preparation of reports for presentation to intergovernmental bodies such as the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budget Questions, Committee for Programme Coordination, Economic and Social Council, the General Assembly and other policy-making organs, as appropriate.
•  Reports to donors and as relevant to intergovernmental bodies on budget/programme performance or on programmatic/substantive issues, as appropriate, particularly those presented in biannual and/or annual reports.
• Ensures that the outputs produced by UNISDR maintain high-quality standards; that reports are clear, objective and based on comprehensive data. Ensures that all outputs produced by UNISDR under his/her supervision meet required standards before completion to ensure they comply with the relevant mandates.
• Undertakes or oversees the programmatic/administrative tasks necessary for the functioning, including preparation of budgets, assigning and monitoring of performance parameters and critical indicators, reporting on budget/programme performance, preparation of inputs for resultsbased budgeting, evaluation of staff performance (PAS).
• Supports UNISDR's fundraising efforts and partnership building, including the development of partnerships to support program implementation and delivery, and through innovative financing and private sector partnerships.
• Oversees the recruitment of staff, including interviews of candidates for job openings and evaluation of candidates, taking due account geographical and gender balance and other institutional values.
• Manages, guides, develops and trains staff under hi/her supervision; foster teamwork and communication among staff in UNISDR and across organizational boundaries.
• Chairs meetings and relevant committees as established by the SRSG/ASG, seminars, etc., on substantive-related issues; represents the Organization at international, regional, inter-agency meetings, seminars and conference; provides programmatic/substantive expertise on an issue, or holds programmatic/substantive and organizational discussions with representatives of other institutions; oversees and supports audits and evaluations and monitors the implementation of their recommendations.
• Perform other related duties as requested by the SRSG/ASG of the Organization, including acting as Officer-in-Charge in times of absence of the SRSG/ASG.

Competencies:

Professionalism:

• Knowledge of disaster risk reduction/management including an understanding of how to engage with and mobilize diverse stakeholders.
• Knowledge of economics and social development planning and implementation
• Shows ability to produce reports and papers on technical issues and to review and edit the work of others
• Shows ability to apply UN rules, regulations, policies and guidelines in work situations
• 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
• Commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of work

Planning & 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.  

Managerial Competencies

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

Managing Performance:

Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills; monitors progress against milestones and deadlines; regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative; actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; appraises performance fairly

Judgement/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 the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary

Qualifications:

Education
Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in business or public administration, finance, accounting, law, social sciences 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.

Work Experience
Over fifteen years of progressively responsible experience in human resources management, administration, logistics, financial management, budget or related field. Experience in senior management positions, including resource mobilization and partnership building is required. Experience in leadership positions, including leading complex planning processes and change management and interacting with and establishing productive cooperation with a diverse number of partners, including Governments, the UN and multilateral systems, business, science and civil society is required. Experience in disaster management, social and economic development, environment or related area is desirable.

Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of French is desirable. Knowledge of a second official UN language is desirable.

Assessment Method

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

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.