Emergency Manager (Risk Analysis), P4

City/location:

New York, NY

Organization:

United Nations Children's Fund (Global Headquarters, New York)

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. And we never give up.

For every child, a champion

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

As emergencies become more frequent, the expectations of UNICEF to deliver on the Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action (CCCs) in a timely and effective manner will continue to increase. Emergency preparedness significantly enhances UNICEF’s ability to meet these expectations and save time and resources in the response. In 2018, EMOPS created an Analysis Cell to strengthen its ability to perform risk analysis and monitoring, both a light and frequent horizon scan and a deeper analysis of specific situations when needed, drawing on external resources and on available data and analyses on children as far as possible and on the analysis generated by colleagues at CO, RO and HQ levels.

How can you make a difference?

Under the direct supervision of the Senior Adviser, Risk Analysis and Preparedness the incumbent is responsible for the day to day supervision of the Emergency Specialist Risk Analysis and Monitoring (P3) and is responsible for scanning the horizon for risks and that will impact UNICEF programmes globally, providing appropriate analysis of this and what channeling this information to EMOPs team in NY and Geneva.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities

Risk Analysis and Information Management

Collect, collate and analyze risks relative to the issues impacting on the delivery of UNICEF emergency programmes particularly in complex operating environments including but not limited to L2 and L3 Emergencies;
Ensure the availability of the most reliable information on risks and horizon scanning from diverse sources;
Ensure information management of critical risks information is available to inform EMOPS activities;
Ensure timely and quality updates of risks and trends through real-time advisories, synthesized information products and analysis making full use of technology and GIS capacities;

Management & Planning

Manage and supervise the Risk Analysis unit and staff;
Support the Senior Adviser in establishing the annual work plan, setting priorities/targets and performance measurements.
Monitor work progress and ensure results are achieved according to schedule and performance standards.
Establish clear individual performance objectives, goals and timelines; and provide timely guidance to enable the team to perform their duties responsibly and efficiently.

Emergency Preparedness

Ensure the proactive collection of information from diverse media and direct sources for the purposes of both predicting risks and events impacting UNICEF as well as supporting ongoing UNICEF activities;
Collate information and provide analysis with the goal of identifying trends and predicting the specific conditions that could indicate a potential impact on UNICEF activities;
Work closely with the all EMOPS Sections to ensure the timely availability of relevant information and analysis to support emergency preparedness.

Communications, Networking and Partnership Building

Establish contact and maintain networks with other risk analysis units at the HQ level as well as Regional and Country Offices;
Ensure collaboration with all EMOPS Sections and other HQ Divisions while providing support to the Senior Adviser, Risk Analysis and Preparedness, and Director EMOPS as required.

Innovation, Knowledge Management and Capacity Building

Institutionalize and share best practices and knowledge learned;
Oversee and ensure capacity building for EMOPs and RO/COs;
Liaise with the HQ Divisions, regional and country offices to support and contribute to corporate strategy formulation and global implementation. Provide feedback and make recommendations on the establishment and improvement of systems, policies and processes.
Keep abreast, research, benchmark, and implement best and cutting-edge practices in risk analysis and management and contribute to the development of global policies, procedures and introduce innovation through sharing of best practices and knowledge learned.
Link up with academic institutions to undertake in-depth analysis of risks
Support use of technical tools like automated search engines for risk
Prepare learning/knowledge products, covering innovative approaches and good practices, to support overall risk analysis in emergency programming
Support the professional development of UNICEF staff in emergency programming, to ensure our sector capacity remains up-to-date with latest developments.
Participate as a resource person in capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of clients/stakeholders.

Duties/Tasks

Carries out global risk scanning and analysis at regular intervals, in coordination with HQ, ROs and COs which informs preparedness and response.
Liaise with colleagues in HQ, ROs and when necessary COs, that are focal point for risk analysis and monitoring.
Participate and/or initiate meetings on risk analysis/monitoring with EMOPS, other HQ Divisions, ROs and COs as appropriate.
Review COs and ROs risk analyses (in the Emergency Preparedness Platform) and provide feedback (or support ROs in providing timely feedback).
Produce risk analysis/monitoring briefs.
Conducts focused research and analysis on specific risks or issues potentially effecting UNICEF’s humanitarian preparedness and response, either in response to identified risks or on HQ/RO/CO request.
Coordinate with UNICEF HQ, RO and CO to identify key risk-related issues requiring further study/analysis.
Identify appropriate data sources including UNICEF data platforms, UN Departments, Agencies, Funds and Programmes and external entities - open sources, subscription services, NGOs, academia, think tanks etc.
Research and draft analytical papers of varying length on identified topics/dynamics, to include, inter alia, socio-political, security, conflict, humanitarian, population movement, access etc.
Provides technical advice on risk monitoring and analysis processes and policy to relevant managers at HQ/RO/CO.
Provide technical assistance on risk analysis/monitoring issues to HQ/RO/CO.
Support coherence with ERM, BCM and SRM procedures, concepts and tools as regards risk analysis.
Identifies and incorporates relevant technological and other innovations into OPSCEN analytical processes.
Maintain a wide professional network, keeping abreast of ideas and innovations in humanitarian research and analysis.
Keep abreast of the development and implementation of UNICEF and other humanitarian data platforms, including E-Tools, Innovation Department, DRP, DEEP etc. in conjunction with EMOPs, GCCU and IT.
Keep abreast of external software developments, around social media monitoring, analysis software, data analysis/mining/fusion platforms, media monitoring/aggregation etc.
Continuous, effective and strategic collaboration with key actors.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Education

An advanced university degree in a discipline related to international relations, humanitarian emergencies, human rights or security management. Substantial relevant qualifying experience and training may be considered in lieu of the advanced university degree.

*A first university degree with a relevant combination of academic qualifications and experience may be accepted in lieu of advanced university degree.

Work Experience

A minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible experience in emergencies, at least two years of which should be in a supervisory capacity. Field level experience and/or experience in a risk analysis center highly desirable.