Assistant Emergency Preparedness Officer

Tags: international relations English Environment
  • Added Date: Friday, 11 July 2025
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Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)H (no hardship)

Family Type (not applicable for home-based)

Family

Staff Member / Affiliate TypeUNOPS IICA1

Target Start Date2025-08-15

Deadline for ApplicationsJuly 26, 2025

Terms of ReferenceTERMS OF REFERENCE
International Individual Contractor Agreement

Title: Assistant Emergency Preparedness Officer

Project: DESS/2025/01

Duty station: Geneva, Switzerland

Section/Unit: Emergency Preparedness, Deployments and Partnerships Section

Division of Emergency, Security and Supply (DESS)

ICA Level: IICA-I

Corresponding level: P1

Duration: from 15/08/2025 to 31/12/2025 (extendable)

Supervisor: Mrs Rosa Angela Murru, Snr. Emergency Preparedness Officer, ES, DESS

1.General Background

The Emergency Preparedness Unit under the Emergency Management Section in the Division ofEmergency, Security and Supply has the overall responsibility of providing strategic direction, guidanceand support to Regional Bureaux and Country Offices to enhance their emergency preparedness capacityin line with Refugee Coordination Model (RCM) for refugee crises and the inter-agency framework of thefor IDP crises, within the framework of UNHCR’s Policy on Emergency Preparedness and Response(UNHCR/HCP/2023/01).

The Emergency Preparedness Unit is responsible for establishing global standards, developing supporting tools, providing early warning and horizon scanning and supporting contingency planning process to ensure UNHCR’s preparedness for refugee and IDP emergencies. It represents UNHCR in the IASC Early warning, early action and readiness group, which provides recommendations to the IASC Emergency Directors Group on emerging risks.

We are seeking for a dynamic and proactive team player, with excellent drafting skills and knowledge of English, strong inter-personal and analytical skills, to support the work of the Emergency Preparedness Unit.

2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment

• Carry out global horizon scans regularly and produce emergency outlooks and reports to inform UNHCR early warning discussions;

• Participate in the IASC Early Warning, Early Action and Readiness (EWEAR) calls, providing quality inputs to the early warning discussions, and contributing to reports (drafting, peer-reviewing, consultations with the field, analytical meetings etc) ;

• Participate in and contribute to climatic early warning and action initiatives (i.e. Centre of Excellence on Climate and Disaster Resilience, Early Warning for All, etc.);

• Support the roll-out of the Preparedness Guidance, which will include drafting of materials and trainings and provision of support to colleagues at country, regional and HQ levels;

• Contribute to updates of relevant entries in UNHCR's Emergency Handbook;

• Maintain /compile a weekly calendar of emergency-related events for the attention of Senior Management

• Support coordination meetings with the Regional Bureaux /country operations, including taking notes and preparing meeting minutes as required;

• Act as the focal point for internal communications on emergency preparedness and response;

• Prepare analytical materials and reports on emergency preparedness and response related issues, including for identification of best practices, trends and ideas for improvement of UNHCR emergency engagement;

• Take part in and/or facilitate capacity development activities.

3. Monitoring and Progress Controls

• Update the Emergency Handbook and emergency preparedness training materials;

• Conduct surveys and monitoring of emergency processes and relevant reports are prepared;

• Produce global horizon scanning of the situations of concern regularly;

• Contribute to IASC Early Warning, Early Action and Readiness (EWEAR) calls and reports, coordinated the outcomes with the Regional Bureaux;

• Monitor the operational risk register and provide advice on risk levels based on situational analysis.

4. Qualifications and Experience

a. Education (Level and area of required and/or preferred education)
University degree at the advanced level, in Political Science, International Relations, Conflict Analysis or other relevant fields;

b. Work Experience Minimum of 1-year relevant work experience in humanitarian agencies.

Essential: experience in handling complex datasets, sensitive data and maintaining discretion.

Proven research skills in conflict analysis and experience in presenting analysis of results through visualizations.

For P1 - 1 year relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or no experience with Graduate degree; or no experience with Doctorate degree.

c. Key Competencies

Required:
▪ Proven ability to work well under pressure in a busy, multicultural environment and under tight deadlines;
▪ Analytical thinking, data driven oriented with the ability to analyze data;
▪ Excellent organizational skills, accuracy and attention to detail;
▪ Strong understanding of risk management;
▪ Excellent drafting skills and knowledge of English (written, oral and comprehension). Knowledge of other UN working languages is a plus;
▪ An outgoing personality and a team player with service-oriented attitudes.
▪ Familiarity with UNHCR Emergency policy and Emergency Preparedness Guidance;
▪ Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools.

Desirable:
- Very good communication and organizational skills. Able to communicate and listen effectively; very good written, verbal and presentation skills;
- Incumbent who operates within a certain level of autonomy in a rapidly evolving environment
- Knowledge of French is desirable; knowledge of other UN working languages is a plus.

Standard Job Description

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Desired Languages

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Additional Qualifications

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Education

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Work Experience

Other informationThis position doesn't require a functional clearance


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