Closing date: Friday, 13 February 2015
Posting Title: Senior Human Settlements Officer, P5
Job Code Title: Senior Programme Officer, Human Settlements
Department/ Office: United Nations Human Settlements Programme
Duty Station: NAIROBI
Posting Period: 14 January 2015-13 February 2015
Job Opening number: 15-PGM-UNHABITAT-37732-R-NAIROBI (E)
United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity
Special Notice
This position is funded for an initial period of one year and may be subject to extension. Staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General and to assignment by him or her. In his context, all staff are expected to move periodically to new functions in their careers in accordance with established rules and procedures. 1. All applicants are strongly encouraged to apply on-line as soon as possible after the job opening has been posted and before the deadline stated in the job opening. On-line applications will be acknowledged where an email address has been provided. 2. If you do not receive an e-mail acknowledgement within 24 hours of submission, your application may not have been received. In such cases, please resubmit the application, if necessary. If the problem persists, please seek technical assistance through the Inspira ‘Need Help?’ link.
Organizational Setting and Reporting
The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-HABITAT, is the agency for human settlements. It is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. The post is located at the Water and Sanitation Unit at the Nairobi duty station. The incumbent will report directly to Unit Leader, Water and Sanitation Unit.
Responsibilities
Under the general guidance of the Coordinator, Urban Basic Services Branch and direct supervision of the Water and Sanitation Unit, the incumbent will perform the following functions:
- Work closely with other Senior Human Settlement Officers, Programme Management Officers, Branch/ Regional Managers, Programme Support Division and other units at headquarters.
- Establish and maintain a good working relationship with counterparts, officers and technical staff in the relevant Secretariat Units and UN funds, programmes and other UN specialized agencies, representatives and officials in national and local governments, non-governmental organizations and consultants.
- Formulate and develop plans for implementation of programme activities in collaboration with requesting governments and/or regional organizations; Plan resource requirements and set priorities of the activities and allocation of inputs; Monitor emerging needs at the city/country level and offer assistance in meeting those needs or review Programme activities; Identify need for complementary actions during design proposals for these actions, and formulate implementation modalities.
- Coordinate overall implementation, provide guidance for activities under the Programme and coordinate output production.
- Provide guidance to country representatives on operational and administrative matters.
- Ensure monitoring and evaluating of performance in relation to approved work plans and objectives.
- Oversee preparation of guidelines, manuals and operating procedures for the African Cities Programme.
- Monitor and ensure that there is consistency between the substantive tasks of the Water for African Cities and available budgetary resources.
- Manage projects executed under the Programme including preparation/revision of budgets.
- Oversee the process for the contracting of services/supplies at the city/country level and facilitate the provision of logistics.
- Convene meetings and working groups with partners to discuss activities and perspectives of the programme as required.
- Establish linkages between the African and the ongoing Asian Cities Programme to facilitate reciprocal exchanges of experiences.
- Ensure regular reporting from the city/country programmes and provide regular overall (or ad-hoc) progress reports under the Urban Basic Services Trust Fund.
- Provide capacity development support through documentation of knowledge management, tool development and facilitating networking with partners, contributing to the enhancement of the policy dialogues at UN-Habitat and globally.
- Supervise the strengthening of inter- branch collaboration to achieve better linkages between normative and operational support to better coordinate and support the implementation of the organization’s work programme.
- Monitor emerging trends and needs in the water and sanitation sector in Africa and provide substantive advice to the Agency on the strategic objectives and direction of its Africa.
- Perform other duties as may be assigned
Competencies
Professionalism: Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts, approaches and emerging issues relevant to urbanization and the role of the water and sanitation sector in supporting sustainable urbanization. Ability to identify issues, analyze and participate in the resolution of issues/problems. Ability to conduct data collection using various methods. Conceptual analytical and evaluative skills to conduct independent research and analysis, including familiarity with and experience in the use of various research sources, including electronic sources on the internet, intranet and other databases. Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence; 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; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
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.
Judgment/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.
Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in: Engineering; Economics/Development Studies; Management; Public and Business Administration or other field with a particular focus on Water related areas is required. A first level university degree with a combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work Experience
A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible work experience in the water and sanitation sector required. Highly desirable if experience includes developing and/or transition country activities and advisory services. Sound knowledge and practical skills in concepts, training, and advocacy in the areas of Water Supplies and Integrated Water Resources Management. Must have access to established networks and have close working relationships with National Governments, the public/private sector, NGOs and Africa water operatives and other experts. Record of research and publications in the sector preferred.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the post advertised, fluency in spoken and written English is required. Working knowledge of other UN official languages is desirable.
Assessment Method
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which will be followed by competency-based interview.
United Nations Considerations
Job openings posted on the Careers Portal are taken off at midnight (New York time) on the deadline date.
Applications are automatically pre-screened according to the published evaluation criteria of the job opening on the basis of the information provided by applicants. Applications cannot be amended following submission and incomplete applications shall not be considered. The selected candidate will be subject to a reference checking process to verify the information provided in the application.
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’ on the upper right side of the browser on Inspira.
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.
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.
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