Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located within the Joint Operations Centre (JOC) of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), duty Station Juba. Juba is classified as an “E” hardship duty station and a non-family duty station. The Joint Operations Officer (Data Specialist) reports to the Mission Chief of Staff through Chief Joint Operations Centre.

Responsibilities

Within the delegated authority, the Joint Operations Officer (Data Specialist) will be responsible for the following duties: Monitoring, Reporting, and Data Management: • Develop guidance and directives for information gathering and data collection. • Establish and maintain relations with internal and external stakeholders to strengthen information management and data visualization. • Review and strengthen work processes to streamline and automate daily/weekly reports from field offices and substantive sections and ensure timely dissemination of the integrated reports within the Mission and to Headquarters. • Manage the exchange of operational information between the Mission and external partners, including Agencies Funds and Programs, the diplomatic community, humanitarian, and civil society partners. • Coordinate the development and implementation of a Mission-specific data strategy that defines the overall approach, specific outcomes, and benchmarks for effective use of data in decision-making, reporting and operations for mandate implementation. • Strengthen data collection, data integrity, and reporting across the Mission and oversee the management of Unite Aware databases. Crisis Management and Data Support: • Ensure that the Mission Leadership and key actors (CMT members, AFPs, JOC staff and Force/UNPOL officers) are prepared for potential crises and familiar with procedures, SOPs and other Mission guidance on crisis management. • Under the supervision of Chief JOC and the Chief of Staff, organize crisis management meetings within the Mission and with New York headquarters when necessary. • Ensure that Mission’s crisis preparedness and response are data driven, integrating relevant data for situational awareness and decision-making. • Identify, analyze, and interpret trends or patterns in operational data during a crisis to enhance crisis response. • Support crisis-management preparedness by managing a common platform to share SOPs, guidance, and procedures with relevant stakeholders Coordination of Operations and Data Management: • Support with the organization of operational coordination meetings, by liaising with Mission components and the UNCT as required. • Support regular operational coordination mechanisms (e.g., CASEVAC/MEDEVACs and special flights requests). • Coordinate data initiatives across the Mission and collaborate with Mission components and sections to identify data analytic needs that can impact mandate implementation. • Collaborate with the Joint Mission Analysis Centre, Security Operations Cell/Centre, and Joint Logistics Operation Centre. Communications Hub and Data Exchange: • Facilitate contact between the Mission and the Headquarters (through UNOCC) and other actors, to ensure timely information and data exchange. • Maintain an updated database with contact details of key personnel across the Mission and the UN in South Sudan Assist the Chief JOC with Management, including: • Supervise the recruitment, training, and management of operations officers in JOC; establish duty rosters and provide oversight for section’s budget submissions, as required. • Translate organizational needs into data governance and analytics requirements, supporting decisions, strategies, and workflows with data and information. • Develop Mission-specific SOPs, tools, and templates for reporting, crisis management, and communications, reflecting DPO policy and guidance, ensuring that data strategy and governance are integrated into all frameworks. • Deputise for Chief JOC as needed. Perform other tasks as required by the Chief JOC or the Chief of Staff

Competencies

Professionalism: Excellent analytical skills with the ability to collect, organize, manage, and disseminate significant amounts of information with attention to detail and accuracy. The ability to analyze, model and interpret data in support of decision-making. Adept at queries, report writing and presenting findings. The ability to oversee and quality-check work completed by other team members. Ability to coordinate with various actors including Mission components, the UN Country Team, and external stakeholders. Ability to effectively conduct presentations by clearly summarizing and articulating operational issues, proposing options and concisely conveying information. Takes pride in the work for the organization and understands the impact that can be brought into the organization by allowing data-driven and evidence-based decisions. 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 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. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas 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. Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings. 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.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in social sciences, political science, international relations, law, data science, analytics or related area. A first-level university degree in combination with an additional two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Job – Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in information management applied to political or international affairs, military, police, security, civil affairs, humanitarian affairs, human rights, crisis operations and management, or in analytics and business intelligence is required. Experience in coordinating a multi-stakeholder collaboration initiative or change management initiative is required. Relevant professional experience managing a team or an office is required. At least two years of experience working in or in support of a field operation of the United Nations Common System or a comparable international organization is desirable. Experience working in a conflict or post-conflict situation is desirable. Experience with self-service analytics and data visualization applications (MS PowerBI, Qlik, Tableau or similar), business intelligence tools (SAP Business Objects, etc.) or database management tools and data platforms (Unite Aware related tools, etc.) is desirable. Experience working in an integrated civilian-military-police environment is desirable. Experience working on political, security or mandate-related issues within a geographical region of operations is desirable. Experience working in a Situation Center, Joint Operations Center, or a similar 24/7 operational environment is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English (both oral and written) is required.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

Extension of the appointment is subject to Extension of the mandate and/or the availability of the funds or extension of the mandate. 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. Qualified women that meet the requirements of this job opening are particularly encouraged to apply and will be given full consideration in accordance with the United Nations efforts to increase women participation in its workforce.

United Nations Considerations

According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term “sexual exploitation” means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term “sexual abuse” means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. The term “sexual harassment” means any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected or be perceived to cause offence or humiliation, when such conduct interferes with work, is made a condition of employment or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment, and when the gravity of the conduct warrants the termination of the perpetrator’s working relationship. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places 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. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. By accepting a letter of appointment, staff members are subject to the authority of the Secretary-General, who may assign them to any of the activities or offices of the United Nations in accordance with staff regulation 1.2 (c). Further, staff members in the Professional and higher category up to and including the D-2 level and the Field Service category are normally required to move periodically to discharge functions in different duty stations under conditions established in ST/AI/2023/3 on Mobility, as may be amended or revised. This condition of service applies to all position specific job openings and does not apply to temporary positions. Applicants are urged to carefully follow all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira, and to refer to the Applicant Guide by clicking on “Manuals” in the “Help” tile of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (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.