Emergency Specialist, NOC, FT - Caribbean Multi-Country Office

About the role

The Emergency Specialist works in the Caribbean Multi-Country Office (MCO) of UNICEF, based in Kingston, Jamaica, under the supervision of the Assistant Representative in Barbados. The role reports to the Assistant Representative and works closely with the Area Representative, the Deputy Representative Programme Coordinator, the Chief of Operations and the People & Culture Specialist on emergency leadership, programme continuity, workforce readiness and institutional resilience, including readiness for WASH-related emergency needs. It belongs to the Child Poverty Reduction and Resilience Strengthening working group.

Key responsibilities

• Ensure effective coordination across programme and operations, coordinating functional linkages with emergency focal points across locations and embedding emergency preparedness and response in the MCO's coordination mechanisms and strategic workstreams.
• Establish and implement the multi-country office emergency preparedness and response.
• Develop, plan, implement, monitor and evaluate emergency interventions to protect children and mothers and support affected communities during emergencies.

Required profile

• Advanced university degree in social sciences, public administration, international law, public health, nutrition, international relations, business administration or a related field; preferably a mix of management, administration and technical fields.
• At least five years of progressively responsible professional experience at national and international levels in programme/project development, planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and administration.
• Field work experience; humanitarian coordination and interagency systems expertise highly desirable.

Required skills

• Ability to influence and build partnerships with diverse stakeholders across countries.
• Strong coordination skills and ability to coordinate across dispersed locations while maintaining links with in-country focal points.
• Knowledge of UNICEF policies and strategies on emergency issues, conflicts, natural disasters and recovery, and of international humanitarian law and gender parity.
• Familiarity with UNICEF programmes, manuals, EMOPS notes and the core commitments for children in emergencies.