UN OCHA recruits 01 Staff Counsellor, Dakar, Senegal.
This position is located in the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Dakar, Senegal, under the Staff Welfare Unit within the Executive Office. OCHA is the part of the United Nations Secretariat responsible for bringing together humanitarian actors to ensure a coherent response to emergencies. OCHA also ensures there is a framework within which each actor can contribute to the overall response efforts. OCHA’s mission is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors in order to alleviate human suffering in disasters and emergencies; advocate for the rights of people in need; promote preparedness and prevention and facilitate sustainable solutions. In the context of the Covid19 pandemic, stress and anxiety for all staff has increased significantly and so has the need for psychosocial support.
The incumbent will report to the Staff Welfare Officer (P4) who is based in Geneva, Switzerland.
Job description
Within delegated authority and under the direct supervision of the Staff Welfare Officer (P-4), and the general supervision of the Senior Programme Management Surge Support in OCHA Executive Office, the incumbent will be responsible for the following duties:
Employee Assistance Programmes
- Develops and implements employee assistance programs and services aimed to reduce stress levels of OCHA staff and associated parties, in particular those who are exposed to severe emotional and psychological elements related to humanitarian response.
Work-related conflicts:
- Assesses work-related conflicts; mediations; assists all parties concerned finding suitable agreements to all; liaises with other services concerned.
- Participates in the development of policies and procedures governing employee relations and security issues, identifies potential areas or issues that would benefit from stress reducing measures (e.g. staff/relations, gender and cross-cultural management issues, contingency procedures etc.) and proposes or recommends possible solutions.
- Assists OCHA managers in identifying and resolving issues and situations in the OCHA’s operation which may induce stress and stress related symptoms.
Counselling on private issues:
- Allows staff to talk about their problems and feelings in a confidential environment. Assesses issues, provides support, refers to internal or ad-hoc local structures when necessary i.e. divorce, separation, domestic violence, etc.
- Mental Health related issues:
- Identifies, evaluates and selects appropriate support resources in the local community; establishes a network of trained specialists to whom staff and their relatives can be referred.
- Implements programmes containing individual or group trauma counselling to survivors of critical incidents. Undertakes team-building activities and proposes measures to reduce stress in the workplace, with due regards to the realities of the humanitarian response at the United Nations system, as well as to legal and other implications.
Training:
- Develops and delivers training activities on crisis and stress management, conflict resolution and related relevant topics.
- Administrative issues:
- Assists in dealing with local authorities; referral to appropriate local resources of assistance when necessary.
Job requirements
Competencies
PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge and understanding of theories, concepts and approaches relevant to the management of information in complex emergencies, disaster preparedness, disaster response and early recovery; Ability to identify issues, analyse humanitarian trends and participate in the resolution of issues/problems; Ability to conduct data collection using various methods; Demonstrates 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 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.
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 the audience. Demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
CLIENT ORIENTATION: Considers all those to whom services are provided to be “clients” and seeks to see things from clients’ point of view; establishes and maintains productive partnerships with clients by gaining their trust and respect; identifies clients’ needs and matches them to appropriate solutions; monitors ongoing developments inside and outside the clients’ environment to keep informed and anticipate problems; keeps clients informed of progress or setbacks in projects; meets timeline for delivery of products or services to client.
Education
An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in clinical psychology, counselling psychology, or in a related academic discipline, supplemented with other relevant studies/extensive courses in psychological assessment, cross-cultural communication, substance abuse, stress management or related field, is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work Experience
- A minimum of five (5) years of professional work experience in developing and implementing counselling and Employee Assistance Programmes at international level is required.
- Work experience with stress-related management issues applied in field environments is required.
- Experience in providing counselling and psychological support in an emergency operational setting is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English and in French (oral and written) is required. Knowledge of another UN language is desirable.
Assessment
The evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise, followed by competency-based interview.
Special Notice
This post is funded until 31/12/2020. Extension of the appointment is subject to extension of the mandate and/or the availability of the funds.
A current staff member who holds a fixed-term, permanent or continuing appointment may apply for temporary positions no more than one level above his or her current grade. However, a current staff member who holds an appointment at the G-6 or G-7 level may also apply to temporary positions in the Professional category up to and including the P-3 level, subject to meeting all eligibility and other requirements for the position. A staff member holding a temporary appointment shall be regarded as an external candidate when applying for other positions, and may apply for other temporary positions at any level, subject to section 5.7 below and staff rule 4.16 (b) (ii). Therefore, a staff member holding a temporary appointment in the General Service or related categories may only apply to positions within those categories. For full information on eligibility requirements, please refer to section 5 of ST/AI/2010/4Rev.1 on Temporary Appointments. In its resolution 66/234, the General Assembly further “stressed that the Secretary-General should not recur to the practice of temporarily filling posts in the Professional and higher categories with General Service staff members who have not passed the General Service to Professional category examination other than on an exceptional basis, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure that temporary occupation of such posts by the General Service staff shall not exceed a period of one year, effective 1 January 2013…” Consequently, eligible candidates in the General Service or related categories for temporary job openings in the Professional category that have not passed the competitive examination may be selected only on an exceptional basis endorsed by the Office of Human Resources Management where no other suitable candidate could be identified.
Upon separation from service, including, but not limited to, expiration or termination of, or resignation from, a fixed-term, continuing or permanent appointment, a former staff member will be ineligible for re-employment on the basis of a temporary appointment for a period of 31 days following the separation. In the case of separation from service on retirement, a former staff member will be ineligible for re-employment for a period of three months following the separation. This equally applies, mutatis mutandis, with respect to a former or current staff member who has held or holds an appointment in another entity applying the United Nations Staff Regulations and Rules and who applies for a temporary position with the Secretariat.
Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as « retirement. » Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service.
While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post. An external candidate selected for this position is bound by the prevailing condition of the staff selection system under ST/AI/2010/3, as amended, and ST/AI/2010/4/Rev.1. A staff member holding a temporary appointment who is recruited in the Professional and above categories on a temporary appointment, and placed on a position authorized for one year or longer may not apply for or be reappointed to his/her current position within six months of the end of his/her current service. This provision does not apply to staff members holding temporary appointments and placed on positions authorized for one year or more in duty stations authorized for peacekeeping operations or special political missions.
The expression “Internal candidates”, shall mean staff members who have been recruited after a competitive examination under staff rule 4.16 or after the advice of a central review body under staff rule 4.15.
Please note that 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.
For information on special post allowance, please refer to ST/AI/1999/17. For more details on the administration of temporary appointments please refer to ST/AI/2010/4/Rev.1.
The Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and administrative issuances governing staff appointments can be viewed at: http://www.un.org/hr_handbook/English
Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply.
Staff members are not eligible to apply for the current temporary job opening if they are unable to serve the specified duration of temporary need before reaching the mandatory age of separation. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation.
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.
The United Nations is Secretariat and is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for these positions. An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential.
Application deadline: 21 May 2020