Org. Setting and Reporting
This position is located in the Washington Liaison Office, Partnerships Branch (PB), Financing and Outreach Division (FOD), Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). OCHA is part of the United Nations Secretariat and brings together humanitarian actors to ensure a coherent response to emergencies. OCHA mobilizes and coordinates effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors to alleviate human suffering in disasters and emergencies, advocate for the rights of people in need, promote preparedness and prevention, and facilitate sustainable solutions. This temporary job opening is being advertised for the position of Head of Washington Liaison Office in Washington, D.C.. The incumbent reports to the Director, FOD, working in close coordination with other senior leaders, including the Chief of the Partnership Branch.
Responsibilities
Within delegated authority, the Head of Washington Liaison Office will formulate and lead the strategic vision, policy positioning and substantive work programme of the Washington Liaison Office. The incumbent will serve as OCHA's senior representative and principal strategic advisor on United States political, policy, legislative and funding developments affecting global humanitarian action. The Head will shape OCHA's engagement with the United States Administration, Congress, key policy institutions and other influential actors in Washington, D.C., advancing OCHA's strategic priorities and strengthening political and financial support for principled humanitarian action. • Serves as OCHA's principal strategic representative in Washington, D.C., maintaining and expanding high-level engagement with senior officials of the United States Administration, including the Department of State and other relevant federal agencies, as well as Members of Congress, Congressional Committees and senior congressional staff. • Provides authoritative political, policy and strategic analysis of United States foreign policy, humanitarian assistance priorities, appropriations processes, legislative developments and geopolitical trends that may affect humanitarian operations, humanitarian financing and OCHA's mandate. Translates this analysis into timely, actionable recommendations for OCHA senior leadership and relevant offices. • Advises the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Assistant Secretary-General, Directors and other senior OCHA leaders on United States policy dynamics, strategic opportunities and risks, and recommends approaches for engagement with Washington-based decision-makers and institutions. • Leads the development and implementation of OCHA's Washington engagement strategy, identifying opportunities to influence policy discussions, shape humanitarian narratives and strengthen political and financial support for humanitarian action. Anticipates emerging developments and positions OCHA proactively within the evolving United States political and policy environment. • Develops and sustains trusted relationships with senior political appointees, career officials, Congressional leadership and staff, diplomatic missions, policy and research institutions, foundations, media leaders, academic institutions and other influential actors to advance OCHA's strategic objectives and promote understanding of humanitarian priorities. • Leads OCHA's advocacy and resource-mobilization strategy vis-a-vis the United States Government and other Washington-based funding and policy actors, including support for OCHA core funding, Pooled Funds (Country and Regional Pooled Funds and the Central Emergency Response Fund), Inter-agency coordinated Humanitarian Response Plans / appeals and other humanitarian financing priorities. Represents OCHA positions clearly and persuasively and supports senior-level engagement with key partners. • Exercises strategic leadership in representing OCHA in senior-level discussions on humanitarian policy, international affairs, conflict and crisis response, humanitarian financing, access and protection concerns, ensuring that OCHA's perspectives inform relevant policy and decision-making processes. • Ensures that Washington-based engagement is systematically linked to operational priorities and organizational objectives, and that significant political, policy, legislative and funding developments are communicated to OCHA leadership to inform decision-making and organizational positioning. • Leads strategic dialogue and partnerships with think tanks, policy research institutions, academic centers, philanthropic organizations and other influential networks that shape humanitarian, development and foreign policy discourse in Washington, D.C. • Directs the production of high-quality strategic analysis, policy papers, briefing materials, advocacy products and senior-level engagement plans that support OCHA leadership and strengthen the organization's influence and impact. • Ensures that the outputs produced by the Branch/Service/Division maintain high-quality standards; that reports are clear, objective and based on comprehensive data. Ensures that all outputs produced by the Sections under his/her supervision meet required standards before completion to ensure they comply with the relevant mandates. • Assists the Director in preparing the work programme of the Branch/Service/Division, determining priorities, and allocating resources for the completion of outputs and their timely delivery. • Undertakes or oversees the programmatic/administrative tasks necessary for the functioning of the Branch/Service/Division, including preparation of budgets, reporting on budget/programme performance, evaluation of staff performance (PAS), interviews of candidates for job openings, evaluation of candidates and preparation of inputs for results-based budgeting. • Recruits staff, taking due account of geographical balance. • Manages, guides, develops and trains staff under his/her supervision. • Fosters teamwork and communication among staff in the Branch/Service/Division and across organizational boundaries. • Leads and supervises the organization of meetings, seminars, etc. on substantive issues. Manages the substantive preparation and organization of such meetings or seminars. • Participates in international, regional or national meetings and provides programmatic/substantive expertise on an issue, or holds programmatic/substantive and organizational discussions with representatives of other institutions. • Represents the Division at international, regional or national meetings.
Competencies
Core Competencies: • Professionalism: Expert knowledge of humanitarian affairs, international relations, United States foreign policy, humanitarian financing and global political dynamics. Demonstrated capacity to provide authoritative strategic advice to senior executives and government leaders on highly complex and politically sensitive issues. Strong political judgement and analytical skills, including the ability to anticipate policy trends, identify strategic opportunities and risks, influence decision-making processes and shape institutional outcomes. Proven ability to develop and execute high-level engagement strategies and represent organizational interests effectively with senior policymakers and decision-makers. Knowledge of United Nations mandates, policies and the institutions of the United Nations system. Ability to work under pressure, including in relation to major emergencies. 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 audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. • 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. 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. • Vision: Identifies strategic issues, opportunities and risks; clearly communicates links between the Organization's strategy and the work unit's goals; generates and communicates broad and compelling organizational direction, inspiring others to pursue that same direction; conveys enthusiasm about future possibilities.
Education
Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in political science, social sciences, public administration, international studies, economics, law or a related field. A first-level university degree in combination with an additional two (2) years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Job - Specific Qualification
Not available.
Work Experience
A minimum of fifteen (15) years of progressively responsible experience in humanitarian affairs, international relations, public policy, foreign affairs, humanitarian financing, external relations, humanitarian diplomacy, partnerships, government relations or a related area is required. Experience in advising senior leaders on complex political, policy, legislative, humanitarian or financing issues is required. Experience in building and maintaining partnerships with governmental, legislative, diplomatic, United Nations, non-governmental and civil-society stakeholders is required. Senior-level management experience, including leadership of multidisciplinary teams and management of human and financial resources, is required. Experience in advocacy and mobilizing financial resources for humanitarian purposes is required. Experience in engaging at senior levels with the United States Administration, including foreign policy, humanitarian, development or national security institutions, is desirable. Experience in engaging with the United States Congress, Congressional Committees, appropriations processes or legislative affairs related to foreign assistance, humanitarian assistance or international affairs is desirable. Demonstrated experience in shaping policy outcomes, influencing senior decision-makers and leading strategic engagement initiatives in Washington, D.C., is desirable. International field experience in humanitarian operations is desirable. Experience in the United Nations common system or other comparable international organization is desirable.
Languages
English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this job opening, English is required. Either Arabic or Chinese (Mandarin) or French or Russian or Spanish is desirable. The table below shows the minimum required level for each skill in these languages, according to the UN Language Framework (please consult https://languages.un.org for details).
Required Languages
LanguageReadingWritingListeningSpeakingEnglishUN Level IIIUN Level IIIUN Level IIIUN Level III
Desirable Languages
LanguageReadingWritingListeningSpeakingArabicUN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level IIChinese (Mandarin)UN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level IIFrenchUN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level IIRussianUN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level IISpanishUN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level IIUN Level II
Assessment
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.
Special Notice
This position is temporarily available for 364 days. If the selected candidate is a staff member from the United Nations Secretariat, the selection will be administered as a temporary assignment. 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. Subject to the funding source of the position, the eligibility for this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station. This temporary job opening may be limited to "internal candidates," who have been recruited through a competitive examination administered according to staff rule 4.16 or staff selection process including the review of a central review body established according to staff rule 4.15. 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. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation. 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.
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.
