UNDP Jobs - 1082- Specialist for Avian Human Influenza Preparedness

Specialist for Avian Human Influenza Preparedness and Business Continuity Planning

Location :

New York, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Type of Contract :

ALD International

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

24-Jan-07 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

ALD-3

Duration of Initial Contract :

11 months

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

The Secretary General asked the UN system to be prepared for a potential outbreak of Avian Human Influenza (AHI) by 30 May 2006. Despite all efforts, UNDP - as the rest of the UN system - does not have the Contingency Plans completed, as the important element of Business Continuity Planning for Emergencies had not been developed and implemented beforehand. Hence, UNDP's preparedness for a possible pandemic has to include AHI specific elements, such as information about AHI and preparedness of individual staff members at their homes; training and simulation exercises of Business Continuity Plans will include general emergency preparedness as an integrated part of the practice of Management of Risk.
Under the guidance of the HR Specialist for Staff Wellbeing, the Avian Influenza Specialist assists in developing and monitoring strategic initiatives to achieve completion and implementation of UNDP's Pandemic Influenza Contingency Plan and ensures compliance with the joint interagency approach of the UN System. In addition, the Specialist will further develop measures to ascertain implementation and maintenance of UNDP's Business Continuity Plan, while monitoring and evaluating this process.
The position involves extensive inter-agency consultation throughout UN System entities in New York, and inter-departmental cooperation with all UNDP HQ units, while providing guidance and advice to respective AHI/BCP Focal Points. It also includes interaction and close cooperation with UNDP's critical business units, particularly with EXO, the Security Team, OHR, OF, and OIST in order to share best practices and professional expertise to carry out abovementioned tasks.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Coordinate and monitor completion of elements for the overarching Pandemic Influenza Contingency Plan (CP) submitted by HQ Units. Provide comprehensive guidance to AHI Focal Points of all HQ Units in this respect.
2. Compile and finalize the overarching Contingency Plan for UNDP HQ and manage respective implementation. Specifically, further develop and customize corporate measures of the UN System in New York in compliance with the overarching UN NY Contingency Plan. This includes in particular
- In conjunction with the pandemic Focal Points of the NY based UN system entities prepare and further develop policies, material and strategies for risk and crisis communications with NY personnel
- Implement, monitor and evaluate staff training on various levels (information sessions, health fairs and workshops)
- In close cooperation with all NY based UN entities and particularly UNDP's Security Team, facilitate, monitor and evaluate simulation exercises on various levels
3. Monitor and facilitate the integration of UNDP's Pandemic Influenza Contingency Plan into the overarching Contingency Plan of all UN entities in New York. Respond to requests and inquiries from the UN NY Pandemic Influenza Coordinator. Liaise closely with all NY based UN Agencies and maintain/establish partnerships with all relevant stake holders. Represent UNDP in inter-agency working groups.
4. Establish and maintain close cooperation with UNDP's business critical Units (EXO, OHR, OF, OAS, OIST), and particularly ensure coordination with UNDP's Security Team to comply with the overall emergency response activities and the working group for Management of Risk of UNDP.
5. Support the Country Offices in their preparation according to the UNMS Guidelines and also share experience and practice developed in HQ on BCP.
6. Manage UNDP's Avian Human Influenza Information Centre in the intranet and ensure compliance with the UN website on AHI. Respond to queries arriving at e-mail address info.avianflu@undp.org
7. Advocate for the importance of Business Continuity Planning for any kind of emergency within the organization
8. Guide and advise BCP Focal Points in HQ Units to improve and implement their BCP solutions
9. Develop and implement a framework to monitor and evaluate UNDPs BCP activities (particularly: clarify ownership and respective maintenance), while recognizing UNDP's management practices and ensuring integration in the overall Enterprise Management of Risk Framework.
10. Provide briefing materials and updates on status of activities to OHR and BOM management. 11. Any other task assigned by the managers of the unit.

Competencies

Demonstrates commitment to UNDP's mission, vision and values
Excellent interpersonal, networking and communication skills
Ability to establish effective working relations in a complex environment with various stake holders
Proven ability and skill to work under high pressure, both independently as well as part of a multicultural team
Strategic planning, results-based management and excellent reporting skills
Ability to develop innovative solutions and to encourage others to develop creative solutions to address challenging situations
Ability to take complex issues, conceptualize and condense into comprehensive papers/plans for consideration by the organization
Proven drafting and writing skills to write clearly and convincingly, adapting style and content to different audiences
Ability to provide input to business processes re-engineering, implementation of new system
Capability to assess and critically evaluate the procedures and processes for corrective and practical measures
Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexity
Knowledge of Avian Human Influenza (AHI) and a Influenza Pandemic and the UN Guidelines
Knowledge of the AHI structure within the UN System, especially in New York

Required Skills and Experience

Advanced university degree in a Social Science Discipline and in related subjects
At least 5 years of experience in the relevant field; experience at the international level or multi-cultural environment is an asset
Experience in offering training and communication
Knowledge of UNDP and the UN system (particularly in New York)
Business continuity planning, as well as crisis preparedness and response experience within the UN system are an asset
Experience working on Avian Human Influenza planning and preparedness, especially supporting Country Offices
Fluency in English (excellent articulation and writing skills required); understanding of French and Spanish an asset