United Nations

Org. Setting and Reporting

This position is located in the Safety and Security Service (SSS), Division of Administration (DoA) at the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) in Geneva, Switzerland. The incumbent will report directly to the Director, Division of Administration (DoA), United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG). S/he will work under the overall technical supervision of the Director, Division of Headquarters Security and Safety Services (DHSSS), United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS), New York. UNDSS is responsible for providing leadership, operational support, and oversight of the security management system to enable the safest and most efficient conduct of the programmes and activities of the United Nations System.

Responsibilities

Within delegated authority and under the overall security and safety policy guidance by the Director, Division of Headquarters Security and Safety Services (DHSSS) in the Department of Safety and Security (DSS) in New York and the overall direction of the Director-General of UNOG, the Chief, Security and Safety Service is responsible for the following duties: - Directs and manages the Security and Safety Service of the United Nations Office at UNOG and serves as the Chief Security Advisor for Switzerland. - Prepares, reviews, approves or endorses security management documents for UNOG and the designated country, including all aspects related to elaboration, development, implementation and updating of the documents. - Establishes and chairs a Switzerland Security Cell, ensures its good functioning and practices, and fosters interagency security coordination. - Advises and supports the Director-General, the Designated Official in Switzerland, security focal points, and agencies of the United Nations Security Management System (UNSMS) with regard to all security-related matters, security policies and procedures. - Maintains and enhances lines of communication with UNSMS entities, including agencies funds and programmes and security focal points. - Serves as a member of the Security Management Team (SMT), contributing to planning, implementation, and evaluation of the effectiveness of security planning, security operations and implementation of measures aimed at improving staff security and conduct of UN programme activities. - Maintains cooperation and collaboration with host country authorities and international institutions, provides security briefings, advice and security training to UNSMS personnel and operational partners of the United Nations. - Ensures implementation of safety and security policies of the UNSMS. - Provides support and oversees the establishment/maintenance of an Emergency Communication System. - Conducts fact finding related to security-related incidents involving UNSMS personnel or eligible dependents. - Assists in the response to crisis events and security incidents. - Develops strategic goals, objectives, plans for the delivery of the substantive activities of the Service and implements corresponding outputs. - Guides the definition of policies, methods and standards for the implementation of the substantive activities of the Service. - Participates in peer reviews of other SSS duty stations, evaluation missions, and fact-finding missions/inquiries, and acts as event security coordinator for major UN external events, and as directed by UNDSS. - Manages and reports on asset management for the allocated resources of the assigned office(s), including personnel, budget and other assets. - Develops and manages security projects with extra-budgetary funding. - Develops, reviews data, provides inputs for reporting. - Identifies and promotes best practices. - Leads team members’ efforts to collect and analyze data and provides insight to identify trends or patterns for data-driven planning, decision-making, presentations and reporting. Ensures that everyone can discover, access, integrate and share the data they need. - Performs any other duties as may be assigned.

Competencies

Professionalism: In depth knowledge in the field of security risk management, especially of the UNSMS. Ability to make quick decisions in emergencies or when rapid response is required. Ability to communicate complex concepts orally. Ability to produce reports and papers on technical issues and to review and edit the work of others. Ability to apply UN rules, regulations, policies and guidelines in work situations. Ability to apply and integrate new technology appropriately. Ability to analyze and interpret data in support of decision-making and convey resulting information to management. 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. Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments. Delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards. Operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules. Supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments. Takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable. 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. 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 improvement; 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. Judgement/decision making: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly. Gathers relevant information before making a decision. Considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them. Takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization. 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

An advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in security management, law enforcement, public administration, or related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with two years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Job - Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible professional experience in security, risk or disaster or emergency management in public or private service areas, such as national security, the military or police, or in a corporate environment is required. At least three (3) years of experience managing and leading personnel and/or teams (at least 50 persons) is required. Of the minimum years of experience, at least five (5) years working experience in UN Security Management System (UNSMS) is desirable. Experience in field operations is desirable. Specialized experience in such areas as security programmes, risk assessments, security analysis and/or physical security is desirable. Proven experience in using applied analytics, business intelligence, and information management to advance decisions, strategies and execution is desirable.

Languages

English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in English or French with knowledge of the other is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is desirable.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

At the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application. The United Nations Secretariat is committed to achieving 50/50 gender balance and geographical diversity in its staff. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for this position. Staff members of the United Nations Secretariat must fulfil the lateral or geographical move requirements to be eligible to apply for this vacancy. Staff members are requested to indicate all qualifying lateral or geographical moves in their Candidate Profile (CP) and motivation statement. For this position, applicants from the following Member States, which are unrepresented or underrepresented in the UN Secretariat as of 30 Nov 2023, are strongly encouraged to apply: Afghanistan, Andorra, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Belize, Brunei Darussalam, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Cuba, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Djibouti, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Israel, Japan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malta, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (Federated States of), Monaco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Oman, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, United Arab Emirates, United States of America, Vanuatu.

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.