Chief Field Operations and Emergency
Organizational Context
UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential. We are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.
Job Purpose
The Chief, Field Operations and Emergencies reports to the Representative and is responsible for the overall management of the Field Operations and Emergencies Section. This includes oversight and coordination of zonal offices, emergency preparedness and response functions, and humanitarian and Basic Human Needs (BHN) coordination responsibilities. The post ensures effective coordination between field operations, emergency response, programme sections, and operational support functions to strengthen delivery, monitoring, accountability, and operational effectiveness across Afghanistan. The position is office-based in Kabul with frequent travel to field locations, playing a critical role in navigating one of the world’s most complex humanitarian contexts.
Responsibilities
Provide strategic leadership, oversight, and coordination to UNICEF Field Operations and Zonal Offices, ensuring effective implementation, monitoring, and delivery of programmes across Afghanistan. Coordinate between field offices, programme sections, and operations functions to enhance integrated programming, operational effectiveness, and accountability for results. Support field offices in work planning, implementation, operational coordination, risk management, and programme performance monitoring. Ensure field realities, operational constraints, population movements, access issues, and humanitarian priorities inform country office decision-making, planning, and advocacy. Promote integrated programming approaches and coherent implementation of UNICEF programmes at subnational levels, including in priority districts and high-risk areas. Ensure effective field-level coordination and representation with government counterparts, UN agencies, NGOs, civil society, and other humanitarian and development partners. Provide strategic managerial leadership and oversight for UNICEF emergency preparedness and response activities in Afghanistan, aligning with UNICEF Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action and inter-agency frameworks. Ensure effective contingency planning, risk analysis, and emergency response coordination across the country and zonal offices. Oversee the implementation and regular updating of the Emergency Preparedness Platform (EPP 3.0), contingency plans, and emergency preparedness actions. Ensure timely and coordinated emergency response to population movements, natural disasters, disease outbreaks, and other humanitarian emergencies affecting children and women. Maintain and strengthen appropriate emergency coordination, operational support, rapid assessments, reporting, and response monitoring systems. Support surge planning, emergency staffing, and operational readiness measures to sustain emergency response capacities. Provide effective humanitarian coordination and UNICEF humanitarian leadership responsibilities.
Work Experience
A minimum of 10 years of professional experience in humanitarian action, emergency response, programme management, and field operations, with at least 5 years at the international level. Experience in complex humanitarian contexts is required.
Skills
Strategic leadership, Emergency preparedness and response, Humanitarian coordination, Programme management, Field operations oversight, Risk management, Inter-agency coordination, Monitoring and evaluation, Stakeholder engagement, Capacity building, Operational effectiveness, Cross-functional collaboration