Chief Emergency, P-5, FT, #138655, Caracas
Organizational Context
UNICEF operates in over 190 countries and territories, dedicated to saving children's lives, defending their rights, and helping them fulfill their potential from early childhood through adolescence. We are committed, passionate, and proud of our work, viewing the promotion of every child's rights as a calling.
Job Purpose
Under the general guidance of the Representative, the Chief of Emergency is responsible for leading the Country Office’s emergency preparedness and humanitarian response coordination. This role provides authoritative advice on humanitarian risks and response priorities, ensuring the effective fulfillment of UNICEF’s humanitarian coordination responsibilities. The position involves leading multi-hazard risk analysis, preparedness planning, and coordinating integrated humanitarian response planning, leveraging the technical expertise and implementation capabilities of Programme Sections and operational functions. A key aspect is maintaining a consolidated overview of humanitarian needs, response progress, critical gaps, and preparedness requirements, facilitating timely action through responsible managers.
Responsibilities
The Chief of Emergency leads the Country Office’s emergency preparedness and humanitarian response coordination, offering expert advice on humanitarian risks and response priorities to support UNICEF’s coordination mandates. This includes spearheading multi-hazard risk analysis, preparedness planning, and coordinating integrated humanitarian response planning, utilizing the capacities of Programme Sections and operational units. The role requires maintaining a comprehensive understanding of humanitarian needs, response status, critical gaps, and preparedness necessities, and facilitating prompt actions by relevant managers. In close collaboration with the Deputy Representative Programmes, the Chief ensures that humanitarian coordination priorities and response commitments are integrated into programme planning, implementation, and review processes. Programme delivery is managed through established arrangements, supported by the Emergency Manager’s coordination, analysis, and follow-up. The position provides strategic and functional oversight of UNICEF’s support to clusters, sectors, and Areas of Responsibility under its leadership or co-leadership, as defined by the country coordination architecture and delegated responsibilities. Additionally, it offers specialized leadership and advice on disaster risk reduction, anticipatory action, emergency preparedness, and recovery transitions, promoting their integration into the Country Programme and strengthening national and local capacities for preparedness and response.
Work Experience
A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible professional work experience at national and international levels in all aspects of programme/project management and administration. Developing country work experience is also required.
Skills
Team management, Emergency strategies, Disaster prevention, Response-gap analysis, Early Warning/Early Action system, IASC Early Warning system, Programme management, Project administration, Humanitarian coordination, Risk analysis, Preparedness planning, Inter-agency coordination