Head of Unit (Culture) (Paris, France) contract

Post Number : CLT 364

Grade : P-4

Parent Sector : Culture Sector (CLT)

Duty Station: Paris

Job Family: Culture

Type of contract : Fixed Term

Duration of contract : 2 years, renewable

Recruitment open to : Internal and external candidates

Application Deadline (Midnight Paris Time) : 6-JAN-2025 (Extended)

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

The Emergency Operations and Programmes Unit of the Culture and Emergencies Entity of the Culture Sector (CLT/CEM/EOP) is responsible for the implementation of UNESCO’s culture programme in emergencies, building capacities for preparedness, deploying operational actions for response and recovery, and monitor culture in emergencies. The EOP Unit also steers and coordinates the Museums Programme in line with the 2015 Recommendation concerning the Protection and Promotion of Museums and Collections, their Diversity and their Role in Society, and the Entity’s contribution to UNESCO’s programmes in support of global priorities and transversal programmes.

Under the overall authority of the Assistant Director-General for Culture (ADG/CLT) and the direct supervision of the Director of the Culture and Emergencies Entity (DIR/CEM), working in close cooperation with the Secretariats of the Culture Conventions, the incumbent manages the coordination and implementation of the Culture Sector’s emergency preparedness and response programmes to crisis situations, including those related to conflict, natural- and human-induced hazards, so as to ensure effective capacity to provide support for emergency action before, during and after crises, including cultural heritage damage assessment. The incumbent’s responsibilities also encompass the implementation of the museum activities, in line with the 2015 Recommendation concerning the Protection and Promotion of Museums and Collections, their Diversity and their Role in Society, and coordinates the Entity’s contribution to the implementation of initiatives related to the UNESCO Global Priorities (Africa and Gender Equality), priority groups and transversal thematic areas, such as Culture and Education, Culture and Climate Change, Indigenous Peoples, Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Youth. The incumbent leads the team of the Unit, ensuring the planning, design, implementation, monitoring, and reporting on programmes and projects, as well as leading resource mobilization activities.

In particular, the incumbent shall:

• In close cooperation with the Secretariats of the Culture Conventions, develop, implement and monitor strategies, plans and policies to respond to risks related to, and impacts of emergencies on culture – including tangible and intangible heritage, as well as the cultural and creative industries, building on the existing strategies established in the framework of the implementation of the Culture Conventions and related efforts of the United Nations System.

• Coordinate the development, implementation and monitoring of programmes, projects and activities, including the outreach strategy related to emergency preparedness in the field of culture. Support the development of institutional and technical capacities in the field of emergency situations and risk reduction and mitigation. Contribute to the development of capacity-building resources of risk preparedness and management in emergency situations. This will include advising colleagues on the design and implementation of emergency preparedness, response and recovery projects in the field of culture, including in the framework of Post-Disaster Needs Assessments (PDNAs) and Post-Conflict Needs Assessments (PCNAs) as well as leading ad hoc trainings on emergency preparedness, response and recovery for heritage (including PDNA and PCNA processes) for relevant UNESCO staff.

• Ensure UNESCO’s global leadership of preparedness, response and recovery action in the field of culture, including by ensuring coordination with international actors and partners engaged in situations of emergency.

• Ensure the management of UNESCO’s Heritage Emergency Fund (HEF). Preprare, organize and follow up on the Donors’ Advisory Group Meeting of the Heritage Emergency Fund. Provide guidance to Member States and Field Offices in preparing requests for assistance, using existing mechanisms, such as HEF, in coordination with the other UN agencies, local partners and NGOs in the implementation of mitigation and preparedness, response and recovery interventions.

• Ensure appropriate verification, assessment of damage, evaluation and reporting on interventions during emergency situations, providing technical advice to the DIR/CEM and ensuring documentation in view of the reporting to higher management and the UNESCO Governing Bodies. Ensure effective communication on emergency responses related to safeguarding culture and heritage and mobilize voluntary resources for emergency risk management for culture.

• Design, develop, implement and monitor the activities, including capacity-building activities, to translate the principles of the 2015 Recommendation concerning the Protection and Promotion of Museums and Collections, their Diversity and their Role in Society into country-level policies and programmes;  Provide guidance and information to Field Offices and other stakeholders to promote and implement the 2015 Recommendation; Develop, manage and monitor the implementation of the outreach strategy in collaboration with public and private stakeholders.

• Coordinate the work of CLT/CEM in support of the UNESCO’s Global Priorities, priority groups, and transversal thematic areas, such as Culture and Education, Culture and Climate Change, Indigenous Peoples, SIDS, and Youth.

• Lead the EOP Unit, providing technical and analytical support for planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting on programmes and projects, overseeing resource mobilization activities and daily operations, in cooperation with the other Entities of the Culture Sector, other Programme Sectors, and central services as appropriate. Provide leadership, guidance to the Unit members.

Education

• Advanced University degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in culture, social sciences, humanities, political science, international relations, conflict studies, risk management, law or in a related field.

Work Experience

• A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible relevant professional experience in the field of culture, humanities, political science, international relations, law, conflict studies, or related field of which at least three (3) years acquired at the international level. 
• Experience in the area of emergency preparedness or response.
• Experience in providing leadership to guide staff, and ability to build trust, manage staff and teams.

Skills and competencies 

• Excellent capacity to collect, synthesize and analyse information from various sources and to write documents in a clear and concise manner.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, organizational and coordination skills.
• Ability to manage heavy workload and to work under pressure, with capacity for accuracy, paying close attention to detail and quality of work.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to maintain effective working relations within a multicultural environment.
• Proven capacity to react and respond to emergency situations.

• Proven ability to manage a team.
• Ability to develop clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies, to identify priority activities and assignments, to adjust priorities as required, to allocate the appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work, to foresee risks and allow for contingencies when planning, to monitor and adjust plans and actions as necessary.
• Good IT skills.

Languages

• Excellent knowledge of English or French and good knowledge of the other.  

Education

• Advanced University degree (PhD) in culture, social sciences, humanities, political science, international relations, conflict studies, risk management, law or in a related field.

Work Experience

• Proven experience in monitoring and evaluating cultural policies, programmes and projects in the field of emergency preparedness and response risk reduction or related field.
• Proven experience in managing programmes in the field of emergency preparedness and response.
• Working experience with a UN Organization/agency.
• Experience in the field of humanitarian, security, human rights, peacekeeping, peacebuilding and/or disaster risk management.

Skills and competencies 

• Familiarity with the work and general functioning of the UN System.
• Knowledge of UNESCO and its Culture Conventions and programme.

Languages

• Knowledge of another/other UNESCO official language(s): Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish.