Gblcareers

Reporting to the Director, Early Warning Directorate, the job holder shall oversee the administrative and technical functions of the Early Warning System. The nature of Early Warning requiring a comprehensive understanding of both human and nature induced crises/conflict, forms the basis of the multidisciplinary tasking of the profile.

The Principal Programme Officer – Early Warning System Management is primarily involved in the design of the early Warning System and ensures its daily functionality and maintenance.  This includes all components; i.e. equipment, hardware, software, databases and users throughout the network.  Other tasks under his responsibility are:

• Conceptualizing, designing, planning early warning strategies and methodologies

• Organizing work across the network (Headquarters, National Mechanisms, Continental early Warning System)

• Supporting and developing capacities of other divisions of the directorate

• Estimating and Allocating resources

• Tracking and reporting progress

• Analyzing the results based on the fact achieved

• Forecasting future trends in IT and geo-information related acquisitions

• Maintaining cooperation with key individuals and organizations (UN, AU, Regional Communities, Civil Society, development partners) concerned with the use of Early Warning System.

• Quality management.

• A Bachelor of Science Degree in any discipline of the Social Sciences, namely Geo-information Systems, Communication/Information technology, Environmental Science or its equivalent.

• Minimum of ten years relevant work experience in the planning and management of Crisis related Information systems and programmes, including at least five years working familiarity with geospatial Information technologies and applications.

• Familiarity with national, regional and international conventions/other legal tools and policies.

COMPETENCIES (SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES)

• Encouraging Innovation and Managing Change: Commitment to challenging the status quo and looking for new and better ways of delivering the objectives.  Apply interpretative and creative thinking in relation to the scope of Programmes and demonstrate a proactive and enthusiastic approach to embedding this in practice. Able to adapt and deal with situations and manage expectations during periods of change, especially in the eyes of the stakeholders and can take account of the broader perspective and how it affects the individual Projects and wider Programme priorities

• Working Together: Able to create a shared sense of purpose and commitment amongst the disparate members of Project teams through networking and sharing best practice across the Programmes. Able to secure active stakeholder management/ownership of the Programme and broker relationships at all levels. Can demonstrate the sensitivities required to balance and resolve the tensions in working with a wide range of contacts (both internally and externally at senior levels) and preserve the Programme’s key objectives through effective consultation and negotiation to achieve the right perspective and the required outcomes.

• Achieving and Improving: Can take personal responsibility for successful management of Centre’s programmes and for ensuring these are focussed on delivery of set objectives.  Actively co-ordinate each programme, the relationship with other programmes and the interface to Centre’s mandate. Understanding of budgetary control and resource allocation procedures. Maintains a key strategic focus by effectively identifying, analysing and prioritising risks/issues external to the Programme and reconciling these with internal priorities. Provide delegated authority, as required, to ensure the Programme meets its objectives and achieves the right balance between quality, time, cost and risk. Can challenge where necessary to continuously improve working methods, systems and processes.

• Communicating Effectively: Able to effectively represent the Centre’s objectives and explain its purpose/benefits to the ECOWAS community clearly and positively to internal and external customers/stakeholders. Able to demonstrate an understanding of the broader and strategic context of Programmes and be able to interpret, influence and apply that into effective outcomes. Persuade stakeholders/customers to accept a particular way forward, sometimes dealing with resistance and negotiating to reach an agreed way forward.

• Leading and Managing Others: Effectively deploy leadership qualities and management skills to ensure that Programmes stay on track. Able to effectively draw upon the various skills and talents of different people both within and outside the Programme Implementation team to achieve programme deliverables.  Communicate a clear vision of the future direction and role of Programmes Implementation and provide constructive and positive support when things go wrong so that lessons can be learned and improvements made. Demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the principles of managing people by valuing diversity and encouraging and supporting staff.

Candidates should not be 50 years old or over at the point of recruitment and must be a citizen of one of the ECOWAS member states.

Must be fluent in one of the official languages of the Commission; English, French and Portuguese. A working knowledge of another would be very advantageous.
Closing Date: 21 November 2014