Assistant Emergency Preparedness Officer

The project aims to strengthen Government-owned national and municipal preparedness, early warning, anticipatory action and operational response systems for sudden cross-border displacement and multi-hazard emergency scenarios in Armenia, with operational focus on Syunik and Vayots Dzor provinces.

The project supports operationalization of preparedness and activation systems, municipal readiness, contingency planning, crisis coordination, community preparedness, simulation exercises, early warning and public alerting systems aligned with Armenia’s DRM Strategy (2023–2030) and the EW4All National Roadmap.

The Assistant Emergency Preparedness Officer will support technical coordination, preparedness planning, operational readiness activities, municipal engagement, inter-agency coordination, preparedness reporting, simulation exercises, early warning and anticipatory action activities, and implementation follow-up under the ECHO-funded disaster preparedness project.

Assistant Emergency Preparedness Officer, Local Individual Contractor at National Professional level NOA, is a full-time job in accordance with the standard Job Description and the Terms of Reference specified bellow, requiring physical presence in the office.

Candidates must meet the essential minimum requirements of the position and must have either Armenian citizenship or the legal status necessary to work in Armenia. Applicants must be legally present in the country at the time of application, recruitment, and hire. Non-Armenian candidates are requested to attach to the application their residence/work permit.

Suggested Monthly Fee and currency: Equivalent to the estimated amount as per the UN Common System salary scale in Armenia, equivalent to the level of the engagement of NOA. The degree of specialization required by the engagement, knowledge, qualifications, experience and skills will be considered to establish the fee. Payment will be implemented by Armenian Drams (AMD) as per the Manager receipt of services.

Duration of the initial contract 1(one) year from the start date, renewable

Your application will NOT be considered if:

- The application form is not duly filled.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited for competency-based interview. The shortlisted candidates might be invited to sit for the written test. In person participation is required.

UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, training or any other fees).

For technical support needed, send your queries to the HR team at [email protected]

1. General Background of Project or Assignment, Operational Context:

Armenia continues to face a complex and evolving risk environment shaped by regional geopolitical instability, cross-border displacement risks and exposure to multiple natural and technological hazards. Southern Armenia, particularly Syunik and Vayots Dzor marzes, remains strategically important due to its proximity to international borders, transport corridors and potential displacement routes. Recent emergency response experiences and preparedness assessments highlighted the need to further strengthen operational readiness, municipal preparedness systems, inter-agency coordination, contingency planning, early warning and anticipatory action mechanisms.

To address these gaps, UNHCR Armenia is implementing the ECHO-funded Disaster Preparedness (DP) project titled “Strengthening Multi-Hazard Operational Preparedness and Institutional Capacity for Mass Influx Contingencies in Southern Armenia.” The project aims to strengthen Government-owned preparedness, early warning, operational coordination and municipal response systems for sudden cross-border displacement and multi-hazard emergency scenarios.

The project supports implementation of Armenia’s Disaster Risk Management Strategy (2023–2030), operationalization of national preparedness and activation systems, strengthening of municipal readiness arrangements, enhancement of early warning and public alerting systems aligned with the EW4All National Roadmap, and reinforcement of community preparedness and operational coordination capacities. Activities are implemented in close coordination with the Ministry of Interior, Migration and Citizenship Service, Rescue Service, municipalities, UN agencies and humanitarian and development partners.

Within this framework, the Assistant Emergency Preparedness Officer will support technical coordination, preparedness planning, operational readiness activities, municipal engagement, inter-agency coordination, preparedness reporting, simulation exercises and implementation follow-up under the ECHO-funded Disaster Preparedness project.

2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment:

The Assistant Emergency Preparedness Officer will support the implementation, technical coordination and operational follow-up of the ECHO-funded Disaster Preparedness (DP) project implemented by UNHCR Armenia. The assignment will contribute to strengthening Government-owned preparedness, contingency planning, municipal operational readiness, early warning and anticipatory action systems related to sudden cross-border displacement and multi-hazard emergency scenarios in Armenia.

Under the supervision of the designated UNHCR supervisor, the individual contractor will support coordination with Government counterparts, municipalities, UN agencies, implementing partners and ECHO, and contribute to implementation, monitoring and technical follow-up of project activities in line with project objectives, donor requirements and national preparedness priorities.

3. Key Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support overall implementation, coordination and operational follow-up of the ECHO-funded Disaster Preparedness project.

• Support technical preparedness activities related to contingency planning, emergency preparedness, operational readiness and mass influx planning.

• Draft, review and support operationalization of technical preparedness documents, including contingency plans (CPs), standard operating procedures (SOPs), activation procedures, coordination frameworks, preparedness tools and operational guidance documents.

• Support organization and follow-up of preparedness coordination meetings, technical consultations, workshops, simulations, trainings and operational reviews.

• Support preparedness coordination and technical engagement with Government counterparts, including the Ministry of Interior, Migration and Citizenship Service, Rescue Service, municipalities and other relevant institutions.

• Support municipal preparedness and operational readiness activities in Syunik and Vayots Dzor marzes, including field coordination, preparedness assessments and implementation follow-up.

• Assist in implementation and follow-up of activities related to early warning systems, anticipatory action, crisis communication and EW4All-related preparedness initiatives.

• Support monitoring of project implementation progress, workplans, deliverables and timelines in coordination with UNHCR and partners.

• Support preparation of donor reporting materials, technical updates, briefing notes, presentations, meeting minutes and operational summaries related to the project.

• Support preparation, coordination and follow-up of ECHO monitoring missions, technical visits, donor meetings and field missions, including drafting of briefing materials, technical presentations and follow-up actions.

• Contribute to simulations, drills, after-action reviews, lessons learned exercises and operational validation activities under the project.

• Support data collection, operational analysis, preparedness mapping and documentation of preparedness gaps, operational risks and progress achieved under the project.

• Liaise with implementing partners, UN agencies, humanitarian actors and technical stakeholders supporting preparedness and DRM activities in Armenia.

• Undertake field missions and operational travel related to preparedness activities, coordination and project implementation as required.

• Perform other related duties as required.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables

• Technical preparedness documents, SOPs, contingency plans and operational guidance materials drafted and updated in a timely manner.

• Effective support provided for implementation and operational coordination of ECHO project activities.

• ECHO monitoring missions, donor engagements and technical visits effectively coordinated and supported.

• Preparedness meetings, workshops, simulations and coordination activities organized and documented.

• Municipal preparedness and operational readiness activities effectively supported in target locations.

• Timely operational updates, reports, briefing materials and donor reporting inputs prepared.

• Strengthened coordination and implementation follow-up with Government counterparts, municipalities and partners.

4. Performance Indicators:

• Timely completion of assigned technical and operational deliverables.

• Quality and timeliness of contingency plans, SOPs, technical notes and preparedness documentation produced.

• Effective coordination support provided for ECHO missions, preparedness activities and stakeholder engagement.

• Timely submission of reports, updates, meeting records and donor-related materials.

• Quality support provided to preparedness planning, simulations, operational coordination and project implementation activities.

5. Field of expertise, competencies:

University degree in International Relations, Political Science, Disaster Risk Management, Emergency Management, Social Sciences, Public Administration, Humanitarian Affairs or other related field.

Required/mandatory:

• Experience in emergency preparedness, disaster risk management, humanitarian response, contingency planning or operational coordination.

• Experience supporting project implementation, coordination and reporting in humanitarian or development contexts.

• Experience drafting technical documents, contingency plans, SOPs, operational guidance or analytical reports.

• Experience coordinating with Government institutions, municipalities, UN agencies, NGOs or humanitarian partners.

• Strong analytical, organizational and coordination skills.

• Ability to manage multiple tasks under tight deadlines.

• Excellent drafting and communication skills.

• Good knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

• Ability to undertake field missions within Armenia.

Desirable:

• Experience supporting ECHO-funded or donor-funded projects.

• Familiarity with Armenia’s DRM framework, emergency preparedness systems or EW4All initiatives.

• Experience supporting simulations, preparedness exercises, municipal preparedness or early warning systems.

• Experience in inter-agency coordination and operational preparedness activities.

• Experience working with UNHCR, UN agencies or international humanitarian organizations.

• Knowledge of crisis communication, anticipatory action or emergency coordination systems.

• Experience in drafting donor reports, technical briefings and operational updates.

6. Minimum years of work experience:

Minimum 1 year of relevant professional experience with an undergraduate university degree, or no experience with an advanced university degree, in emergency preparedness, disaster risk management, humanitarian coordination, contingency planning, operational response, inter-agency coordination or related operational preparedness fields. Experience supporting Government-led preparedness systems, donor-funded projects, technical preparedness documentation, operational coordination mechanisms or emergency response planning is highly desirable.

7. Language:

Required: Excellent knowledge of English; Excellent knowledge of Armenian

Desirable: Knowledge of Russian and/or Farsi is an asset.

The Assistant Emergency Preparedness Officer contributes to UNHCR’s work in emergency preparedness and response. The incumbent supports the operations and the Regional Bureaux to prepare for emergencies. S/he contributes to the global crisis horizon scanning by the section, as well as to emergency risk analysis, capacity building initiatives on emergency preparedness and contingency planning development. S/he supports the innovation and development of emergency preparedness guidance, tools and resources.

The Assistant Emergency Preparedness Officer reports to a professional staff at a higher grade. The incumbent covers emergency preparedness as a thematic area and also works with other stakeholders to provide support to emergency preparedness, planning and capacity development.

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR’s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

• Provide support to country operations and Regional Bureaux on emergency preparedness and response, providing technical advice and support in context analysis and reporting, and in developing contingency plans for identified priority high-risk situations.
• Provide emergency management support including meetings, reporting, preparation of updates and analyses.
• Monitor and assess preparedness levels in field operations.
• Provide support with risk analysis and horizon scans for potential new and escalating emergencies relevant to UNHCR and produce emergency outlooks and reports.
• Liaise with relevant internal and external stakeholders to determine the most appropriate analysis and preparedness strategy and products to assist in organizational and country-level preparedness.
• Contribute to the development of new approaches for emergency risk analysis.
• Contribute to the development and the innovation of UNHCR’s early warning and preparedness platforms and tools.
• Contribute to open-source monitoring of situations of concern and emerging risks.
• Attend regional meetings on emergency preparedness and response, contributing to the Division of Emergency, Security and Supply (DESS) and Regional Bureaux discussions on risk detection and analysis, while reviewing risks submitted by operations.
• Ensure that UNHCR's Global Strategic Priorities and commitments on protection, accountability and Age, Gender and Diversity are reflected in the relevant preparedness methodologies and situational analyses.
• Support in developing innovative approaches to standardized training.
• Undertake short missions relating to preparedness, training and capacity building.
• Support the administrative and logistical arrangements related to the eCentre's events, monitor the budget and prepare regular financial reports on project expenditures.
• Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making is risk-based in the functional area of work. Raise awareness of risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
• Perform other related duties as required.

For P1/NOA - 1 year relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or no experience with Graduate degree; or no experience with Doctorate degree

Development Studies;                         Law;                       Political Science;                                 Social Science;

International Relations;                       or another relevant field.

Relevant work experience, preferably in humanitarian field operations or similar.

PR-Developing Strategic Protection Framework

PR-Accountability to Affected People - Principles and Framework

PR-Community-based Protection - Principles and methodologies

PR-Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Operations

PR-Assessment of IDPs Status, Rights, Obligation

MG-Coordination

PR-Refugee Coordination Model

(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.

For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.

For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

All jobs at UNHCR require six core competencies and may also require managerial competencies and/or cross-functional competencies. The six core competencies are listed below.

Skills

MG-Coordination, PR-Accountability to Affected People - Principles and Framework, PR-Assessment of IDPs Status, Rights, Obligation, PR-Community-based Protection - Principles and methodologies, PR-Developing Strategic Protection Framework, PR-Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Operations, PR-Refugee Coordination Model

Education

Bachelor of Arts: Development Studies, Bachelor of Arts: International Relations, Bachelor of Arts: Law, Bachelor of Arts: Political Science, Bachelor of Arts: Social Science

Certifications

Work Experience

This position doesn't require a functional clearance