United States of America: Quaker UN Office Representative, Operations

Organization: American Friends Service Committee
Country: United States of America
Closing date: 15 Sep 2014

Quaker United Nations Office – New York (QUNO)

“QUNO’s mission is to help the United Nations fully carry out its responsibility to prevent violent conflict and build sustainable peace around the world. We work with diplomats, UN officials and civil society groups to change the way the UN community thinks and acts at a policy level in New York, which then impacts the actions of the UN and others on the ground.”QUNO – New York Mission Statement

QUNO - New York is set up as a partnership between AFSC and the Friends World Committee for Consultation (FWCC), acting together as trustees of the Quaker witness and the Quaker presence at the United Nations in New York. The Quaker UN Committee (QUNC) for New York is responsible for setting program priorities, recommending program plans and budgets to the AFSC Board of Directors, and monitoring and evaluating the work of QUNO-New York.

QUNO staff members facilitate dialogue among UN stakeholders, help bring new ideas and perspectives from the ground to the international policy agenda, offer expert input into UN processes and represent the insights and concerns of Friends in the UN context.

The QUNO New York office is legally and administratively part of the American Friends Service Committee, based in Philadelphia. All financial, administrative and human resources matters are governed by the practices, policies and procedures of AFSC, except where otherwise agreed in the Memorandum of Understanding between AFSC and FWCC. QUNO-New York has a collegial relationship with the Quaker United Nations Office – Geneva (QUNO-Geneva).

Summary of Principal Responsibilities

The Representative, Operations, functions as part of the QUNO team representing Quakers at the UN in New York, with particular care for the administrative work of the office. His/her principal responsibilities include: taking a lead role under the Director in facilitating the administration and financial management of the QUNO office and Quaker House, including fund raising and capital project management; developing and implementing one or more areas of QUNO program as articulated in the QUNO strategic plan; leading outreach to Quaker constituencies; and supervising the Office Coordinator. It is anticipated that the administrative role will take up approximately 2/3 of her/his time, with programmatic work responsible for the remainder.

Essential Functions/Responsibilities: The key responsibilities of the Representative, Operations, include the following:

Representation

· Act as part of the representative team of the Religious Society of Friends at the United Nations. Communicate the insights, perspectives and concerns of Quakers to the UN community as appropriate.

· Represent QUNO at relevant UN programme-related meetings. Alert the QUNO Director to meetings requiring his/her presence.

· Represent QUNO at meetings of Friends, Quaker service agencies and AFSC as required.

· Model inclusive, non-violent and collaborative approaches in interactions with the UN community, in accordance with the precept ‘the means are the ends in the making’.

Administration and Finance

· Manage the financial and administrative matters of the office and Quaker House as required, under the supervision of the QUNO Director.

· Supervise the Office Coordinator in managing and maintaining the general systems and functions of the Quaker UN Office

· Oversee budget preparation and expense monitoring

· Supervise the Office Coordinator in managing and maintaining general systems, function and physical plant of Quaker House, in co-ordination with the Resident.

· Manage capital projects at Quaker House as required, in collaboration with AFSC as the owner of the house and the Director

· Ensure that all administrative and financial functions are executed according to the procedures and policies established by AFSC (except where otherwise agreed)

Fundraising and Development

· Develop a fund-raising strategy for QUNO New York and Quaker House, in collaboration with AFSC Development staff and under the supervision of the Director.

· In partnership with other QUNO staff and AFSC Development staff, seek grant funding and collaborate in major donor identification cultivation and solicitation as appropriate

· Ensure QUNO New York compliance with organizational grant guidelines and standards, and be accountable for grant management and compliance

Program Development and Implementation

· Develop and implement one or more areas of QUNO programme work within the QUNO strategic plan, and in accordance with the working methods and strategies set out in that plan.

· Establish and maintain relationships with key UN staff, diplomats at UN missions, and NGO representatives who work in areas relevant to QUNO program.

• Submit program plans, and narrative and financial reports on program activities, as required. Prepare for, report to and attend meetings of the Quaker UN Committee, in collaboration with the Director and other staff.

· Liaise with QUNO Geneva, AFSC, FWCC and other Quaker service agencies around areas of program specialization. Accompany the appropriate participation of these organizations at the UN.

Quaker Outreach

· Take the lead in maintaining relationships and communications with individuals and organizations of the Religious Society of Friends as appropriate.

· Plan and facilitate QUNO engagement with New York area meetings, and appropriate Yearly and other gatherings of Friends as applicable

· Work with other QUNO staff, QUNC members, and QUNO alumni in developing a communications plan to engage with former QUNO staff and committee members

· Report on work in one or more program areas and interpret overall work of QUNO and Quaker House, to AFSC, FWCC, members of the Religious Society of Friends and other stakeholders

· Maintain an expertise on issues and trends at the UN as they affect QUNO program work and the concerns of Friends more broadly. Prepare briefings and recommendations as appropriate

Staff Supervision, Development and Support

· Supervise the QUNO Office Coordinator

· Supervise and mentor QUNO Program Assistants , Associates or Fellows, as required

· Participate in the recruitment, orientation and training of new staff.

Qualifications:

Education: Graduate degree or the equivalent in experience in a related field (e.g. international affairs, public policy, development, non-profit administration, non-profit fund raising) required.

Experience:

· At least eight years’ work experience in non-profit administration, financial management, non-profit development and fund raising and staff supervision

· Demonstrated programme experience in a related field (e.g. international affairs, peacebuilding and conflict resolution, international relief and development, public policy and diplomacy)

Other Required Skills and Abilities:

· Familiarity and compatibility with Quaker values and testimonies that undergird the work and methods of QUNO, and an understanding of the concerns and considerations of the Religious Society of Friends world-wide.

· Understanding of and commitment to the principles, concerns, and considerations of AFSC in regard to issues of race, class, nationality, religion, age, gender and sexual orientation, and disabilities.

· Demonstrated ability to work and communicate with diverse staff, UN officials and diplomats. Sensitivity to cultural, religious, and gender differences among program partners.

· Strong interpersonal skills, with knowledge of and experience in using consultative decision making processes, working under pressure and adapting to changing situations and priorities

· Demonstrated knowledge of non-profit fundraising related work including developing proposals and representing them to donors.

· Experience working collaboratively in a small team.

· Knowledge of the UN system and/or the field of international diplomacy

· Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively in English, both orally and in writing. Fluency in one additional UN language appreciated. Numerate.

· Ability to undertake a leadership role in team-building among colleagues and to work independently when needed.

· Availability to attend evening and weekend meetings and to travel nationally and internationally, working overtime as needed.

Compensation: This is an exempt position. The salary range will be in Range 18. Compensation includes comprehensive medical and hospitalization plan; term life, accident and salary continuation insurances, defined benefit pension plan, plus fringe benefits; participation in unemployment and worker’s compensation and social security.

The American Friends Service Committee is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified persons are encouraged to apply regardless of their religious affiliation, race, age, sex, gender identity,sexual orientation or disability.

QUNO-New York is a smoke-free workplace.

The central office of the AFSC and some offices in the US are unionized workplaces. This is a management position and is not represented.

How to apply:

To apply for this position please click here or visit our website at www.quno.org.
Any questions should be directed at jobs@afsc.org.