Chief Of Country Office (P-5) - Car

Organisational Context

These positions are located in the Country Offices in various situation countries, and are under the overall supervision of the Director of the Division of External Operations (the Director). Under the direct supervision of the Director, the Chief of Country Office is responsible for supporting all activities carried out in a country by the different parties and participants to the Court’s proceedings. In addition, the Chief of Country Office develops operational strategies and action plans while supervising, coordinating and monitoring the implementation of the Registry’s activities in a designated country. The Chief of Country Office represents the Court’s position in the designated country and fosters cooperation with the media, Government institutions, the UN, civil society, local, regional and international agencies.
In coordination with the Chief of Security and Safety Section, the Chief of Country Office  oversees the overall safety and security of all ICC staff members and assets in the country. They are also responsible for overseeing compliance with relevant Court’s administrative or operational policies and regulations.
The Chief of Country Office obtains, analyses and disseminates relevant information and updates, for example on political, security, operational and administrative matters to the Director in a timely fashion.
The External Operations Support Section in Headquarters (HQ) is the day-to-day liaison for operational and tactical issues, including mission planning, HQ support, liaison and inter-field mission coordination. The Director provides strategic and substantive guidance on high-level issues.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Director, Division of External Operations, the incumbent will be managing the Country Office in Bangui, CAR and will be performing the following duties:

Office Management and administration

• In accordance with established policies and delegated authority, manage the financial and human resources assigned to the Office under their supervision, ensuring appropriate coverage, guidance and supervision of staff, efficient and effective use of such resources by:
• Setting priorities, deadlines, standards and targets in accordance with set-up goals;
• Recruiting contractors, international and local staff;
• Ensuring the integrity and timeliness of substantive and financial reports;
• Guiding and supervising internationally and locally recruited administrative staff assigned to the Office and acting as reporting officer for their Performance Appraisal Reports as well as providing inputs to the Victims and Witnesses Section, Victims Participation and Reparations Section, Public Information and Outreach Section and Security and Safety Section regarding the performance of their respective field staff members;
• Taking responsibility for the Office’s budget by certifying expenditures, preparing budget estimates and reports and being ultimately responsible for the assets assigned to the office;
• Providing inputs to the Chief of Security and Safety Section in ensuring the security and safety of ICC staff and other clients for whom there is a duty of care;
• Adopting and implementing standard operating procedures and advising on policy gaps in relation to administrative or operational matters;
• Maintaining effective relations with clients and providing timely, high-quality services to clients;
• Keeping the Director informed of progress made in the field.

Development of the strategies and action plans of the office

• Formulating strategies and actions plans for the Registry’s administrative team in the office;
• Coordinating, monitoring and evaluating the overall progress of support to the ongoing activities in the country in order to ensure the effective delivery and use of funds as well as consistency with the objectives set forth in the action plans;
• Determining and recommending to the Director a selection of viable projects and trusted partners to be developed and implemented in the country;
• Exploring opportunities to partner and cooperate with local stakeholders in the country;
• Monitoring, reporting and advising the Director and, within delegated authority, responding to political developments affecting the implementation of the strategies and overall impact on the Registry’s activities in the country.
• Fostering cooperation with the Government, State parties’ representatives, international organisations, non-governmental organisations and, within delegated authority, negotiating agreements related to cooperation;
• Providing information to the State parties’ representatives, civil society organisations, UN in the assigned country/region on the development of the Court’s judicial proceedings, in order to retain and foster their support and cooperation;
• In close coordination with the External Operations Support Section and Judicial Cooperation Support Section, building and maintaining a local network of external partners (governmental authorities, diplomatic missions, National and International Organisations, NGO’s);
• Representing the Court’s position in the assigned country especially within the host country;
• Functioning as a repository and focal point for information related to the relevant core mandated areas;
• Keeping staff in the Headquarters fully informed through periodic reports on issues relevant to the core mandated areas and other key substantial areas, as required.

Essential Qualifications 

Education:

Advanced University degree in political or social sciences, public international law, international relations, law, public or business administration or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience is accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Experience:

A minimum of ten years (twelve years with a first-level university degree) of progressively responsible relevant experience including experience at the managerial level.

• Knowledge of the Courts’ legal texts and the judicial proceedings related to the designated country.
• Proven administrative and human resources management of an office or team is an asset.
• Capacity to stimulate intellectual, substantive level dialogue with the Government and other stakeholders on the issues of cooperation and coordination; sensitivity to political issues and adaptability to local environment.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Professionalism
• Leadership
• Vision
• Communication
• Client Orientation
• Judgement/Decision-making
• Managing Performance
• Teamwork
• Empowering Others
• Planning& Organizing
• Confidentiality

Knowledge of Languages:

Proficiency in both of the working languages of the Court, French and English is required. Knowledge of another official language of the Court (Arabic, Chinese, Russian and Spanish) is considered an asset.