Employer: UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
Location: Duty Station Amman
Closing date: 11 Feb 2016
UNRWA
UNRWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and is mandated to provide assistance and protection to a population of some 5 million registered Palestine refugees. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip to achieve their full potential in human development, pending a just solution to their plight. UNRWA’s services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance and emergency assistance. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions. For its international team, UNRWA is seeking to employ a qualified:
Team Leader, Operations Support Office and Field Protection Coordinator
Note: This is a temporary vacancy with the incumbent on leave for one year.
The Director of UNRWA Operations (DUO), in the Jordan Field Office, is accountable for the Operations Support Office (OSO), particularly its work to support the neutrality of UNRWA operations, and for the overall leadership and accountability of protection within the field’s operations. The DUO in Jordan is responsible for the senior supervision and guidance of the OSO and protection work. The incumbent of this post is responsible for the day-to-day management of the OSOs as well as for leading and co-ordinating UNRWA Field’s efforts to integrate the principles and practice of protection into its programmes and operations. This is a position for a mature professional in the humanitarian field who possesses a thorough understanding of humanitarian principles and operations, the programmatic and conceptual aspects of protection, and possesses the skills to translate these principles into practice for the benefit of Palestine refugees in the Jordan Field. In accordance with the established Agency policy and procedures, the incumbent will:
Primary Duties and Responsibilities
· Lead the Operations Support Office, which contributes to the efficacy of the Agency’s humanitarian programmes by proactively monitoring, documenting and reporting on the living conditions of Palestine refugees, their access to humanitarian services, threats to their welfare and protection, and Agency adherence to humanitarian principles, particularly neutrality; oversee the daily management of the Operations Support Office in accordance with the established objectives including conducting regular briefings for Operations Support Officers (OSOs) to review the events of the preceding period; plan and control the execution of all operations described in the office’s mandate and establish long-term operational objectives under his/her supervisor’s guidance; oversee resource allocation, establish and maintain operational guidelines and issue instructions to his/her team members and administrative duties related to the assigned staff and for all logistics related to the programme;
· Lead and facilitate the implementation of the Agency protection strategy at the field level; develop/update and coordinate the implementation of the Jordan Field Office’s multi-year protection operational plan and protection work plans; monitor, document and report on protection incidents, patterns and trends and lead/advise the development of response mechanisms; assist Chiefs of Area Offices and advise OSOs in supporting other staff in identifying and responding to specific protection needs and well-being of refugees; ensure that rapidly changing protection and humanitarian needs are monitored and addressed during escalations of violence; provide the supervisor with regular, well-analyzed reports on the humanitarian conditions and protection threats of refugees and advise on decision points; ensure that UNRWA advocacy messages and strategies are well-informed by protection and operational challenges on the ground;
· Provide technical guidance to the Protection Officer (PO), ensuring that protection, including all aspects of gender, age and disability, is mainstreamed throughout UNRWA programmes, planning and service delivery; provide technical oversight to ensure programme mainstreaming work is done in accordance with Agency and international protection, gender, disability and age guidelines and best practices; work in collaboration with the PO to ensure that field-level protection coordination meetings and protection reports to the Field management reflect issues identified through the programme mainstreaming efforts;
· Maintain close cooperation with the Field Security Officer (FSO) and UN DSS in order to brief OSOs on developments in the security situation, to guide OSOs while in the field, to inform the Agency’s protection monitoring, documentation and intervention efforts, and to ensure information gathered by the OSOs at the field level relevant to developing and maintaining UNRWA’s security situation awareness is shared with the DUO, DDUOs, FSO and UN DSS on a daily or real-time basis;
· Serve as the protection focal point for actors external to the UNRWA Jordan Field office; liaise and attend the Protection Cluster; coordinate with OHCHR, OCHA, relevant NGOs and other protection partners in the Jordan Field; collaborate with OHCHR and others in planning and hosting human rights delegation visits and other protection focused delegations when visiting the Jordan Field such as special rapporteurs;
· Monitor political and operational developments in the Jordan Field and the region, particularly in relation to the development of law and policy in the area of refugees’ protection.
Professional Knowledge and Experience
· Advanced university degree from an accredited educational institution in political or social sciences or law, or related discipline;
· A minimum of eight years of relevant professional experience managing or supporting the day-to-day work of a large-scale humanitarian operation, as well as in protection operations in emergency contexts, two of which should be at international level outside one’s home country;
· Excellent command of spoken and written English.
Competencies
· Excellent interpersonal skills, mature, independent, disciplined, loyal, self-confident and self-assured;
· Excellent analysis, communication, negotiation skills and demonstrated ability to handle sensitive situations diplomatically;
· Ability to work under pressure and within a team;
· Flexible, able to assess and analyse situations quickly, objectively and prudently;
· Politically aware while remaining neutral, impartial and discreet at all times;
· Strong knowledge of and exposure to a range of human rights issues to include approaches and techniques to address sensitive problems;
· Ability to establish priorities and to plan work assignments.
Desirable Qualifications
· Experience in applying knowledge of public international law, particularly of international refugee law, international humanitarian law and international human rights law;
· Practical experience in ways of putting operational protection principles within a human development framework;
· Experience working or leading protection efforts in an acute complex emergency;
· Knowledge and understanding of the Palestine refugees situation in the political context of the Middle East and specifically in Jordan;
· Familiarity with relevant organizations of the UN system (OHCHR, UNHCR, UNICEF, OCHA);
· Working knowledge of Arabic.
Equivalency
When the minimum requirements are not fully met, the Human Resources Department may substitute part of the unmet requirements under UNRWA’s equivalency determination guidelines with a combination of relevant academic qualification, additional professional training and/or progressive relevant work experience. Note: Work experience alone or formal qualifications with no relevant work experience are not considered sufficient for an equivalency determination.
Conditions of Service
UNRWA offers an attractive compensation package including annual salary starting at $74,130 net tax free with dependants or $69,032 single, plus post adjustment of 47.2% (subject to change without notice). Other benefits, subject to eligibility, include education grant, dependency allowance, home leave, pension fund, health insurance and 6 weeks of annual leave. All UNRWA duty stations (with the exception of Gaza and Syria) are family duty stations. Initial contract is to cover a one-year vacancy with the incumbent on leave for 12 months. There is the possibility of further extension depending on the return or otherwise of the incumbent from leave, and subject to satisfactory performance, the continued need and funding for the post.
How to Apply
To start the application process, applicants are required to register at http://jobs.unrwa.org by creating a personal profile and completing UNRWA Personal History Form. Please note that UNRWA only accepts degrees from accredited educational institutions. Only applications received through http://jobs.unrwa.orgwill be considered. Due to the large number of applications received for UNRWA vacancies, only applicants short-listed for interview will be contacted.
The United Nations does not charge fees at any stage of the recruitment process (application, testing, interviewing, etc). The United Nations does not concern itself with information related to bank accounts.
General Information
UNRWA encourages applications from qualified women.
UNRWA welcomes applications from qualified candidates with disabilities.
UNRWA is a United Nations organization whose staff are expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity, neutrality and impartiality. This includes respect for and commitment to human rights, diversity, and non-violent means of dealing with all kinds of conflict. UNRWA staff are expected to uphold these values at all times, both at work and outside. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for UNRWA jobs. UNRWA is a non-smoking work environment.
The statutory retirement age for staff entering or re-entering service in the UN Common System after 1 January 1990 is 62 and 65 after 1 January 2014. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete a term of appointment will normally be considered.
The Agency reserves the right not to make an appointment, to make an appointment at a lower grade, or to make an appointment with a modified job description.
On appointment, all individuals will be asked to sign a self attestation, confirming that they have not committed, been convicted of, or prosecuted for, any criminal offence and that they have not been involved, by act or omission, in the commission of any violation of international human rights law or international humanitarian law.
Closing date: 11 Feb 2016
UNRWA
UNRWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and is mandated to provide assistance and protection to a population of some 5 million registered Palestine refugees. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip to achieve their full potential in human development, pending a just solution to their plight. UNRWA’s services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance and emergency assistance. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions. For its international team, UNRWA is seeking to employ a qualified:
Team Leader, Operations Support Office and Field Protection Coordinator
Note: This is a temporary vacancy with the incumbent on leave for one year.
The Director of UNRWA Operations (DUO), in the Jordan Field Office, is accountable for the Operations Support Office (OSO), particularly its work to support the neutrality of UNRWA operations, and for the overall leadership and accountability of protection within the field’s operations. The DUO in Jordan is responsible for the senior supervision and guidance of the OSO and protection work. The incumbent of this post is responsible for the day-to-day management of the OSOs as well as for leading and co-ordinating UNRWA Field’s efforts to integrate the principles and practice of protection into its programmes and operations. This is a position for a mature professional in the humanitarian field who possesses a thorough understanding of humanitarian principles and operations, the programmatic and conceptual aspects of protection, and possesses the skills to translate these principles into practice for the benefit of Palestine refugees in the Jordan Field. In accordance with the established Agency policy and procedures, the incumbent will:
Primary Duties and Responsibilities
· Lead the Operations Support Office, which contributes to the efficacy of the Agency’s humanitarian programmes by proactively monitoring, documenting and reporting on the living conditions of Palestine refugees, their access to humanitarian services, threats to their welfare and protection, and Agency adherence to humanitarian principles, particularly neutrality; oversee the daily management of the Operations Support Office in accordance with the established objectives including conducting regular briefings for Operations Support Officers (OSOs) to review the events of the preceding period; plan and control the execution of all operations described in the office’s mandate and establish long-term operational objectives under his/her supervisor’s guidance; oversee resource allocation, establish and maintain operational guidelines and issue instructions to his/her team members and administrative duties related to the assigned staff and for all logistics related to the programme;
· Lead and facilitate the implementation of the Agency protection strategy at the field level; develop/update and coordinate the implementation of the Jordan Field Office’s multi-year protection operational plan and protection work plans; monitor, document and report on protection incidents, patterns and trends and lead/advise the development of response mechanisms; assist Chiefs of Area Offices and advise OSOs in supporting other staff in identifying and responding to specific protection needs and well-being of refugees; ensure that rapidly changing protection and humanitarian needs are monitored and addressed during escalations of violence; provide the supervisor with regular, well-analyzed reports on the humanitarian conditions and protection threats of refugees and advise on decision points; ensure that UNRWA advocacy messages and strategies are well-informed by protection and operational challenges on the ground;
· Provide technical guidance to the Protection Officer (PO), ensuring that protection, including all aspects of gender, age and disability, is mainstreamed throughout UNRWA programmes, planning and service delivery; provide technical oversight to ensure programme mainstreaming work is done in accordance with Agency and international protection, gender, disability and age guidelines and best practices; work in collaboration with the PO to ensure that field-level protection coordination meetings and protection reports to the Field management reflect issues identified through the programme mainstreaming efforts;
· Maintain close cooperation with the Field Security Officer (FSO) and UN DSS in order to brief OSOs on developments in the security situation, to guide OSOs while in the field, to inform the Agency’s protection monitoring, documentation and intervention efforts, and to ensure information gathered by the OSOs at the field level relevant to developing and maintaining UNRWA’s security situation awareness is shared with the DUO, DDUOs, FSO and UN DSS on a daily or real-time basis;
· Serve as the protection focal point for actors external to the UNRWA Jordan Field office; liaise and attend the Protection Cluster; coordinate with OHCHR, OCHA, relevant NGOs and other protection partners in the Jordan Field; collaborate with OHCHR and others in planning and hosting human rights delegation visits and other protection focused delegations when visiting the Jordan Field such as special rapporteurs;
· Monitor political and operational developments in the Jordan Field and the region, particularly in relation to the development of law and policy in the area of refugees’ protection.
Professional Knowledge and Experience
· Advanced university degree from an accredited educational institution in political or social sciences or law, or related discipline;
· A minimum of eight years of relevant professional experience managing or supporting the day-to-day work of a large-scale humanitarian operation, as well as in protection operations in emergency contexts, two of which should be at international level outside one’s home country;
· Excellent command of spoken and written English.
Competencies
· Excellent interpersonal skills, mature, independent, disciplined, loyal, self-confident and self-assured;
· Excellent analysis, communication, negotiation skills and demonstrated ability to handle sensitive situations diplomatically;
· Ability to work under pressure and within a team;
· Flexible, able to assess and analyse situations quickly, objectively and prudently;
· Politically aware while remaining neutral, impartial and discreet at all times;
· Strong knowledge of and exposure to a range of human rights issues to include approaches and techniques to address sensitive problems;
· Ability to establish priorities and to plan work assignments.
Desirable Qualifications
· Experience in applying knowledge of public international law, particularly of international refugee law, international humanitarian law and international human rights law;
· Practical experience in ways of putting operational protection principles within a human development framework;
· Experience working or leading protection efforts in an acute complex emergency;
· Knowledge and understanding of the Palestine refugees situation in the political context of the Middle East and specifically in Jordan;
· Familiarity with relevant organizations of the UN system (OHCHR, UNHCR, UNICEF, OCHA);
· Working knowledge of Arabic.
Equivalency
When the minimum requirements are not fully met, the Human Resources Department may substitute part of the unmet requirements under UNRWA’s equivalency determination guidelines with a combination of relevant academic qualification, additional professional training and/or progressive relevant work experience. Note: Work experience alone or formal qualifications with no relevant work experience are not considered sufficient for an equivalency determination.
Conditions of Service
UNRWA offers an attractive compensation package including annual salary starting at $74,130 net tax free with dependants or $69,032 single, plus post adjustment of 47.2% (subject to change without notice). Other benefits, subject to eligibility, include education grant, dependency allowance, home leave, pension fund, health insurance and 6 weeks of annual leave. All UNRWA duty stations (with the exception of Gaza and Syria) are family duty stations. Initial contract is to cover a one-year vacancy with the incumbent on leave for 12 months. There is the possibility of further extension depending on the return or otherwise of the incumbent from leave, and subject to satisfactory performance, the continued need and funding for the post.
How to Apply
To start the application process, applicants are required to register at http://jobs.unrwa.org by creating a personal profile and completing UNRWA Personal History Form. Please note that UNRWA only accepts degrees from accredited educational institutions. Only applications received through http://jobs.unrwa.orgwill be considered. Due to the large number of applications received for UNRWA vacancies, only applicants short-listed for interview will be contacted.
The United Nations does not charge fees at any stage of the recruitment process (application, testing, interviewing, etc). The United Nations does not concern itself with information related to bank accounts.
General Information
UNRWA encourages applications from qualified women.
UNRWA welcomes applications from qualified candidates with disabilities.
UNRWA is a United Nations organization whose staff are expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity, neutrality and impartiality. This includes respect for and commitment to human rights, diversity, and non-violent means of dealing with all kinds of conflict. UNRWA staff are expected to uphold these values at all times, both at work and outside. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for UNRWA jobs. UNRWA is a non-smoking work environment.
The statutory retirement age for staff entering or re-entering service in the UN Common System after 1 January 1990 is 62 and 65 after 1 January 2014. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete a term of appointment will normally be considered.
The Agency reserves the right not to make an appointment, to make an appointment at a lower grade, or to make an appointment with a modified job description.
On appointment, all individuals will be asked to sign a self attestation, confirming that they have not committed, been convicted of, or prosecuted for, any criminal offence and that they have not been involved, by act or omission, in the commission of any violation of international human rights law or international humanitarian law.