Jordan Deputy Director of UNRWA Operations
UNITED NATIONS RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY FOR PALESTINE REFUGEES IN THE NEAR EAST UNRWA
UNRWA is the United Nations agency responsible for the protection, care and human development of a population of some 5 million Palestine refugees living in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon and the Syrian Arab Republic. UNRWA is committed to assisting Palestine refugees in maintaining a decent standard of living, acquiring appropriate knowledge and skills, enjoying the fullest possible extent of human rights, and leading a long and healthy life. UNRWA is the largest UN operation in the Middle East with more than 29,000 staff. Most of these staff are refugees themselves, working directly to benefit their communities - as teachers, doctors, nurses or social workers. For its international team, UNRWA is seeking to employ a qualified:
Deputy Director of UNRWA Operations
Vacancy Announcement Number 11-FO-JO-59 Grade P-5 Deadline for Applications 28 December 2011 Duty Station Jordan
UNRWA Field Offices generally have two Deputy Directors reporting directly to the Field Director. The Deputies will each manage a substantive portfolio of programme or organizational support responsibilities for a population of approximately 1 million registered Palestine refugees. A programme portfolio will typically involve management and oversight of the Agency’s education, health, relief & social services and microfinance programmes at Field level. The organizational support portfolio will require management and oversight of finance, human resources, procurement, logistics, engineering, IT, security. Depending on field specificity, the Field Director may split the portfolios in varying configurations to meet field needs. Currently, UNRWA seeks to fill the Deputy Director post responsible for programmes.
The Deputy Director will contribute to the Field’s strategic and operational plans and budgets, guide and direct specialist staff, respond to emerging needs, manage staff performance and ensure optimal use of resources. Deputy Directors will liaise with staff representatives, as well as with external interlocutors including UN country teams, host government representatives, the refugee community and others. Deputy Field Directors may be assigned as Acting Field Director during the absence of the Field Director and, as such, assume full responsibility and accountability for the management of the Field. The Jordan Field Office employs The Jordan Field Office employs 7,000 staff and has an annual operational budget of approximately 100 million dollars. In accordance with the established Agency policy and procedures, the incumbent will:
Primary Duties and Responsibilities • Be responsible for the management of the Field programme cluster (education, health, relief and social services, microfinance) and is the principal adviser to the Field Director on these functions; • In close collaboration with other senior staff in the Field, ensure the development, preparation, coordination and monitoring of Field Implementation Plan, Biennium Budget, Mid-Term Strategy for the programmes in his/her Field, ensuring integrated approach to the management of programmes and exercising decision-making authority over human and financial resources and capital assets of the Field, in line with UNRWA regulatory framework and SPARE principle; • Provide support and advice to the Field Director in implementing the Agency’s reform plan for comprehensive programme and management reform; lead the implementation of pertinent reform initiatives in his/her organizational cluster; coordinate the work of cross-functional teams to achieve field-wide outcomes and promote integration of cross-cutting issues into the field programme; • Provide guidance and support to senior programme and administrative staff in his/her own area; mentor and evaluate for training purposes, as necessary; • Liaise with government and local authorities to ensure their cooperation in facilitating the Agency’s operations; assist the Field Office Director in managing and promoting inter-agency and donor relations; • As assigned, act for the Director of UNRWA Operations, Jordan during his/her absence, with full responsibility for the Field operation, and reporting to the Commissioner-General USG and/or Deputy Commissioner-General, ASG; • Where applicable, act as the Field security focal point and liaise with the Agency’s Chief Security Adviser and the Department of Safety and Security in the Field; • Undertake relieving assignments and perform other related duties as may be required by the Field Director.
Professional Knowledge and Experience • Advanced university degree in political science, social science, public or business administration, or international relations supplemented by studies in management; • At least 10 years of experience in programme management including at least six years at managerial level in a large governmental, international or commercial organization; • Excellent command of written and spoken English.
Competencies • Professionalism: Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations; • Leadership: Strong managerial/leadership skills; demonstrated flexibility in leadership by performing and/or overseeing the analysis of complex human resources, financial, administrative or management policy and programme issues; proven record of building and managing teams and creating an enabling environment, including the ability to effectively lead, supervise, mentor, develop and evaluate staff and design training/skills enhancement initiatives to ensure effective transfer of knowledge/skills; tact in negotiating skills; good judgment and decision-making skills; demonstrated ability to provide leadership and commitment to the goal of achieving gender balance in staffing; • Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time efficiently; • Managing performance: Delegates the appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; makes sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff member; accurately judges the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches task to skills; monitors progress against milestones and deadlines; regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff; encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative; actively supports the development and career aspirations of staff; appraises performance fairly; • Vision: Identifies strategic issues, opportunities and risks; clearly communicates links between the Organization’s strategy and the work unit’s goals; generates and communicates broad and compelling organizational direction, inspiring others to pursue that same direction; conveys enthusiasm about future possibilities; • Communications: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match the audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed; • Technology Awareness: Keeps abreast of available technology; understands applicability and limitations of technology to the work of the office; actively seeks to apply technology to appropriate tasks; shows willingness to learn new technology.
Desirable Qualifications • Knowledge of activities of UNRWA operations and services; • Knowledge of Middle Eastern geo-political realities and its socio-cultural implications; • Experience with United Nations administration/financial policies and practices; • Working knowledge of Arabic.
Equivalency When the minimum requirements are not fully met, the Director of Human Resources may exceptionally substitute part of the unmet requirements with a combination of relevant academic qualification, additional professional training and progressive relevant work experience. NB: Work experience alone or formal qualifications with no relevant work experience are not considered an acceptable combination.
Additional Information The incumbent will be required to travel frequently throughout the Agency’s area of operations in the Middle East.
Conditions of Service
UNRWA offers an attractive compensation package including annual salary starting at $86,791 net tax free with dependants or $80,629 single, plus post adjustment of 42.7%. Other benefits, subject to eligibility, include education grant, dependency allowance, home leave, pension fund, health insurance and 6 weeks annual leave. Staff members based in Gaza are entitled to additional benefits, subject to eligibility, including expanded leave provisions, hardship pay, and R&R leave every 6 weeks (according to the UN classification of the duty station and subject to change without notice). While Gaza is a non-family duty station, eligible staff members may set up a second household in a nearby location to have their family nearby. Initial contract is for one year, with the possibility of further extensions subject to the availability of funds and the continuing need 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.org will be considered. Due to the large number of applications received, only applicants short-listed for interview will be contacted.
General Information UNRWA encourages applications from qualified and experienced 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 human rights, for diversity, and for 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 environment.
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.org will be considered. Due to the large number of applications received, only applicants short-listed for interview will be contacted.
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