UNRWA Project Manager – European Union Education Project

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 4.6 million Palestine refugees living in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and the Syrian Arab Republic. The Agency 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 by far the largest UN operation in the Middle East with over 29,000 staff. Most of the staff members are refugees themselves, working directly to benefit their communities – as teachers, doctors, nurses or social workers.

Project Manager – European Union Education Project

Location Lebanon Field Office Type of Appointment Consultant Deadline for Application 25 February 2013 Vacancy Announcement Number 994/2013 Department/Division Education Department

BACKRGROUND The incumbent will manage the “General Education: Education and Supportive Services in UNRWA Schools” component of the project “Education, Training & Employment Support for Palestine Refugee Youth in Lebanon”, funded by the European Union. The project seeks to improve the lives of Palestine Refugees in Lebanon by enhancing the quality of the education services upon which they rely. Better education will enhance their potential for employment and hence create better living conditions. The Education Department at UNRWA Lebanon Field Office has prioritized the following six expected results:

1. Learning support systems strengthened
2. Professionally motivated and able teachers in place
3. Education Management and Information Systems (EMIS) effectively implemented
4. Quality and appropriate curriculum and enrichment materials in place
5. Schools compliant with basic environmental health standards and equally accessible to physically disabled students
6. Effective and enjoyable summer learning programmes delivered

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES Under the overall supervision and guidance of the Director of UNRWA Affairs, Lebanon, and in close coordination with the Chief of Field Education Programme, the incumbent will:

1. Be responsible for the overall effective and efficient project management including: (a) In collaboration with the M&E Officer, setting up the monitoring and evaluation framework and workplan for the project; monitoring the impact and progress of the project and designing and implementing changes; (b) Administering the project’s overall budget; reviewing budget expenditure and ensuring that it is within the frame of the project financial resources, managing appropriate accounting system for the project in coordination with relevant finance staff; (c) Establishing project schedules, analysing business plan and needs, and prioritizing resources allocation as well as frequent monitoring to evaluate progress, identifying problems and take appropriate and timely action to meet desired goals; (d) Ensuring the project progress reports, final report and ad hoc and informal updates to a range of stakeholders are correct for submission through the Field Director; (e) Facilitating training with a clear needs assessment and focus on outcomes.
2. Mentor staff and selected stakeholders. Mentoring will provide particular emphasis on Project Cycle Management techniques, the development of logic frameworks in project management and “lessons learned” in order to develop organisational capacity for running and managing the projects and their suitability.
3. Work within the organisational structure and mandate of the UNRWA Lebanon Field Office to accomplish the project, including: (a) Developing and maintaining productive working relationships with project stakeholders and team members to ensure the smooth implementation of the project and on going liaison with HQ; (b) Coordinating activities with service and project departments to ensure the impact of the project on regular operations is minimised; (c) Leading the coordination of the umbrella Project “Education, Training & Employment Support for Palestine Refugee Youth in Lebanon” in consolidating reports and other joint activities. In this coordination, the incumbent leads the Project’s other two Managers (Employment and TVET).
4. Continue to implement an awareness campaign raising the profile and awareness of the project and its outcomes among the beneficiaries, the Lebanese community and a wider audience through the production of videos, press statements, reports, etc.

PERSONAL & PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES (A) Academic and Professional A University degree in Education, Educational Management, Managerial, Political or Social Science Development Studies or Business Administration.

(B) Experience At least four years of professional work experience in educational management, and or project management, Good working knowledge of project management; particularly in relation to monitoring, evaluation and needs assessment.

(C) Language Excellent command of written and spoken English.

(D) Skills and Competencies (i) Ability to develop clear goals and prioritize activities and assignments; (ii) Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others in a team environment and with people of diverse backgrounds, culture and nationalities; (iii) Ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with colleagues, other staff, outside collaborators, including NGOs, academia, private sector and government departments; (iv) Experience and ability to devise, manage and analyse accounting systems and budget management; (v) Ability to develop, manage and implement monitoring and evaluation frameworks in project environment.

CONDITIONS OF SERVICE Salary: Monthly salary (full package) USD $4,500.- Contract Duration: Eight months (Extendable).

EQUIVALENCY Candidates with an equivalent combination of relevant academic qualifications, professional training and progressive work experience may also be considered.

GENERAL INFORMATION UNRWA is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications equally from men and women. • It is Agency Policy to give full consideration to qualified disabled candidates whose disability does not impact their ability to perform the duties and responsibilities of the post. • Priority will be given to fully qualify registered Palestinian refugees. • Prior to the commencement of services, the consultant shall confirm and acknowledge in writing, and provide proof of the existence of, self-procured adequate private insurance against medical, disability and accident for the duration of the contract. As a member of the United Nations system, UNRWA maintains a close relatives’ policy. In this regard, if a candidate has a close relative (mother, father, brother, sister, son or daughter) who is already employed by the Agency, he/she can only be employed if the Agency is unable to find another suitable candidate.

UNRWA staff members with fixed term appointments may not be considered for any consultant/contractor position while in service. Candidates who are no longer employed by the Agency must have a minimum of 3 months break in service before they apply to any consultant/contract positions.

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 staffs 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 working environment. الأونروا هي منظمة تابعة للأمم المتحدة، وهي منظمة تفترض من موظفيها الالتزام بأعلى معايير الاستقامة والحياد والنزاهة. ويشمل ذلك احترام مبادئ حقوق الإنسان واحترام التنوع وتبني الوسائل غير العنيفة في حل كافة أشكال النزاعات. المتوقع من موظفي الأونروا أن يقوموا بدعم هذه القيم في كافة الأوقات، سواء في أماكن العمل أم خارجه. إن أولئك الأشخاص الذين يتمتعون بالالتزام الكامل وغير المشروط بهذه القيم هم فقط الذين ينبغي أن يتقدموا بطلباتهم للعمل لدى الأونروا. الأنروا هي بيئه عمل لا يسمح فيها بالتدخين.

TECHNICAL & PRACTICAL TESTS REQUIRED: Short-listed candidates will be asked to prepare a presentation to deliver over the telephone. (100%) The top 5 scoring candidates, who none have scored less than 50% in the presentation, will be invited to the interview.

How to apply:

If you have got the skills and experience required above, and want to make an active and lasting contribution to improving the lives of Palestine refugees, then register on http://jobs.unrwa.org by creating a personal profile and completing the UNRWA Personal History Form. Only applications received through this website will be considered and the system will not allow applications after the deadline. Please note that UNRWA only accepts degrees from accredited educational institutions. Candidates may also be invited to take a technical exam in order further evaluate their qualifications for the post. Due to a high volume of applications received, only short-listed applicants will be contacted. The United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process. The United Nations does not concern itself with information on bank accounts. For any queries please send an email to: recruitmentquestions@unrwa.org

Date of issue: 12 February 2013