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Humanitarian Response Officer (Finance)

UNITED NATIONS RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY
FOR PALESTINE REFUGEES IN THE NEAR EAST
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. UNRWA is the largest UN operation in the Middle East with more than 30,000 staff. For its international team, UNRWA is seeking to employ a qualified
Humanitarian Response Officer (Finance)
Vacancy Announcement Number15-FO-SA-31 Grade P-3 Deadline for Applications 2 August 2015
(26 July 2015 for internal applicants) Duty Station Damascus
Under the direct supervision of the Senior Humanitarian Response Officer with strategic direction from Deputy Director for Organizational Support, and as a member of the Emergency Operations Support Team, the incumbent is responsible for the technical management of all emergency grants, projects and contributions to the UNRWA humanitarian response in Syria, with a value up to US$150 million per annum. In accordance with the established Agency policy and procedures, the incumbent will:
Primary Duties and Responsibilities
· Technically manage and administer all grants, projects and contributions to the UNRWA humanitarian response activities, ensuring that projects are managed in compliance with donor agreements and UNRWA policies and procedures; support the design of projects’ budgets and plans in partnership with the Emergency Operations Support Team and Programme Support Unit; design financial guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures for the technical management of grants and contributions; maintain and continuously update a project and financial tracking system;
· Support the Humanitarian Response Officer (Operations) and the Procurement and Logistics Department in managing the timely procurement of humanitarian assistance items and supplies; support Programme Departments in assessing humanitarian response needs and designing projects;
· Work closely with the Department of Finance (Field Office and HQs) to ensure the close integration of humanitarian response financial management with a wider Agency’s operations;
· Prepare regular financial tracking and project implementation reports; advise on donors’ reporting requirements, raise issues of concerns with appropriate recommendations to the Senior Humanitarian Response Officer and Front Office; provide financial and project implementation data to the Programme Support Unit;
· Act as technical focal point for interactions between UNRWA Syria Field Office and the External Relations and Communications Department in Headquarters, ensuring the effective management of grants and accurate, transparent reporting with donors; deliver capacity building to technical staff as necessary;
· Act as Officer-in-Charge for the Emergency Operations Support Team in the absence of the Senior Humanitarian Response Officer as/when required;
Professional Knowledge and Experience
· A university degree from an accredited educational institution in finance, management, public/business administration, economics, accountancy or other relevant discipline;
· At least six years of relevant experience in complex financial and administrative management or related fields, of which at least two years at the international level in humanitarian response operations;
· Excellent command of written and spoken English.
Competencies
· Strong leadership and organizational skills;
· Demonstrated proficiency in programme / project management;
· Strong analytical skills;
· Proficiency in standard computer applications used by the Agency;
· Integrity, professionalism and ability to work under pressure.
Desirable Qualifications
· A postgraduate (Master or equivalent) in a related discipline;
· Knowledge of UNRWA systems, especially, as related to financial management;
· Previous experience working in a complex emergency or conflict-related humanitarian response operations, including project management;
· Possession of a valid driving license;
· Knowledge of Arabic language.
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. Note: Work experience alone or formal qualifications with no relevant work experience are not considered an acceptable combination.
Additional Information
· The incumbent may be required to work beyond the regular working hours;
· The incumbent may be required to travel in UNRWA area of operations.
Conditions of Service
UNRWA offers an attractive compensation package including annual salary starting at $60,813net tax free with dependants or $56,766single, plus post adjustment of 39.4% (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. Syria is currently a non-family duty station. Staff members based in Syria are entitled to additional benefits, subject to eligibility, including Additional Hardship Allowance, danger pay and R&R leave, currently every 4 weeks (according to the UN classification of the duty station) but subject to change without notice. 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 athttp://jobs.unrwa.orgby creating a personal profile and completing UNRWA Personal History Form.Please note that UNRWA only accepts degrees from accredited educational institutions. Only applications received throughhttp://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 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.Date of issue: 12 July 2015 / LF

HOW TO APPLY:
To start the application process, applicants are required to register athttp://jobs.unrwa.orgby creating a personal profile and completing UNRWA Personal History Form.Please note that UNRWA only accepts degrees from accredited educational institutions. Only applications received throughhttp://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.