Humanitarian Response Officer (Operations)

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 (Operations)

Vacancy Announcement Number15-FO-SA-32 Grade P-3 Deadline for Applications 11 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 supply chain, logistics and field missions associated with humanitarian response operations, serving up to 480,000 Palestine refugees and consuming tens of millions of US dollars per annum. In accordance with the established Agency policy and procedures, the incumbent will:

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

· Coordinate and technically supervise all aspects of in-kind humanitarian response operations and the humanitarian response supply chain, including forecasting, procurement, receipt, packing, resource allocation, inventory, logistics and distribution to conflict-affected Palestine refugees; verify and endorse lists of beneficiaries;

· Plan and coordinate with UN humanitarian agencies, the UNRWA Safety and Security Division and the UN Department Of Safety and Security in Damascus all field missions to hard-to-reach and besieged Palestine refugee communities across Syria, act as mission leader where necessary; develop comprehensive knowledge of the access issues and humanitarian needs and propose new or innovative forms of support as appropriate;

· Work closely with Procurement and Logistics Department, Relief and Social Services Programme and other Department/units as necessary to ensure rigorous management, coordination and compliance with the set rules, regulations and procedures of the emergency operations;

· Act as focal point for all technical reporting on in-kind response operations, audits and assess in-kind humanitarian response activities; deliver regular reports to UNRWA management and support the Programme Support Unit in reporting to donors and external stakeholders;

· Conduct regular assessments of humanitarian needs among Palestine refugees across Syria; participate in designing appropriate response plans, ensuring appropriate combination and composition of food parcels, non-food items, water and sanitation items and other humanitarian supplies;

· 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 logistics, management, business/public administration, economics, finance, or other relevant discipline;

· At least six years of relevant experience managing logistics, supply chain or relevant field, 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 operations, camp/shelter management and logistics;

· Strong analytical and data management 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;

· Project implementation, monitoring and evaluation experience;

· 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.