Hardship LevelE (most hardship)
Family TypeNon FamilyDanger Pay
Residential location (if applicable)
GradePR5
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeProfessional
ReasonRegular > Regular Assignment
Remote work acceptedNo
Target Start Date2024-05-01
Job Posting End DateNovember 28, 2023
Standard Job Description
Assistant Representative - Operations
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Assistant Representative - Operations will function under direct supervision of the UNHCR Representative. The incumbent will advise and assist the Representative in the overall management of UNHCR¿s programme and administrative activities and issues of concern within the country operation in an effective and efficient manner which supports the Organization¿s mandate. The incumbent will also have direct working relationship/arrangement with the Head of UNHCR offices within the country. S/he will also have a responsibility to monitor, coach, and guide and intervene with the staff in the country.
UNHCR is well integrated into the UN Resident Coordinator System.
All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR¿s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.
Duties
- Assist the Representative in the overall management of UNHCR¿s programme and administrative activities and issues of concern within the country of assignment in an effective and efficient manner which supports the Organization¿s mandate.
- Promote, together with the Representative, UNHCR¿s objectives and priorities through formal and informal contacts with relevant government ministries and departments, UN Agencies, diplomatic missions, I/NGOs, media and other interested parties to raise support for the work of UNHCR.
- Assist the Representative in supervising the implementation of the country operations plan to ensure that activities are in accordance with UNHCR guidelines.
- Monitor the administration of field offices within the country.
- Ensure effective and efficient management of financial and material resources within the rules and procedures of UNHCR.
- Manage personnel through regular performance appraisals, coaching, and assessments of staff training and development needs.
- Ensure that essential services for the general welfare of staff (e.g. living and working conditions, health, education, recreation, etc.) are in place. This includes the establishment of proper and efficient mechanisms to assist staff suffering from work-related pressure or post-traumatic stress.
- Play an active role in the Security Management team (SMT) in the relevant country and the inter-agency security and contingency planning process; ensure that appropriate security measures and evacuation plans are in place to protect UNHCR staff, and that security guidelines and procedures as outlined by the Designated Official and UNDSS are complied with.
- Report and provide recommendations/solutions to the Representative on political, socio-economic and cultural developments that may affect the situation of the refugees in the country.
- Act as Officer-in-Charge in the absence of the Representative as required.
- Set and enforce parameters, criteria and deadlines for the design, review and report of operations.
- Enforce local compliance with UNHCR¿s workplace standards.
- In coordination with headquarters and the regional office enforce country-level compliance with UNHCR¿s financial rules.
- Enforce compliance with UNHCR¿s human resources policies (e.g. policies on gender, disabilities, diversity, ethics and HIV/AIDS).
- Allocate resources to meet minimum standards for staff working and living conditions
- Clear the submission of the country operations plan (including budgets, staffing levels and structures) as well as of funding submissions, appeals and report.
- Represent UNHCR in UN and other operations management fora.
- Enforce compliance with UNHCR¿s global strategies, protocols and guidelines.
- Lead risk assessments and discussions with team(s) to proactively manage risks and seize opportunities impacting objectives. Ensure that risk management principles are integrated in decision-making both at strategic and operational levels. Allocate resources for planned treatments with resource requirements in Strategic Plans. Ensure that risks are managed to acceptable levels and escalate, as needed. If a Risk Owner, designate the Risk Focal Point and certify that the annual risk review is completed and ensure that the risk register is updated during the year, as needed.
- Perform other related duties as required.
Minimum Qualifications
Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P5 - 12 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 11 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 10 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree
Field(s) of Education
Business Administration; Economics; International Relations;
Political Science; International Law; or other relevant field.
Certificates and/or Licenses
HCR Management Lrng Prg;
HCR Protection Learning Prg;
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Not specified.
Desirable
- Solid UNHCR experience from both the Field and Headquarters.
- UNHCR specific learning/ training activities (i.e. Management Learning Programme, Protection Learning Programme).
Functional Skills
*EX-Intergovernmental Organization/International Organization (United Nations or similar)
EX-Field experience with UNHCR and/or with other humanitarian organizations
EX-HQs experience with UNHCR and/or with other humanitarian organizations
*MG-5 years of managerial experience;
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Language Requirements
For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.
For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.
All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power.
As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.
This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.
Desired Candidate Profile The candidate must have an extensive field profile with strong political sense and maturity, solid diplomatic and negotiation skills, good knowledge and awareness of the local and regional political context and dynamics in Syria and surrounding countries.
Prior managerial experience in similar positions with large teams (of at least 25 staff) and of at least five years in complex emergencies, involving IDPs and refugees (both camp and urban caseloads) as well as returnees is essential. Experience with managing technical sectors (e,g., shelter, NFI, livelihoods, health, CBI) is also required.
The incumbent should be proactive by nature and able to implement successfully under adverse political and security conditions. S/he should be able to deal effectively with authorities, UN agencies as well as international and national NGO partners. At least five years of experience in working in an inter-agency environment is therefore required.
S/he must be a team leader with excellent interpersonal skills to be able to motivate and effectively lead a team of international and national staff of different backgrounds and varying experiences. S/he must be patient and resilient in view of rapidly changing priorities and ad hoc urgent issues and be prepared to deal with frequent staff welfare issues.
Given that fluency in English is not common, be it among local government officials, implementing partners or beneficiaries in the area of coverage of the position, applicants with fluency in the Arabic language will be given preference over other equally qualified applicants.
Candidates will be shortlisted only if they meet the requirements specified under ‘work experience’, and are encouraged to include in their letters of interest how their own work experience reflects the ‘desired candidate profile’.
Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):
,
,
Desired languagesArabic
,
,
Operational context
Syria continues to grapple with volatile security, while in many parts of the country active hostilities are ongoing; a curfew is in place from midnight to 6am which is fully observed. The duty station (Damascus) is non-family with a six-week R&R cycle. Travel by road may require armed vehicles and security escorts depending on the prevailing conditions. Quality health care is not always available. Mental health and staff welfare issues are common among staff in view of the prevailing insecurity, deteriorating living conditions and, more recently, the impact of the February 2023 earthquakes.
The incumbent of this position:
Living and Working Conditions:
International staff of the UN including UNHCR live in hotel accommodation. The UNHCR Country Office is easily reachable by car (or shuttle provided by the office). Staff with dietary restrictions or preferences are encouraged to inform themselves of availabilities prior to arriving to the country.
Additional Qualifications
SkillsCB-Cash-based Programming/Managing/Planning, DE-Inclusive multi-stakeholder, multi-year planning, EM-Development and coordination of preparedness action plans, FO-Complex field emergency operations, IM-Knowledge Management, PG-Operations Management Cycle, RM-Risk Management
EducationBachelor of Arts (BA): Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Economics, Bachelor of Arts (BA): International Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA): International Relations, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Political Science
CertificationsHCR Management Learning Program - UNHCR, HCR Protection Learning Program - UNHCR
Work ExperienceCluster Coordination and Inter-Agency, Field Operations, Programme/Planning, Workforce to Supervise
CompetenciesAccountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Leadership, Managing performance, Managing resource, Negotiation & conflict resolution, Organizational awareness, Political awareness, Stakeholder management, Strategic planning & visions, Teamwork & collaboration
UNHCR Salary Calculator
https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales
Additional Information
Functional clearanceThis position doesn't require a functional clearance