Duties and Qualifications
Head of Registration and Biometrics Unit
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The UNHCR Data Transformation Strategy 2020-2025 envisions that by 2025 UNHCR becomes a trusted leader on data and information related to refugees and other persons of concern, thereby enabling actions to protect and to empower persons of concern. The Strategy stipulates investing in four complementary priority areas: data management and governance; information systems; capacities and skill development; and culture for evidence-informed decision-making.
The strategy envisages data and identity management functions in UNHCR are carried out in a complementary manner between Headquarters Divisions and Services, Regional Bureaux, country operations and key external partners, including persons of concern.
As part of the Digital Identity and Registration Section, the Registration and Biometrics Unit will, in collaboration with the different Headquarter Divisions and Regional Bureaux, strengthen the Organization¿s mission-critical capacity to better manage registration, identity management and identity assurance activities in all displacement settings by developing and implementing a practicable strategy to provide the policy, guidance, human resources, and by supporting digital systems though the Bureaux and throughout UNHCR operations.
The Head of Unit leads and oversees the Registration and Biometric Unit's overall activities, including managing staff.
The incumbent leads the policy and guidance development on identity management; including registration, documentation, biometrics and identity assurance. S/he coordinates the support provided by the Regional Bureaux to promote global consistency and integrity in registration processes and has overall responsibility and accountability to ensure consistently high-quality registration and identity management standards are adhered to in all field operations including in emergencies. The Head of Unit is expected to work with and through the Senior Registration and Identity Management Officers in the Regional Bureau, and, where directed, with senior teams in country and field operations. S/he serves as UNHCR¿s business owner and principal technical authority for all aspects of identity management, registration and biometrics including ensuring that digital systems meet operational needs, are appropriately mainstreamed to support field activities. S/he will work in close coordination with the Head of the Development and Support Unit to ensure functionalities in the systems that support registration, biometrics and digital identity management are coherent with the latest guidance and with Bureaux and field priorities. S/he is also expected to represent UNHCR at the HQ level in all matters of identity management and registration in intergovernmental consultations, UN operational and policy related working groups and other external initiatives requiring registration and identity management expertise.
Within the Global Data Service, the Head of Registration and Biometrics Unit acts as an adviser to senior management and governance mechanisms/bodies on registration and biometrics matters, including resource allocation and partnerships.
The incumbent will possess excellent leadership skills as the effective management of teams will be a key element. The incumbent will build and lead a team composed of experienced UNHCR staff in a way that ensures integration, coherence and synergy between UNHCR's agency role and interagency responsibilities.
Duties
- Provide global guidance on identity management, registration and biometrics and ensure it is continuously updated and efficiently disseminated
- Formulate and direct key performance indicators, monitoring and evaluation systems of registration and identity management activities across UNHCR operations and implement, through the bureau and as directed, mitigation measures to ensure understanding and compliance.
- Provide strategic vision and lead engagement with senior management on UNHCR¿s role in supporting States to assume and exercise their responsibilities in registration of asylum seekers and refugees, including advocacy role on inclusion in national population registries and civil registries
- Ensure, in close cooperation with the Global Learning and Development Centre (GLDC), that training, learning and deployment programmes in registration and identity management are up to date and widely disseminated across UNHCR and partner entities
- Provide strategic vision and lead engagement with senior management on UNHCR¿s role as a leader in identity management, registration and biometrics in the UN and wider humanitarian ecosystem.
- Maintain close coordination with the different Headquarter Divisions and Regional Bureaux, specifically with the newly established DIMA Units on identity management, registration and digital identity
- Lead the monitoring of data quality, ensure that data collection processes are of the highest standard and that refugee identities are secured and preserved over time through the standard use of corporate identity management tools
- Lead the operationalization and negotiation with government and UN partners related to interoperability of external systems with UNHCR refugee registration systems
- Advocate within UNHCR for adequate resourcing of registration activities, including the deployment of qualified technical specialist staff and contribute to UNHCR's resource mobilization efforts.
- Foster existing and new partnerships in deployment schemes such as with the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) to support the capacity of field operations.
- Oversee the management and deployment of hardware from the registration stockpile.
- Coordinate with GLDC the development and delivery of corporate training on identity management, registration and biometrics
- Collaborate with DESS on emergency deployments in the areas of registration and of IDP enrollment
- 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 Information Technology Law
- Political Science Social Science Economics
- Statistics Demography Geography
- Humanities or other relevant field.
- (Field(s) of Education marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Certificates and/or Licenses
HCR Protection Learning Programme
Certification Programme - International Protection (CP-IP)
Training on Emergency Registration
HCR Operational Data Management Learning Programme
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk*
- Certificates and/or Licenses
- HCR Protection Learning Programme
- Certification Programme - International Protection (CP-IP)
- Training on Emergency Registration
- HCR Operational Data Management Learning Programme
- (Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk
- Certificates and/or Licenses
- HCR Protection Learning Programme
- Certification Programme - International Protection (CP-IP)
- Training on Emergency Registration
- HCR Operational Data Management Learning Programme
- (Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk are essential)
Relevant Job Experience
Essential
- Demonstrated leadership and coordination experience and strategic vision.
- Technical expertise in registration, individual case management and identity management systems, and biometrics systems, in refugee and internal displacement situations.
- Demonstrated experience in systems management particularly as related to data management for individual protection, assistance and solutions delivery.
- Knowledge of UNHCR and interagency policies, standards, programmes and humanitarian operations in a variety of geographical locations and operational contexts.
- Familiarity with planning, programming and implementation for humanitarian operations at the field and global levels, including strategic planning, project development, budgeting and resource mobilization.
- Strong team building, managerial, planning, coordination, and representation skills.
- Strong communication skills, ability to effectively present complex information to all levels of management and to communicate effectively with diverse groups of stakeholders.
- Proficiency with basic computer applications
- Demonstrated ability to innovate and design policies, structures and systems.
- Proven ability to address multiple tasks in a courteous and service-oriented manner in demanding working conditions that often have short deadlines.
Desirable
Knowledge of PRIMES ecosystem and tools, notably core tools proGres and BIMS.
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.