Hardship LevelH (no hardship)
Family TypeFamily
Family TypeFamily
Residential location (if applicable)
GradeNOC
Staff Member / Affiliate TypeNational Professional Officer
ReasonRegular > Regular Assignment
Target Start Date2024-03-01
Job Posting End DateDecember 28, 2023
Standard Job Description
Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Officer
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The position for Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Officer may be based in Country Operations, Regional Bureaux or Headquarters.
The incumbent's primary role is to support resettlement and complementary pathways activities in his/her Area of Responsibility (AOR) through identification of needs, submission of cases, monitoring and enforcing procedural compliance, integrity and quality of case submissions, and ensure progress against targets. He/she contributes to comprehensive protection and solutions strategies and needs to make resettlement both strategic as well as responsive to the needs of people of concern to UNHCR
The role may also involve managerial responsibilities in supervising staff and affiliate workforce.
The incumbent works in close coordination with the Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Service in the Division of International Protection in Headquarters, and protection teams in Bureaux and country operations.
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
- Identify, interview, assess resettlement and complementary pathways needs, and process cases identified for resettlement and complementary pathways following established procedures; provide counselling to individuals.
- Monitor activities for resettlement and complementary pathways, as applicable, to ensure progress against targets, transparency and efficiency in case submissions and appropriate follow-up with resettlement countries and other key stakeholders.
- Review and provide timely feedback and guidance on resettlement submissions prepared in the country office/ by country offices to harmonize quality and consistency of resettlement delivery.
- Manage a process to ensure that persons of concern and partners receive up-to-date and accurate information on UNHCR's resettlement and complementary pathways policies and procedures.
- Promote and monitor the implementation of UNHCR's global resettlement and complementary pathways policies, procedures and guidelines in the AOR.
- Provide guidance and advice on policies, protection standards and procedures for resettlement and complementary pathways.
- Ensure Standard Operating Procedures for identification of cases for resettlement and resettlement case management are in place and in line with UNHCR Global Standards.
- Promote and contribute to measures that enhance the prevention, detection and response to fraud committed by persons of concern generally and in resettlement and complementary pathways in particular.
- Maintain regular contact and close cooperation with resettlement countries and partners to ensure effective delivery of resettlement and complementary pathways; and adherence to adequate protection standards.
- Guide and support government officials and partners undertaking missions related to resettlement and complementary pathways.
- Assist selection missions by resettlement countries to the region/country operations.
- Stay abreast and analyse the implication of political, legal, social and economic developments in the AOR and recommend policy / strategic approaches to further UNHCR objectives with respect to resettlement and complementary pathways.
- Contribute to the development and enhancement of policy and guidelines for resettlement and complementary pathways practices.
- Systematically apply an Age, Gender and Diversity perspective in all aspects of the resettlement and complementary pathways process; comply with UNHCR policy and guidelines on HIV/AIDS.
- Promote and put in place mechanisms for preventing fraud in resettlement and complementary pathways activities to maintain the integrity of the resettlement and complementary pathways process in the AOR.
- Assist in the production of up-to-date and accurate statistics, analytical reports on resettlement and complementary pathways, updates and briefing notes, including with regard to the trends, the country/ region's performance in meeting resettlement targets, challenges and responses.
- Ensure that resettlement and complementary pathways activities are reflected in the country operations plans, the protection and solutions strategies in line with the regional strategy.
- Contribute to comprehensive protection and solutions strategies in the country operation or region.
For jobs in the Regional Bureaux only:
- Review and provide feedback and advice to country operations on their resettlement and complementary pathways strategies and priorities, to ensure that they are coherent and consistent with the regional strategy and are fully integrated into country operations plans; Assist offices in the annual planning exercise for resettlement and complementary pathways.
- Review and provide timely feedback and guidance on resettlement submissions prepared by country offices to harmonize quality and consistency of resettlement delivery; monitor procedural compliance.
- Conduct periodic field missions to provide advice on the quality and consistency of resettlement submissions, decisions and activities.
- Assist in negotiating with resettlement countries the design and development of regional resettlement programmes and complementary pathways involving governments and non-governmental organisations in close consultation with the Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Service in the Division of International Protection at Headquarters.
- Coordinate with DIP, other entities within the Bureau and country operations to ensure a comprehensive and consistent approach in the prevention, detection and response to fraud committed by persons of concern across the region.
- Collect resettlement and complementary pathways related information to be used by the Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Service in the Division of International Protection for external publications.
- Assist in assessing training needs, draw regional training plan and strategy and deliver resettlement, complementary pathways and related training to UNHCR staff, partners and other stakeholders as required.
- Contribute to a communications strategy that generates support from external parties for the expansion of resettlement and complementary pathways.
- Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
- Perform other related duties as required.
Minimum Qualifications
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P3/NOC - 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree
Field(s) of Education
Political Science;
Social Sciences;
International Law;
Law;
International Public Law;
International Refugee Law;
International Human Rights Law;
Refugee and Forced Migration International Relations; or other relevant field.
Certificates and/or Licenses
Protection Learning Programme; RSD- Resettlement Learning Programme; MLP;
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Relevant Job Experience
Essential
At least 6 years ( 5 years with Graduate degree) of professional work experience relevant to refugee protection work, of which 2 years in an international capacity. Demonstrated experience in casework or case management, preferably in a refugee or immigration context.
Desirable
Sound understanding and ability to implement UNHCR's policy and global strategic priorities, such as AGDM, IDP, Statelessness, and HIV/AIDS, in the area of responsibility at appropriate level. Knowledge of and experience with Complementary Pathways programmes. Diverse field experience. Experience working in a multi-cultural environment. Knowledge of additional UN languages.
Functional Skills
DM-Database Management
PR-Refugee Resettlement programs
PR-Resettlement Anti-Fraud Policy and Procedures
PR-Mixed migratory movement management
(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 Successful candidates will have substantial knowledge of U.S. resettlement and complementary pathways law, policy and practice, and will preferably have experience in UNHCR resettlement operations. Demonstrated experience working in sensitive political contexts and working constructively and collaboratively with government counterparts is required. Professional proficiency in Spanish is an asset but is not required. As this is a National Professional Officer position, U.S. citizenship is required.
Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):
,
,
Desired languagesSpanish
,
,
Operational context
Nature of Position:
The Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Officer reports to the Senior Protection Officer, who heads up the U.S. Protection and Solutions team at UNHCR Washington. The Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Officer develops and implements strategies aimed at strengthening solutions for refugees in the United States, in the context of the U.S. refugee admissions program and U.S. complementary pathways initiatives. The Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Officer also oversees and guides MCO-Washington’s resettlement processing operations in the Northern Caribbean including the Dominican Republic.
UNHCR’s resettlement and complementary pathways strategy is pursued through engagement with U.S. government and NGOs to advocate and provide legal/technical advice on UNHCR resettlement policy and practice. The Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Officer also provides support as needed to UNHCR HQ’s Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Service (DCPS) and UNHCR regional Bureau on issues related to U.S. resettlement policy and practice. The Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Officer works closely with relevant colleagues in the region to guide and facilitate resettlement processing operations in the Northern Caribbean including the Dominican Republic.
The Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Officer must be able to produce high-quality, timely policy analysis and briefing notes as a key contributor to UNHCR advocacy, strategy development, partnership management, government engagement, capacity-building and technical advice. MCO-Washington is operating in a fast-paced environment, engaging in a wide range of resettlement and complementary pathways issues related to the U.S. setting as well as in regional and global contexts. The analysis produced by the Resettlement and Complementary Pathways team at MCO Washington informs UNHCR’s global, regional and national advocacy and external messaging. The Resettlement and Complementary Pathways Officer manages critical relationships with government counterparts, national NGO stakeholders and other partners. He/she also works closely with colleagues in the External Relations, Strategic Communications, Programme and Information Management teams within the office. He/she also works closely with the Caribbean Protection Unit in Washington, particularly as relates to the resettlement component of the protection and durable solutions strategy for the Northern Caribbean and the Dominican Republic.
This position directly supervises other UNHCR staff, including policy staff and resettlement processing staff and affiliate workforce.
Living and Working Conditions
Multi-Country Washington is an H duty station. There are no particular security considerations in the USA or the Caribbean in general, and the living conditions in Washington D.C. are comfortable and safe. The post requires occasional mission travel to field locations. Current operational circumstances might require frequently long working hours. There is a need for security awareness, especially about criminality, when traveling to certain locations. MCOW is under the purview of a Senior Field Security officer in the Regional Bureau of Americas based in Panama.
Additional Qualifications
Skills
EducationBachelor of Arts (BA): International Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA): International Relations, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Social Science
CertificationsHCR Management Learning Program - UNHCR, HCR Protection Learning Program - UNHCR, HCR Resettlement Learning Program - UNHCR
Work Experience
CompetenciesAccountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Managing resource, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Policy research & development, Political awareness, Teamwork & collaboration
UNHCR Salary Calculator
https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales
Additional InformationThis is local National Professional Officer (NPO) position and US Citizenship is required.
Functional clearanceThis position doesn't require a functional clearance