Job: Senior Humanitarian Response Officer

Location: Damascus
Deadline: Monday, 02 December 2013

Organization: UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East

Country: Syrian Arab RepublicClosing date: 02 Dec 2013

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. For its international team, UNRWA is seeking to employ a qualified:

Senior Humanitarian Response Officer

Vacancy Announcement Number 13-FO-SA-45

Grade P-4

Deadline for Applications 2 December 2013

Duty Station Damascus, Syria

Under the overall management of the Director of UNRWA Affairs (DUA), at the Syria Field Office (SFO), the Senior Humanitarian Response Officer will report directly to the Deputy Director of UNRWA Affairs (Organizational Support), manage and supervise the Emergency Operations Support Team (EOST) and is responsible for facilitating strategic planning and implementation of UNRWA's humanitarian response projects in Syria. The incumbent will contribute to both strategic and operational oversight to SFO's humanitarian response and ensure that the phases of the project cycle management are pursued within a cohesive framework of best practice and high standards, while also playing a key role in managing the budget of the emergency appeal. In accordance with the established Agency policy and procedures, the incumbent will:

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage and supervise the Emergency Operations Support Team (EOST) at SFO Damascus, ensuring timely provision of operational support to the Syria Field Office's Emergency Response Team (ERT) and coordinated provision of timely and adequate (programmatic, logistics, etc.) support to Area Emergency Response Teams (AERTs); oversee the performance of the EOST to ensure that it performs its functions rapidly, efficiently and with high impact for humanitarian assistance to Palestine refugees;
• Facilitate the use of Project Cycle Management (PCM) approach within all humanitarian response projects, with a focus on needs-based planning, monitoring, reporting and evaluation, and integrated programming in accordance with international best practice;
• In coordination with the relevant Field and Headquarters departments, lead periodic revision of Syria Field's humanitarian response plans and related project proposals; consolidate submissions (verifying costs, viability and adherence to best practice and technical instructions); coordinate with HQ and other Field Offices for harmonisation and final submission of UNRWA's Syria Humanitarian Response Plan (SHARP); ensure that SHARP conforms to the Agency's common framework of standards;
• In coordination with concerned Syria Field and Headquarters Departments, consolidate and supervise the implementation of the humanitarian response budget, including through allocation and monitoring of funds (commitments, expenditures and allotments);
• Monitor the implementation of the humanitarian response projects to verify adherence to donor stipulations, grant agreement guidelines and deadlines; alert programmes when corrective action is necessary and assist in implementing such action;
• Act as the SFO focal point for coordination with external interlocutors and HQ External Relations and Communications Department on humanitarian response activities;
• Ensure development and regular update of communication plans.

Professional Knowledge and Experience

• Advanced university degree from an accredited educational institution, in project management, economics, business administration or any other related discipline;
• A minimum of eight years of relevant experience in programme or project management or coordination, two of which should have been in a large governmental, international or commercial organization, outside one's home country. Experience in emergency planning and response and/or humanitarian operations. Extensive working experience in a post conflict and transitional context, including at international level outside one's home country.
• Excellent command of written and spoken English.

Competencies

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity;
• Ability to plan and prioritise own work, work well under tight deadlines and handle multiple concurrent activities;
• Demonstrated skills in working with others and ability to handle sensitive issues;
• Ability to operate standard computer software used by the Agency including spreadsheets and databases;
• Positive attitude and strong analytical, interpersonal and communication skills;
• Familiarity with project cycle management and Logical Framework Analysis;
• Understanding of budgetary requirements and planning;
• Ability to develop clear goals and identify priority activities and assignments.

Desirable Qualifications

• CCCM training and/or experience;
• Working knowledge of the Arabic language;
• Working knowledge and experience of the Agency's operations in the Middle East, and knowledge of Middle Eastern culture;
• Knowledge of UN Rules and Regulations; familiarity of work within the United Nations system with demonstrated knowledge of its values and principles.

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. NB: Work experience alone or formal qualifications with no relevant work experience are not considered an acceptable combination.

Conditions of Service

UNRWA offers an attractive compensation package including annual salary starting at $72,467 net tax free with dependants or $67,483 single, plus post adjustment of 41.1% (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 Extended Monthly Security Evacuation 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 at http://jobs.unrwa.org by creating a personal profile and completing UNRWA Personal History Form. Please note that UNRWA only accepts degrees from accredited educational institutions. Only applications received through http://jobs.unrwa.org will be considered. Due to the large number of applications received for UNRWA vacancies, only applicants short-listed for interview will be contacted.

UNRWA does not charge a fee at any stage in the recruitment process.

General Information UNRWA encourages applications from qualified and experienced women.

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 human rights, for diversity, and for 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 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.

Date of issue: 3 November 2013/CF

How to apply:

To start the application process, applicants are required to register at http://jobs.unrwa.org by creating a personal profile and completing UNRWA Personal History Form. Please note that UNRWA only accepts degrees from accredited educational institutions. Only applications received through http://jobs.unrwa.org will be considered. Due to the large number of applications received for UNRWA vacancies, only applicants short-listed for interview will be contacted.

UNRWA does not charge a fee at any stage in the recruitment process.

N Wikipedia: N (named en) is the fourteenth letter in the ISO basic Latin alphabet.

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