Vacancy Announcement Number: 13-FO-SA-11
Grade: P-5
Deadline for
Applications: 11 April 2013
Duty Station: Damascus, Syria
UNRWA Field Offices generally have two Deputy Directors reporting
directly to the Field Director. Each Deputy Director manages a substantive
portfolio of programme or organizational support responsibilities. The organizational support portfolio
involves management and oversight of finance, human resources, procurement,
logistics, engineering, IT, and security functions at Field level. The Deputy
Director contributes to the Field’s strategic and operational plans and budgets,
guides and directs specialist staff, responds to emerging needs, manages staff
performance and ensures optimal use of resources. The Deputy Director also
liaises with external interlocutors including UN country teams, host government
representatives, the refugee community and others.
Deputy
Field Directors may be assigned as Acting Field Director during the absence of
the Field Director and, as such, assume full responsibility and accountability
for the management of the Field. Under the direct supervision of the Director of
UNRWA Affairs and in accordance with the established Agency policy and
procedures, the Deputy Director of UNRWA Affairs will:
Primary
Duties and Responsibilities
· Be responsible for the management of the
Field organisational support (cluster) which includes finance, audit,
administration, human resources, procurement & logistics, and engineering
& construction services and be the principal adviser to the Field Director
on these functions;
· In close collaboration with other senior staff in the Field, ensure
the development, preparation, coordination, implementation, revision and
monitoring of Field Implementation Plans, the Biennium Budget, Medium-Term
Strategy (MTS) for the support functions and for UNRWA’s Syria humanitarian
response plan, ensuring integrated approach to the management of support
services and exercising decision-making authority over human and financial
resources and capital assets of the Field, in line with UNRWA regulatory
framework and the SPARE (strategy, policy, accountability, results and
envelopes) principle;
· Provide
support and advice to the Field Director in implementing the Agency’s plans for
comprehensive programme and management reform; lead the implementation of
pertinent reform initiatives in organisational support; coordinate the work of
cross-functional teams to achieve field-wide outcomes and promote integration of
cross-cutting issues into the field support service framework;
· Provide guidance and support to senior programme and/or
organizational support staff in his/her own area; mentor and evaluate for
training purposes, as necessary;
· Liaise with Syria government and local
authorities to bring about their cooperation in facilitating the Agency’s
operations; assist the Field Office Director in managing and promoting
inter-agency and donor relations;
· As assigned, act for the Director of UNRWA Affairs during his/her
absence, with full responsibility for Field operations, and reporting to the
Commissioner-General and/or Deputy Commissioner-General;
· Liaise with the Field Security Officer/Field Safety Adviser and the
Agency’s Chief, Safety and Security Division in HQ (Amman) and the UN
Department of Safety and Security in the Field.
Professional Knowledge and Experience
· Advanced university degree in political science, social science,
public or business administration, or international relations supplemented by
studies in any support field such as procurement and logistics, finance, human
resources, etc;
· At least 10 years of experience in organizational support management
including at least six years at managerial level in a large governmental or
international organization. Previous senior level experience in emergency
planning and response and/or humanitarian operations. Extensive working
experience in a post conflict and transitional context;
· Excellent command of written and spoken English.
Competencies
· Professionalism: Shows pride
in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of
subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing
deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than
personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or
challenges; remains calm in stressful situations;
· Leadership: Strong
managerial/leadership skills; demonstrated flexibility in leadership by
performing and/or overseeing the analysis of complex human resources,
financial, administrative or management
policy and programme issues; proven record of building and managing teams and
creating an enabling environment, including the ability to effectively lead,
supervise, mentor, develop and evaluate staff and design training/skills
enhancement initiatives to ensure effective transfer of knowledge/skills; tact
in negotiating skills; good judgment and decision-making skills; demonstrated
ability to provide leadership and commitment to the goal of achieving gender
balance in staffing;
· Planning and Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent
with agreed strategies; identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts
priorities as required; allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for
completing work; foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning;
monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; uses time
efficiently;
· Managing performance: Delegates the
appropriate responsibility, accountability and decision-making authority; makes
sure that roles, responsibilities and reporting lines are clear to each staff
member; accurately judges the amount of time
and resources needed to accomplish a task and matches tasks to skills;
monitors progress against milestones and deadlines;
regularly discusses performance and provides feedback and coaching to staff;
encourages risk-taking and supports creativity and initiative; actively supports
the development and career aspirations of staff; appraises performance
fairly;
· Vision: Identifies strategic issues, opportunities and risks; clearly
communicates links between the Organization’s strategy and the work unit’s
goals; generates and communicates broad and compelling organizational direction,
inspiring others to pursue that same direction; conveys enthusiasm about future
possibilities;
· Communications: Speaks and
writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages
from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify and exhibits
interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and
format to match the audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and
keeping people informed;
· Technology Awareness: Keeps
abreast of available technology; understands applicability and limitations of
technology to the work of the office; actively seeks to apply technology to
appropriate tasks; shows willingness to learn new technology;
· Teamwork: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve
organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and
expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal
agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when
such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team
accomplishments and accepts; joint responsibility for team
shortcomings.
Desirable Qualifications
· Knowledge of activities of UNRWA operations and services;
·
Knowledge of
Middle Eastern geo-political realities and its socio-cultural
implications;
·
Experience
with United Nations administration/financial policies and
practices;
·
Working
experience in Syrian Arab Republic
and/or Middle East;
·
Working
knowledge of Arabic.
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.
Additional Information
The incumbent
will be required to travel frequently throughout the Agency’s area of operations
in the Middle East.
Conditions of Service
UNRWA offers an attractive compensation package including annual
salary starting at $86,904 net tax free with dependants or $80,734 single, plus post adjustment of 41.2% (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 6 weeks (according to
the UN classification of the duty station) but subject to change without notice.
Initial contract is for two years, 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.
Date of issue: 13 March 2013/LF
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