Deputy Director of UNRWA Affairs (Programmes), P5

Posting Title : Deputy Director of UNRWA Affairs (Programmes), P5
Job Code Title : Deputy Director of UNRWA Affairs (Progs)
Department/ Office : UNRWA – other
Location : FO Lebanon
Posting Period : 29 May 2023-25 June 2023
Job Opening number : 23-PGM-UNRWA – other-209994-R-FO Lebanon (R)
Staffing Exercise : N/A
United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity
Org. Setting and Reporting
UNRWA, the largest United Nations operation in the Middle East with over 30,000 staff
working across five areas of operation, is looking for highly committed personnel wishing to
make a change.
If you are looking for a rewarding opportunity to make a tangible difference for one of the
most vulnerable communities in the world, UNRWA would like to hear from you.
Deputy Director of UNRWA Affairs (Programmes) reports to the Director of UNRWA
Affairs.
Responsibilities
– Performs leadership, management and co-ordination functions relating to the Fields
Programmes ensuring optimal use of resources, streamlined processes, taking into account
refugee needs; is directly responsible for the management of the Field education, health, relief
and social services, infrastructure and camp improvement and microfinance (where
applicable) departments.
– Guides and provides oversight as well as performance management, in accordance with the
Agency’s Annual Operational Plans; provides guidance and support to senior programme staff
in their own area and in the continuous improvement of programmes and services to the
Palestine Refugees.
– Provides support and advice to the Director of UNRWA Affairs in implementing the
Agency’s reform plans; leads the implementation of pertinent reform initiatives in his/her
organizational cluster; coordinates the work of cross-functional teams to achieve field-wide
outcomes and promotes integration of cross-cutting issues into the field operations
framework.
– Translates the Medium-Term Programme Strategy into operational reality by developing and
fine-tuning, in consultation with managers, Field Plans and Budgets. Leads reform initiatives
with a focus on innovation, effectiveness, efficiency, change management and environmental
sustainability; provides guidance and support to senior programme and/or administrative staff
in his/her own area; mentors and evaluates for training purposes, as necessary.
– Liaises with government and local authorities to ensure their cooperation in facilitating the
Agency’s programmes delivery; supports the Director of UNRWA Affairs in managing and
promoting inter-agency and donor relations.
– Acts for the Director of UNRWA Affairs during his/her absence, with full responsibility for
the management of the Field’s operations, undertakes relieving assignments, as required.
Competencies
UN Core Values of Integrity, Professionalism and Respect for Diversity, and Core
Competencies of Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results apply by
default.
Leading and Supervising
Coping with Pressure and Setbacks
Deciding and Initiating Action
Managing Complexity and Change
Creating and Maintaining Impact and Partnership
For guidance on how to prepare for competency-based interviews: https://careers.un.
org/lbw/home.aspx?viewtype=AYI.
Education
Advanced university degree (Master’s or Equivalent) from an accredited educational
institution in political science, social science, economics, international relations, public or
business administration, or a related discipline, including one of the Agency’s programmes
academic fields supplemented by studies in management or international relations studies.
Job Specific Qualifications
Work Experience
At least 10 years of progressively responsible relevant experience in programme management,
is required.
At least six years of work experience managing large-scale, multi-sector teams, programmes
at managerial level, including emergency planning and humanitarian response at international,
large governmental or non-governmental organization is required
Unless already serving as an international staff member in the UN Common System, at least
two continuous years of relevant international experience should be outside UNRWA, and
outside the country(s) of citizenship, is required.
Knowledge of UNRWA’s programmes and services, is desirable.
Knowledge of Middle Eastern geo-political realities and its socio-cultural implications is
desirable.
Experience with United Nations administration/financial policies and practices is desirable.
Working knowledge of Arabic is desirable.
Languages
Excellent command of written and spoken English is required.
Working knowledge of Arabic is desirable.
Assessment
Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be
followed by competency-based interview.
Special Notice
Type of Contract and duration: 2 years, with the possibility of further extension.
The Deputy Director of UNRWA Affairs (Programmes) will be required to travel regularly
inside and outside Field, where assigned, throughout the Agency’s area of operations.
Applicants have to complete the Personal History Profile (PHP) in inspira in order to be
considered. The PHP should be completed with full relevant work experience as per the
requirements in the Job Opening, in order to be considered.
UNRWA welcomes applications from qualified candidates with disabilities.
A roster may be created from the selection exercise, and successful candidates may become
eligible for a temporary appointment to the same post or a similar post.
UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions from UN member states,
regional bodies, business foundations and individual contributions. The mission of UNRWA
is to help Palestine refugees achieve their full potential in human development under the
difficult circumstances in which they live.
For more details on UNRWA, please visit: https://www.unrwa.org/
United Nations Considerations
Staff members are subject to the authority of the Commissioner-General of UNRWA and to
assignment by him or her.
UNRWA is committed to achieving gender parity at all levels of staffing under the current
UN-wide gender agenda and strongly encourages applications from qualified applicants from
under-represented groups.
At UNRWA, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the
necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due
regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of
qualifications and organizational needs. UNRWA is committed to creating a diverse and
inclusive environment of mutual respect. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with
disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when
requested and indicated in the application.
UNRWA Considerations
UNRWA staff are expected to uphold the highest standards of efficiency, competence,
neutrality, impartiality and integrity. This includes respect for and commitment to human
rights, diversity and non-violent means of dealing with all kinds of conflict. Only persons who
fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for UNRWA jobs.
Candidates will not be considered for employment with UNRWA if they have committed
violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law,
sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to
believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. Candidates who
have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for
employment. The Agency may disqualify applicants who have separated for reason of
misconduct, who left a UN Agency while misconduct processes were pending, or who appear
on the UN Sanctions List.
UNRWA is a non-smoking work environment.
Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment
platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the
Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side
of the inspira account-holder homepage.
The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in
the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable
internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations,
resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative
issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information
pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in
inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion,
revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates
under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the
information provided in the application.
Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time)
on the deadline date.