UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency
Family Type
Family
Residential location (if applicable)
Grade
PR4
Staff Member / Affiliate Type
Professional
- Staff members will not normally serve in International Professional positions in the country of their nationality. In addition, in case of a first appointment upon recruitment, the assignment must be outside the staff member’s country of nationality.
In practical terms this means that you are not eligible to apply for International Professional vacancies advertised in the country where you are national of.
Reason
Regular > Regular Assignment
Remote work accepted
No
Target Start Date
2024-04-01
Job Posting End Date
December 21, 2023
Standard Job Description
Deputy Representative
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
Direct supervision and guidance is received from the Representative at P5 level. Advice and operational support may also be provided by the Director/Deputy Director of the Bureau or the Regional Representative and by other senior staff in the Bureau (Head of Desk, Legal Advice Unit, and Resource Management Unit) and in the support Divisions at Headquarters. The incumbent will also refer to policies, standards, rules and regulations which are in force within UNHCR.
Regular contacts with Representative and staff at Headquarters and in the field, to consult, discuss operational issues, and to seek common grounds for solutions on activities and programmes of importance to UNHCR and with persons on matters of great importance to UNHCR¿s programmes. These contacts may include heads of national/ international organizations, embassies, UN agencies, and high officials/ ministers in the national government. UNHCR is well integrated into the UN Resident Coordinator System.
Decisions taken directly influence the design and operation of UNHCR¿s activities in the country of accreditation. Proposals will have a substantive effect on UNHCR¿s policy on a wide range of issues in the country programmes. Errors lead to significant damage to UNHCR¿s major objectives in terms of time, quality, and money in the country and will have a major negative impact on the safety of refugees and other persons of concern. The Office’s overall credibility and the safety of its staff may also suffer.
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
- Provide legal protection advice and guidance on matters of doctrine and policy to Representative, the Heads of Offices and protection staff in the country.
- Provide advice and support to offices in the country operation on specific issues/problems faced related to asylum, refugee protection and assistance, including access to territory, access to RSD and asylum procedures, non-refoulement adequate reception and the implementation of durable solutions, including developing a Protection Management Framework for each national office.
- Provide legal and programme related advice and guidance to offices in the country on developing and maintaining fair and effective asylum regimes in accordance with international standards and norms, especially with regard to national asylum/refugee legislation and the building of local protection capacity.
- Provide legal and programme related advice and guidance on matters relating to the issue of asylum and migration to the Representative and offices in the country with particular emphasis on the problems of trafficking and smuggling.
- Provide guidance and leadership related to the implementation of the Age, Gender Diversity Mainstreaming (AGDM) Participatory Assessments in sub-region and ensure the follow up on any identified gaps related to the reception and integration systems and structures in the region with relevant stakeholders.
- Keep abreast of and analyse trends and key issues related to legal protection and assistance in the country, including preparing strategy and position papers with policy recommendations on specific protection, assistance and durable solutions related issues relevant to the country.
- Directly supervise Protection and Programme sections and develop operations plan in accordance with the organizational policies and operational strategies.
- Assist the Representative in the promotion of UNHCR strategic goals and objectives in the country, monitoring of the overall progress towards achieving them and in managing the Representation country office.
- Ensure that appropriate security measures are in place to protect staff, and that the country operation complies with UN MOSS/MORSS staff security rules, guidelines and procedures.
- Serve as OIC of the Country Office when the Representative is on mission or leave.
- Represent UNHCR in the meetings and fora related to the functions.
- Enforce local compliance with UNHCR¿s global protection, programme, finance and human resources and security policies and standards.
- Authorize payments as per the organization¿s Delegation of Authority Plan (DOAP) and in accordance with UN/UNHCR rules and procedures.
- Modify operational projects and reallocate funds, within the approved budgets and in respect of donor earmarking.
- Lead risk assessments and discussions with team(s) to proactively manage risks and seize opportunities impacting objectives. Ensure that risk management principles are integrated in decision-making both at strategic and operational levels. Allocate resources for planned treatments with resource requirements in Strategic Plans. Ensure that risks are managed to acceptable levels and escalate, as needed. If a Risk Owner, designate the Risk Focal Point and certify that the annual risk review is completed and ensure that the risk register is updated during the year, as needed.
- Perform other related duties as required.
Minimum Qualifications
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P4 – 9 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 8 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 7 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree
Field(s) of Education
Business Administration; International Relations; Political Science;
Social Science; or other relevant field.
Certificates and/or Licenses
HCR Learning Prog; HCR Managing Operatns Lrng Prg; HCR Protection Learning Prg;
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Relevant Job Experience
Essential
9 years of previous work experience relevant to the function, with more than 6 years in international capacity. Senior positions in a large governmental or international agency. Extensive knowledge of UNHCR operations and services. Experience in in management of broad programmes, political decision making and negotiating.
Desirable
Knowledge of geo-political realities and their socio-cultural implications.
Functional Skills
- PG-Programme Management (programme cycles and reporting standards)
- UN-UN/UNHCR Inter-agency Policies, Standards, Programmes, and Partnerships
- UN-UN/UNHCR Mandate and Global Strategic Priorities
- MG-Field Operations Management
- MG-Political Decision Making
UN-Analysis of geo-political realities and their socio-cultural implications
(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
- Experience in senior positions in large governmental or international organizations.
- Knowledge of the political environment and displacement challenges in Latin America.
- Extensive knowledge of UNHCR mandate and humanitarian operations including demonstrated experience working with IDPs.
- Solid diplomatic skills and experience in negotiating with authorities and multiple stakeholders in a politically charged and ever-changing environment.
Operations / Partnership / inter-agency coordination
- Demonstrated leadership and experience managing operations, including emergency preparedness and response
- Experience in the management of complex operations involving refugees and migrants (Mixed Movements)
- Ability to engage with senior government officials and broad range of stakeholders – including line ministries, local authorities, civil society organizations, private sector, donors, media, etc for the protection of people of concern and their integration in social and economic policies / programmes.
- Excellent coordination skills to navigate in a complex inter-agency context
- Experience or knowledge in development issues/humanitarian-development nexus and work with international financial institutions.
Others:
- Excellent leadership and managerial skills. Ability to lead, motivate, manage a large team, and foster good team spirit.
- Ability to develop innovative and creative solutions with demonstrated flexibility, creativity, and adaptability to frequently changing and highly charged situations.
- Excellent command of the English and Spanish language, both written and oral.
Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):
Spanish
,
,
Desired languages
,
,
Operational context
Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:
To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit this link:
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel
Nature of Position:
The Americas region hosts more than 18.4 million refugees, asylum-seekers, displaced and stateless people, representing some 20 percent of persons of concern to UNHCR worldwide. The number of people displaced in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras increased in 2022, and is expected to rise further in 2023. Close to 600,000 asylum-seekers and refugees from these countries have been uprooted abroad. Additionally, around 320,000 people are reportedly internally displaced in Honduras and El Salvador.
Against the above, Honduras remains characterized by a situation of protracted internal displacement caused mainly by organized crime. Although the main cause of displacement is violence, both social conflict, inequality and economic hardship and polarization in the country are causing forced displacement beyond organized crime. The context is characterized by institutional fragility, a huge risk of natural disasters, a government with limited resources and a population with high needs. Even though Honduras Operation is focused on the IDPs situation, the scenario is more complex due to the increasing number of mixed movements, new asylum claims primarily from Nicaraguans, continuous deportation/returns of Hondurans requiring bolstered efforts to expand protection and sustainable reintegration opportunities. Therefore, the main challenge is finding balance and the ability to respond to many simultaneous issues.
The persisting protection needs within high-risk communities and the weak governance capacity constitute continuing challenges for an adequate response to human rights violations and widespread violence, mainly in urban settings. Armed structures such as maras (gangs), criminal organized groups and drug trafficking structures operate under the basis of institutional weakness to consolidate their economic interests and exercise social and territorial control over the population.
Yet there are also opportunities within the country, being the IDP Bill, that was approved in April 2023 an important one. UNHCR supports the Government and provides technical assistance for the development and implementation of legal frameworks and public policies for the protection of people displaced by violence. In 2015 UNHCR officially established presence through a National Office based in Tegucigalpa and in 2016 a Field Office in San Pedro Sula.
Reporting to the Representative, the Deputy Representative (Operations) will work in close coordination with partners, local authorities, civil society, UN agencies, and forcibly displaced persons to implement Protection and Solutions strategy for IDPs, Returnees, Asylum seekers and Refugees in Honduras.
S/he will have the oversight of the following units: Programme, CBI, IM, Shelter, Supply, as well as the Field Office in San Pedro Sula, and Field Units in Tegucigalpa, Choluteca, and Ocotepeque. S/he will be responsible for Operational delivery and budget, the programming cycle and reporting, managing relationships with partners, ensuring provision of the basic needs and essential support functions. The incumbent also is the Planning coordinator for the Operation and the Focal point for Risk Management. The Deputy Representative will provide oversight to humanitarian assistance at key transit points and border areas, in response to protection needs of forcibly displaced people in the context of mixed movements. As well, as Honduras is affected by climate change and natural disasters, s/he will be expected to oversee contingency planning and UNHCR’s emergency response.
The operation has many NGO partners and relationships with various government institutions. The Deputy Representative (Operations) will be expected to closely collaborate with a wide range of external actors, donors and strategic allies, and thus must have good negotiation skills and the ability to navigate a complex political environment. S/he may also represent UNHCR in various coordination forums as required.
Living and Working Conditions
Family duty station B
- Limited access to infrastructure (health, housing, banking, transportation, telecommunications) and limited access to leisure and recreational facilities due to security restrictions. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, limitations in many aspects of daily life for staff (leisure, cultural activities, attractions) have increased and the levels of insecurity, as well as basic development indicators (poverty, food security, etc.) have worsened. The possibility of walking in the main cities is non-existent due to lack of security (assault, robbery) and lack of sidewalks or sidewalks in poor conditions, lack of lighting.
- There is no lack of private schools, although the number of bilingual or bicultural schools is not so high.
- Security: high level of violent crime, including murder, robbery and threats of kidnapping, a growing number of femicides, lack of safe and reliable public transportation and of safe public spaces for socializing and deficiency off health services. It is strongly advised to exercise extreme caution and maintain a high level of personal security awareness.
- Due to the number of robberies and armed assaults suffered by UN staff and some visitors, it is discouraged to walk alone at all times in Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula and La Ceiba, personal or official movements should be done in a vehicle.
Skills
Additional Qualifications
Education
Bachelor of Arts (BA): Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts (BA): International Relations, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Political Science, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Social Science
Certifications
HCR Learning Program – UNHCR, HCR Protection Learning Program – UNHCR, Programme Management (PM) 1 – UNHCR
Work Experience
Competencies
Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Leadership, Managing performance, Managing resource, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Stakeholder management, Strategic planning & visions, Teamwork & collaboration
UNHCR Salary Calculator
https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales
Compendium
Add. 2 to Bi-annual Compendium 2023 – Part B
Additional Information
Functional clearance
This position doesn’t require a functional clearance
To apply for this job please visit unhcr.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com.