Director, Strategic Positioning and Change, D-1, HQ Amman, Jordan

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.

The Director, Strategic Positioning and Change reports to the Deputy Commissioner-General and receives leadership and guidance from the Commissioner-General.

Responsibilities

– Acts as the Agency’s senior advisor and focal point for overall change management and strategic positioning initiatives.

Is responsible for the Agency’s strategic organisational development, providing leadership support to the Commissioner-General, Deputy Commissioner-General and Senior Management Team on approaches to strategic change, their implementation and management, aimed at obtaining greater organisational positioning and effectiveness.

– Leads and facilitates the identification of strategic development needs and the planning of change interventions, overseeing, coordinating and monitoring the execution of the Agency’s strategic change initiatives, both in relation to management reforms as well as programme and operations-related change initiatives.

– Engages with and brings together Senior Management across the Agency to collaboratively identify and define organisational change and positioning priorities. Guides, supports and works alongside Senior Management in the implementation of change initiatives, including on matters related to workforce planning.

– Provides advice to the Agency on change strategies to be adopted, based on internal and external situational awareness and analyses of impact of change. Facilitates collective thinking on the resolution of relevant issues and identification of innovative developments in the Agency. Ensures that interventions are grounded in political and operational realities within the Agency’s areas of operation.

– Acts as the Agency’s Senior Change Agent engaging the entire organisation with change initiatives and embracing a change culture; provides strategic leadership and guidance on the development of actionable and targeted change plans including communication plans, stakeholder engagement, and resistance and risk management. Promotes an organizational culture in line with the transformational changes needed to modernize Agency services.

– In close cooperation with the Director of Strategic Communications, develops an outreach strategy to ensure the support and buy-in of Palestine refugee communities, representatives of refugee affairs and UNRWA staff at large.

– Establishes and leads a network of internal and external experts and resources with complementary skill sets to provide dedicated support for change engagements.

– Leads the prioritization of change projects and initiatives with guidance from the Executive Office, Senior Management Team, and/or Executive Advisory Group. – Engages with external stakeholders, including donors, host authorities, UN agencies and the Secretariat/ UNHQ/ EOSG NGOs, IFIs and Regional Development Banks, academia, and think-tanks on advancing Agency change initiatives, including through strategic and partnerships as relevant.

– Leads and manages the identification of risks; highlighting impacts associated with change, developing mitigation plans, and facilitating informed discussions about change related risks to key stakeholders, including within the Senior Management Team.

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. Default managerial competencies may apply. – Creating and Maintaining Impact and Partnership – Managing Complexity and Change – Persuading and Influencing – Relating and Networking – Planning and Organizing – Analyzing – A high level of skill in management of broad programmes, decision making and negotiation, risk management as well as demonstrated tolerance to frequently changing and highly charged situations – Demonstrated leadership qualities, tact, political acumen, diplomacy, and skills in negotiation/consensus building. – Demonstrated ability to translate strategic aims into achievable plans; ability to design, communicate on, and build consensus on complex organizational processes.

For guidance on how to prepare for competency-based interviews: https://careers.un. org/lbw/home.aspx?viewtype=AYI Education An advanced university degree from an accredited educational institution in political science, international relations, law, public administration, business administration, change management, organizational development or a related field.

Job Specific Qualifications Work Experience

A minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible and relevant experience, including scoping, leading and overseeing Organisational Development/ change, consulting with and guiding a group of Senior Executives, at public or international sector is required.

Unless already serving as an international staff member in the UN Common System, a candidate for international posts must have a minimum of two continuous years of relevant international experience outside UNRWA, and outside the country(s) of which the candidate is a national or holds citizenship, a passport or a national identity number as it is required. Experience of working with and coordinating amongst UN entities, NGO organisations, and UN member states on change management-related initiatives is required.

An advanced university degree from an accredited educational institution is required in political science, international relations, law, public administration, business administration, change management, organizational development or a related field. Recognized experience in facilitation of complex planning, reform and/or change management processes is desirable. Familiarity with the United Nations system, structures, and practices is desirable. Knowledge of historical and contemporary issues of the Middle East is desirable.

Experience in working in and knowledge of UNRWA’s Areas of Operation, including understanding of regional political dynamics, especially in relation to matters related to Palestine refugees is desirable. Languages Excellent command of written and spoken English.

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 incumbent will be required to reside and travel in the Agency Area of operations in the Middle East.

Only applications that have been fully completed in UNRWA’s online e-recruitment system inspira will be considered and no late applications will be accepted.

The Personal History Profile (PHP) should be completed with full work experience under the experience tabs as per the requirements in the Job Opening.

A roster may be created from the selection exercise, and successful candidates may become eligible for an appointment to the same post or a similar post. UNRWA welcomes applications from qualified candidates with disabilities. 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/