Senior Resettlement Assistant

Grade

GS5

Staff Member / Affiliate Type

General Service

Reason

Temporary > Temporary Assignment/ Appointment

Hardship Level

A (least hardship)

Family Type

Family

Residential location (if applicable)

Remote work accepted

No

Target Start Date

2024-01-15

Target End Date

2024-06-30

Job Posting End Date

December 20, 2023

Standard Job Description

Senior Resettlement Assistant

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

A Senior Resettlement Assistant position is typically located at Multi-Country Office, Branch Office or Field Office. Under supervision, the incumbent’s primary role is to assist the supervisor in effective resettlement delivery of a given UNHCR Office in accordance with the UNHCR Resettlement Handbook, UNHCR Manual and relevant policy papers and publications. The incumbent provides important clerical and administrative support to resettlement operations and may as required take part in assessing cases for resettlement and conducting interviews. S/he maintains frequent contacts with the supervisor, relevant colleagues within the same Office or Offices under purview to exchange information and discuss issues on resettlement cases. Some contacts and communication at a working level are required with Embassy / Immigration Officials of resettlement countries, IOM as well as with other operating partners regarding resettlement issues.

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

• Carry out preliminary interviews and initial assessments to process refugees for resettlement following established procedures.
• Prepare written documentation for resettlement submission; ensure that records / files of individual cases are updated in a systematic and timely manner.
• Assess and review individual resettlement cases and prepare individual / group submission for scrutiny by the supervisor.
• Provide persons of concern (PoC) with up-to-date and accurate information on UNHCR’s resettlement policies and procedures.
• Comply with UNHCR’s standard operating procedures on resettlement, ensuring timely action on cases.
• Follow up on cases from time of submission to final decision and departure; ensure effective in-country communication on the status and follow-up on PoC being considered for resettlement.
• Assist in maintaining and updating proGres or Consolidated Online Resettlement Tracking System (CORTS) database and provide technical support.
• Coordinate travel and departure arrangements for refugees accepted for resettlement.
• Organize logistical support for governments undertaking resettlement missions.
• Provide administrative support for resettlement-related training activities, including organization of resettlement workshops and meetings as required.
• Maintain accurate resettlement statistics as well as up-to-date records on individual cases; assist in the preparation of reports.
• Draft / type routine correspondence to Field Offices / Multi-Country Offices / Headquarters.
• Systematically apply an Age, Gender and Diversity perspective in all aspects of the resettlement process; comply with UNHCR policy and guidelines on HIV/AIDS.
• Assist in mitigating resettlement fraud by reporting suspected fraud.
• Recommend eligible cases for resettlement consideration.
• Provide counselling to PoC.
• Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
• Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Professional Work Experience

Years of Experience / Degree Level

For G5 – 2 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 1 year relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Field(s) of Education

Not applicable

Certificates and/or Licenses

International Law;

International Relations;

(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience

Essential

Not specified

Desirable

Good knowledge of resettlement issues and UNHCR resettlement policies and operational applications. Completion of UNHCR specific learning/training activities (e.g., PLP and RSD/Resettlement Learning Programme, resettlement anti-fraud workshop).

Functional Skills

PR-Refugee Resettlement programs

PR-Resettlement Anti-Fraud Policy and Procedures

CO-Cross-cultural communication

(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

Title of Position: Senior Resettlement Assistant (4 positions)

Category & Level: General Services, G5

UNHCR Guayaquil, Ecuador

Effective date: 15 January 2024

Duration: Until 30 June 2024 – Temporary Appointment

(Upon medical clearance and references check) possibility of extension of contract duration, depending on project’s approval and performance evaluation.

OPERATIONAL CONTEXT

UNHCR operation in Ecuador is fundamentally driven to deliver protection and solutions to a variety of persons of UNHCR’s concern such as asylum-seekers, refugees, and stateless in partnership and close collaboration with national authorities as well as non-governmental organizations and communities. Particular attention and specific multi-faceted protection and assistance is often provided within short timeframes and at times little resources in demanding operational environment. The wide palette of activities is principally coordinated from the country office in Quito as well as the Sub-Offices in Quito (Solanda), Guayaquil, and Ibarra, Field Offices in Esmeraldas, Huaquillas, Tulcán, Lago Agrio, and Field Units in Manta, Cuenca and Ambato.

Ecuador is a destination and transit country for persons in need of international protection. Over the past two decades, Ecuador has been hosting more than 68,000 recognized refugees (mainly Colombians) and has become a main destination and transit country for Venezuelan refugees and migrants. Ecuador receives the second largest number of Venezuelans after Colombia. Over 2.2 million have arrived in Ecuador since 2016. In 2019 Venezuelans have been arriving in Ecuador at an average of 1,950 people per day, almost all through the border crossings with Colombia. While 80% of Venezuelans arriving in Ecuador are in transit to third countries, official estimates are that more than 385,000 are residing in Ecuador.

On 5 January, the US government announced a series of changes affecting asylum seekers and migrants at or on their way to the US southern border. They included an expansion of refugee resettlement from Latin America and the Caribbean, although no operational details were provided.

The government has since advanced a plan for “regional processing centers” in countries in Central and South America, specifically Guatemala and Colombia. The centers will pre-screen individuals for possible lawful pathways to the US, Canada and Spain, such as refugee resettlement, humanitarian parole, family reunification or temporary labor visas.

UNHCR and IOM will be the operational partners for this initiative. IOM and UNHCR will screen and refer individuals for assessment by the US government for eligibility to the US refugee resettlement program or other lawful pathways to the US.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT

A Senior Resettlement Assistant position is typically located at Multi-Country Office, Branch Office or Field Office. Under supervision, the incumbent’s primary role is to assist the supervisor in effective resettlement delivery of a given UNHCR Office in accordance with the UNHCR Resettlement Handbook, UNHCR Manual and relevant policy papers and publications. The incumbent provides important clerical and administrative support to resettlement operations and may take part in assessing cases for resettlement and conducting interviews. S/he maintains frequent contacts with the supervisor, relevant colleagues within the same Office to exchange information and discuss issues on resettlement cases. Some limited contacts and communication at a working level are required with Embassy / Immigration Officials of resettlement countries, IOM as well as with other operating partners regarding resettlement issues.

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:

• Carry out preliminary interviews and initial assessments to process refugees for resettlement following established procedures.
• Prepare written documentation for resettlement submission; ensure that records / files of individual cases are updated in a systematic and timely manner.
• Assess and review individual resettlement cases and prepare individual / group submission for scrutiny by the supervisor.
• Provide persons of concern (PoC) with up-to-date and accurate information on UNHCR’s resettlement policies and procedures.
• Comply with UNHCR’s standard operating procedures on resettlement, ensuring timely action on cases.
• Follow up on cases from time of submission to final decision and departure; ensure effective in-country communication on the status and follow-up on PoC being considered for resettlement.
• Assist in maintaining and updating proGres or Consolidated Online Resettlement Tracking System (CORTS) database and provide technical support.
• Coordinate travel and departure arrangements for refugees accepted for resettlement.
• Organize logistical support for governments undertaking resettlement missions.
• Provide administrative support for resettlement-related training activities, including organization of resettlement workshops and meetings as required.
• Maintain accurate resettlement statistics as well as up-to-date records on individual cases; assist in the preparation of reports.
• Draft / type routine correspondence to Field Offices / Multi-Country Offices / Headquarters.
• Systematically apply an Age, Gender and Diversity perspective in all aspects of the resettlement process; comply with UNHCR policy and guidelines on HIV/AIDS.
• Assist in mitigating resettlement fraud by reporting suspected fraud.
• Recommend eligible cases for resettlement consideration.
• Provide counselling to PoC.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Essential Minimum Qualifications, Professional Experience And Required Competencies

• For G5 – 2 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 1 year relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher
• Certificates and/or Licences:
• International Relations
• International Law

Essential

• Not specified.

Desirable

• Good knowledge of resettlement issues and UNHCR resettlement policies and operational applications.
• Completion of UNHCR specific learning/training activities.

Functional Skills

• CM-Cross-cultural communication
• PR-Resettlement/Repatriation/Voluntary Repatriation
• MS-Knowledge of geo-political realities and their socio-cultural implications
• PR-Resettlement Anti-Fraud Policy and Procedures

Language Requirements

• For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

Core Competencies

• Accountability
• Communication
• Organizational Awareness
• Teamwork & Collaboration
• Commitment to Continuous Learning
• Client & Result Orientation

Managerial Competencies

• Not specified

Cross-Functional Competencies

• Analytical Thinking
• Planning and Organizing
• Stakeholder Management

ELIGIBILITY

Candidates must be present in the country at the moment of selection.

SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS

• English and Spanish are mandatory (B2 level).
• A technical test will be administered to shortlisted candidates.
• Foreign candidates, to be considered eligible for this position, must have a temporary or permanent residence in Ecuador that allows them to carry out work activities in the country.
• If you wish to be considered for this INTERNAL/EXTERNAL vacancy, please submit your application according to the following instructions:
• CANDIDATES WITH ACCESS TO THE WORKDAY: In order to apply, you must first create your profile in the WORKDAY system.
• EXTERNAL CANDIDATES: Candidates who do NOT have access to the WORKDAY system should submit their application through UNHCR’s official site for applications: https://www.unhcr.org/careers.html

WHEN CREATING A CANDIDATE PROFILE IN WORKDAY, PLEASE USE CAPSLOCKS FOR LAST NAME AND NO SPECIAL CHARACTERS (Ñ OR ACCENTS)

CVs WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED BY EMAIL. ONLY THOSE APPLICATIONS SENT THROUGH THE SYSTEM WILL BE CONSIDERED.

NOTE

If you are a person with a disability and need additional assistance during the application and/or recruitment process, please contact us by email: [email protected].

UNHCR is committed to diversity and welcomes applications from qualified candidates regardless of disability, gender identity, marital or civil partnership status, race, color or ethnic and national origins, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.

UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, training or any other fees).

REMUNERATION

A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. For information on UN salaries, allowances and benefits, please visit the portal of the International Civil Service Commission at: http://icsc.un.org

Functional Clearance

This position doesn’t require a functional clearance

Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level)

English

,

,

Desired languages

,

,

Skills

Additional Qualifications

CO-Cross-cultural communication, PR-Refugee Resettlement programs, PR-Resettlement Anti-Fraud Policy and Procedures

Education

Certifications

International Law – Other, International Relations – Other

Work Experience

UNHCR Salary Calculator

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales