Deputy Representative - Operations P5

Only candidates who are not nationals of the country of assignment are eligible to apply to this position

E (most hardship)Non FamilyDanger Pay PR5Professional

* 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 AssignmentNo2024-02-01November 28, 2023

Deputy Representative - Operations

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Deputy Representative - Operations will function under direct supervision of the UNHCR Representative. The incumbent will advise and assist the Representative in the overall management of UNHCR's programme and administrative activities and issues of concern within the country operation in an effective and efficient manner which supports the Organization¿s mandate. The incumbent will also have direct working relationship/arrangement with the Head of UNHCR offices within the country. He/she will also have a responsibility to monitor, coach, and guide and intervene with the staff in the country.
UNHCR is well integrated into the UN Resident Coordinator System.

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
- Assist the Representative in the overall management of UNHCR¿s programme and administrative activities and issues of concern within the country of assignment in an effective and efficient manner which supports the Organization¿s mandate.
- Promote, together with the Representative, UNHCR¿s objectives and priorities through formal and informal contacts with relevant government ministries and departments, UN Agencies, diplomatic missions, I/NGOs, media and other interested parties to raise support for the work of UNHCR.
- Assist the Representative in supervising the implementation of the country operations plan to ensure that activities are in accordance with UNHCR guidelines.
- Monitor the administration of field offices within the country.
- Ensure effective and efficient management of financial and material resources within the rules and procedures of UNHCR.
- Manage personnel through regular performance appraisals, coaching, and assessments of staff training and development needs.
- Ensure that essential services for the general welfare of staff (e.g. living and working conditions, health, education, recreation, etc.) are in place. This includes the establishment of proper and efficient mechanisms to assist staff suffering from work-related pressure or post-traumatic stress.
- Play an active role in the Security Management team (SMT) in the relevant country and the inter-agency security and contingency planning process; ensure that appropriate security measures and evacuation plans are in place to protect UNHCR staff, and that security guidelines and procedures as outlined by the Designated Official and UNDSS are complied with.
- Report and provide recommendations/solutions to the Representative on political, socio-economic and cultural developments that may affect the situation of the refugees in the country.
- Act as Officer-in-Charge in the absence of the Representative as required.
- Set and enforce parameters, criteria and deadlines for the design, review and report of operations.
- Enforce local compliance with UNHCR¿s workplace standards.
- In coordination with headquarters and the regional office enforce country-level compliance with UNHCR¿s financial rules.
- Enforce compliance with UNHCR¿s human resources policies (e.g. policies on gender, disabilities, diversity, ethics and HIV/AIDS).
- Allocate resources to meet minimum standards for staff working and living conditions
- Clear the submission of the country operations plan (including budgets, staffing levels and structures) as well as of funding submissions, appeals and report.
- Represent UNHCR in UN and other operations management fora.
- Enforce compliance with UNHCR¿s global strategies, protocols and guidelines.

- 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
Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P5 - 12 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 11 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 10 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
Business Administration; Economics; International Relations;
Political Science; International Law; or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses
HCR Management Lrng Prg; HCR Protection Learning Prg;
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Not specified.

Desirable
- Solid UNHCR experience from both the Field and Headquarters.
- UNHCR specific learning/ training activities (i.e. Management Learning Programme, Protection Learning Programme).

Functional Skills
EX-Intergovernmental Organization/International Organization (United Nations or similar);
EX-Field experience with UNHCR and/or with other humanitarian organizations;
EX-HQs experience with UNHCR and/or with other humanitarian organizations;
(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.

The incumbent would be expected to possess proven managerial skills with strong experience in programming and operational management, attached to leadership and team building as he or she will supervise an important number of staff who are involved in operational issues. In additional, he/she demonstrates high level of negotiation skills required while dealing with the local authorities, UN agency sister agencies and other counterparts. The incumbent will also deputize for the Representative during his/her absence as required.

The Deputy Representative OPS position in Yemen requires a special set of skills to manage this complex operational context. Not only will she/he manage the Operational delivery and the Field units but must have excellent people management and demonstrated leadership skills to lead a big team and effectively ensure the smooth functioning of the Yemen Operation. He/she must have demonstrated stake holder management skills to engage with various Governmental authorities in the South and DFA in the North, UN, NGOs and other partners at all levels to strengthen alliances and ensure complementary of operational delivery. The incumbent must have excellent analytical skills, drafting and communication skills to advocate for the cause of refugees and IDPs and maintain constructive relationships to achieve the organization objective, hence a candidate with proven political and diplomatic skills as well as necessary cultural sensitivity and understanding would be effective in this environment.

The incumbent is empowered to carry out his/her functions with delegated authority of the UNHCR Representative in Yemen, who exercises entire supervisory role over the position. The incumbent will provide guidance and supervise XX international and XX national staff. Being a high-risk duty station, staff well-being is paramount as such he/she will keep frequent internal contacts with staff members at the duty station to exchange information and establish understanding of respective needs.

He/she will assist in supervising the implementation of the Country Operations Plan; ensure effective and efficient management of the CCCM and Shelter clusters, Programme and Project control, Field and Supply units, financial and material resources within the rules and procedures of UNHCR while ensuring resolution of operational challenges both internal and external generally with officials of national and international institutions, refugee elders, on relevant matters to the Organization.

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit this links:

https://wellbeing.unhcr.org/yemen/local-knowledge

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Nature of Position:

Entering the ninth year of conflict, the humanitarian crisis in Yemen is considered one of the worst in the world with 80% of the population estimated to be in need of humanitarian assistance. UNHCR 's interventions focus on relief activities, protection services and durable solutions directed to than 4.5 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) and an estimated 70,000 refugees and asylum-seekers. Humanitarian access is severely constrained by administrative hurdles and ongoing fighting with rapidly shifting frontlines. In IDPs interventions, UNHCR has a strong operational footprint particularly in relation to protection/protection of civilians, shelter and NFIs and IDPs sites management with one of the largest cash programme of UNHCR globally, as well as durable solutions for IDPs. In Yemen, UNHCR implements the fifth largest cash programme of UNHCR globally, and the second serving IDPs. UNHCR operations are managed by the Country Office in Sanaa, with three field offices in Hodeidah, Saada and Ibb, one field unit in Sanaa, as well as in the South of Yemen through its Sub-Office Aden and a field presence in Marib.  The Deputy Representative (Operations) should have a strong background in programme, project control, supply, CBI and related functions. 

Limitations related to UNHCRs capacity to undertake needs assessments and post-distributions monitoring, coupled with difficulties in ensuring impartial targeting of the most vulnerable, require constant and additional risk mitigating measures, in particular with respect to highly visible programmes such as cash-based interventions. Given that the budget for both Ops and HR, as well as the number of field offices, have grown over the last couple of years, the Deputy Representative (Operations) plays a critical oversight and monitoring role in ensuring that rules and regulations as well as UNHCR and Clusters strategies are adhered to at all times, including when UNHCR has to respond to critical and rapidly evolving incidents affecting persons of concern to UNHCR in a volatile security and political environment.

The Deputy Representative (Operations), based in Sub-Office Aden, has responsibilities of supervision of various operational units in Country Office Sana’a (e.g. programme, project control, supply, CBI, field) and would also take on the additional functions of representing UNHCR based in the south.  S/He would therefore have a roving function between north and south. 

Living and Working Conditions:

The candidate will be stationed in Aden, a port city located in the south of the country. It is warm to hot all year round, with average temperatures between 22 – 34 Celsius, and high humidity levels. The candidate will live in a UNHCR guesthouse within the UN compound. On each floor there is a communal kitchen (no cooks available). Some rooms are equipped with their own bathroom, whereas others have access to a shared one (two people). It is located near the office, with staff walking to and from daily. The UN compound consists of all UN agency’s guesthouses and offices. Recreational facilities are extremely limited. UNHCR guesthouse has an equipped gym, and UN staff organize regular social and sports activities. For primary healthcare a local clinic is available but for serious cases, it is recommended to receive treatment outside the country. There are limited banking options available and limited hard currency available in the south, it is possible to open a personal account but not recommended. Food options are limited. The office has a cafeteria, mainly serving Yemeni food, during working hours only. It is possible to order food from a few places outside the compound. The office organizes regular trips to a grocery store. The Rest and Recuperation (R&R) in Yemen is a 4-week cycle. Due to the security situation, movement of international staff is limited to the UN Compound, guesthouses, and implementation locations. Movement must be done in armored vehicles and adhere to security protocols. Most international female staff wear abayas when leaving the UN compound. Yemen is under Security Level V. The UN faces three general types of risks: collateral damage due to the armed conflict, terrorism, especially in the south, crime due to the economic/financial collapse of Yemen and the dramatic rise in the needs of Yemenis to feed and to provide medical care for their families, and hazard due to long road travels in armored vehicles on narrow roads with no maintenance. The working and living space are well protected and are MOSS compliant. All physical security mitigation measures are in place, which include guards, secured walls, protected windows. The security situation dictates that all international UN personnel in Yemen must reside within UN or other UNDSS approved compounds. Due to the unstable security situation, when travelling by road, UN International staff members must only move in armored vehicles. This includes pick-ups and drop-offs at offices and airports. All staff members must complete the mandatory SSAFE and online BSAFE training.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Bachelor of Arts (BA): Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Economics, Bachelor of Arts (BA): International Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA): International Relations, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Political Science

Certifications

HCR Management Learning Program - UNHCR, HCR Protection Learning Program - UNHCR

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, Political awareness, Stakeholder management, Strategic planning & visions, Teamwork & collaboration

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

Compendium

Add. 1 to Bi-annual Compendium 2023 - Part B

Additional Information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance

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