Profile – Field Programme Support Officer

UNRWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and is mandated to provide assistance and protection to a population of some 5 million registered Palestine refugees. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip to achieve their full potential in human development, pending a just solution to their plight. UNRWA’s services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance and emergency assistance. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions. For its international team, UNRWA is seeking expressions of interest from qualified professionals for the following profile:

Profile – Field Programme Support Officer

Under the direct supervision of the Deputy Director of UNRWA Operations (DDUO) (Programmes), the Field Programme Support Officer is responsible for supporting and coordinating programme and project planning processes within the Field. In accordance with the established Agency policy and procedures, the incumbent will:

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Support programme and project planning process and provide input, within the context of Agency Strategic and Programme framework, into cyclical one-year Annual Operational Plans for the Field; build Field capacity to assess, deliver, monitor and evaluate Field interventions;
• Manage the actual application of Programme Management Cycle (PMC) in his/her respective field; provide support to Programme chiefs in carrying out all phases of PMC with due focus on project management; facilitate results-based programme plans built on evidence and logical frameworks; incorporate efficient use of inputs, indicators of impact, outcomes and outputs;
• Assist the DDUO in coordination of all programmes in the field, including health, education, relief and social services and Microfinance Programme, through integrated and cohesive project management framework;
• Provide guidance to the Field Office to enhance quality of project management and ensure effective results from the capacity and skill building; manage training courses on the PMC;
• Work with the Protection Unit to integrate cross-cutting themes (gender, protection, social inclusion) with field-specific programme planning process.

Professional Knowledge and Experience

• Advanced university degree from an accredited educational institution in programme management, public or business administration, social sciences, or any related subject;
• A minimum of eight years of experience in programme or project management, including a minimum of four years' international experience at a senior level outside one’s home country;
• Sound knowledge of results-based management of humanitarian and development assistance programmes, as well as monitoring and evaluation;
• Excellent command of spoken and written English.

Competencies

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity;
• Ability to plan and prioritize own work, work well under tight deadlines and handle multiple concurrent activities;
• Positive attitude and strong analytical, interpersonal and communication skills;
• Proven ability to exercise the initiative and resourcefulness necessary for prioritizing multiple clusters/components;
• Proficiency in using computer software and applications used for social science research and analysis;
• Evidence of utilization of planning tools and methodologies for the application of assessment, design, monitoring and evaluation purposes.

Equivalency

When the minimum requirements are not fully met, the Human Resources Department may substitute part of the unmet requirements under UNRWA’s equivalency determination guidelines with a combination of relevant academic qualification, additional professional training and/or progressive relevant work experience. Note: Work experience alone or formal qualifications with no relevant work experience are not considered sufficient for an equivalency determination.

Desirable Qualifications

• Knowledge of UNRWA Rules and Directives, and of the sources from which they are compiled;
• Good command of Arabic;
• Working knowledge and experience of the Agency’s operations in the Middle East, and knowledge of Middle Eastern culture.

Additional Information

The incumbent may be required to travel to UNRWA’s area of operations.

Conditions of Service

UNRWA offers an attractive compensation package at P-4 level. Benefits, subject to eligibility, include education grant, home leave, pension fund, health insurance, 6 weeks of annual leave, and other allowances such as dependent spouse, single parent or child allowance as applicable. Additional benefits apply for certain duty stations. All UNRWA duty stations (with the exception of Gaza and Syria) are family duty stations. Initial contract for regular appointments is for two years, with the possibility of further extensions subject to the availability of funds and the continuing need for the post. Temporary appointments may also be offered.

How to Submit an Expression of Interest

Please register at http://jobs.unrwa.org by creating a personal profile and completing UNRWA Personal History Form. Please note that UNRWA only accepts degrees from accredited educational institutions. Profile postings are utilized to facilitate sourcing of candidates for regular recruitment needs. Expressions of interest will be reviewed as needed.

General Information

UNRWA is a United Nations organization whose staff are expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity, neutrality and impartiality. This includes respect for and commitment to human rights, diversity, and non-violent means of dealing with all kinds of conflict. UNRWA staff are expected to uphold these values at all times, both at work and outside. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for UNRWA jobs. UNRWA is a non-smoking work environment.

The statutory retirement age for staff entering or re-entering service in the UN Common System after 1 January 1990 is 62 and 65 after 1 January 2014. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete a term of appointment will normally be considered.

On appointment, all individuals will be asked to sign a self-attestation, confirming that they have not committed, been convicted of, or prosecuted for, any criminal offence and that they have not been involved, by act or omission, in the commission of any violation of international human rights law or international humanitarian law.

Date of issue: 1 March 2017/ NH