Chief of Staff

Vacancy Announcement

Chief of Staff, D-1/D-2

Amman, Jordan

Deadline for Applications

31 July 2017

(17 July 2017 for internal applicants)

Duration

2 years, with the possibility of further extension, subject to the availability of funds, satisfactory performance and continuing need.

Vacancy Announcement Number

17-AM-HQ-33

UNRWA encourages applications from qualified women and welcomes applications from qualified candidates with disabilities.

UNRWA, the largest United Nations operation in the Middle East with over 30,000 staff working across five areas of operation, is looking for professionals like you.

UNRWA’s strategic objectives

The mission of UNRWA is to help Palestine refugees achieve their full potential in human development under the difficult circumstances in which they live. In line with this mission, the Agency works towards five strategic outcomes: (a) Palestine refugee rights under international law are protected and promoted; (b) Palestine refugee health is protected and disease burden is reduced; (c) school-age children complete quality, equitable and inclusive basic education; (d) Palestine refugee capabilities are strengthened for increased livelihood opportunities; and (e) Palestine refugees are able to meet their basic human needs of food, shelter and environmental health.

Do you want to make a lasting difference? 

If you are passionate about making a lasting difference for Palestinian refugees, as Chief of Staff (CoS) you will provide leadership in coordinating all aspects of UNRWA’s management and serve as an authoritative advisor to the Commissioner-General (CG) and Deputy Commissioner General (DCG) on all matters enabling them to work most effectively with internal and external stakeholders and fulfill their commitments to UNRWA. This is a highly strategic and facilitative role that requires a combination of focus and flexibility, as well as a willingness to play an active, behind-the-scenes role. The role requires a highly resourceful individual with strong emotional intelligence, trust, self-motivation, and strong analytical skills.

The main responsibilities include:

•         Coordination/orchestration of projects or commitments directly involving the CG/DCG) CG/DCG and their direct reports. This responsibility primarily focuses on ensuring alignment among multiple stakeholders and, when such alignment is absent, sharing this fact with the CG/DCG and recommending mitigating approaches. While this responsibility envisions the CoS “going deep” on a relatively limited number of projects, s/he would also need to understand the breadth of the activities/projects within the CG/DCG’s purview.  The CG/DCG and the CoS would agree in advance on the schedule of projects requiring COS involvement.  Tact, diplomacy, and persistence are essential qualities in executing this dimension of the role.  

•         Independent leadership of special CG/DCG-initiated projects, ranging from written products to be authored/submitted by the CG to troubleshooting and special reviews of Agency activities (e.g., annual class formation; efficiency reforms; etc.). While the vast majority of CG/DCG-initiated projects will find homes among the senior management team and their staffs, some confidential or time sensitive issues will need to reside within the office of the CG/DCG and be led by the COS and the CG/DCG.  In addition to the drafting of key planning and communications, the COS should also be able to accurately reflect the CG/DCG’s position in internal meetings to help drive understanding of their views, though the role does not entail devolved responsibility to act for the CG/DCG unless so specified.

•         Proactive identification of issues that could impact the successful execution of the CG’s plans and commitments.  This responsibility involves elevating those issues about which the CG/DCG should be aware and framing/positioning ideas to resolve the problem/mitigate the risk. The COS supports CG/DCG in supervising and managing specific HQ-field interface and Agency-wide emergency/crisis response Task-Forces when required. These are among the most challenging aspects of the job and require the COS to focus on the underlying interests of the parties working with the CG/DCG, understand their intentions, and creatively identify alternative means of handling pressing issues.  

•         Serving as UNRWA’s focal point for neutrality.  The COS coordinates UNRWA’s ongoing efforts to ensure that essential humanitarian operational principles, including neutrality and independence, are taught to the workforce and that any infringements are timely managed within UNRWA’s regulatory framework.

•         Serving as the Executive Office’s focal point on all staff union issues that are escalated to the CG/DCG, and serving as their representative in reaching agreements. The COS  oversee, together with the Director of Human Resources, the development and guide the implementation and evaluation/analysis of related policies, strategies and practices to support staff relation-related activities.

•         Supporting the senior management team’s operational communications with the CG/DCG:  The COS helps facilitate decisions the senior management staff need, receiving feedback on from the CG/DCG. S/he supports the needs of the senior management in their ability to raise critical issues with the CG/DCG and receive needed responses, guidance and decisions. This includes preparation for, and facilitation of, “critical path” CG meetings (e.g., with UNRWA senior management, senior staff union leadership, and host government officials). This responsibility is less about logistics and more about content and the COS’s judgment about the appropriateness and sufficiency of the intended preparation.  This may mean querying senior stakeholders and assisting in their preparation for their interactions with the CG.

Conditions of service 

UNRWA offers an attractive compensation package including annual salary starting at for D-1 Level: $96,865 net tax free, and for D-2 Level: $107,150 net tax free with post adjustment of 36.4% (subject to change without notice). All UNRWA duty stations (with the exception of Gaza and Syria) are family duty stations. Other benefits, subject to eligibility, include:

•  Dependency allowances

•  Rental subsidy

•  Education grant for children

•  Home leave travel

•  6 weeks (30 working days) annual leave

•  Pension fund entitlements under the

    UN Joint Staff Pension Fund

•  International health insurance; optional

    life insurance

•  Disability protection

Additional information

The incumbent of this post will be required to travel throughout the Agency's area of operations in the Middle East.

To qualify for this position, you will need:

Education

An advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) from an accredited educational institution in political science, international relations, international economics, law, public administration, or related field; a first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Work

Experience

•         At least 15 years of progressively responsible experience in areas such as political, social, civil, humanitarian, or legal affairs; public or business administration; private sector roles in law, business strategy or consulting; public sector policy roles; campaign aide/strategist;  including at least two years of experience at international level outside one’s home country;

•         Proven track record of leadership and management in multicultural settings, including coordination of interdisciplinary teams.

•         Experience serving in an advisory or managerial capacity in United Nations field operations and particularly  in the Middle Eastern context;

Language(s)

Excellent in written and spoken English.

Desirable qualifications:

•         Experience in both inter-Agency and operational planning and analysis;

•         Experience in the mission area and with refugee or other vulnerable groups humanitarian situations;

•         Knowledge of Arabic language;

•         Knowledge of another UN official language is desirable.

You will also need to demonstrate the following competencies:

•         Communication: Highly-developed communications skills (written/verbal) and interpersonal savvy; listens effectively to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; tailors language, tone and style to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping colleagues informed;

•         Judgment/Planning: Results/action-orientation; project management skills; develops clear goals consistent with CG strategies; prioritize and adjusts as needed; foresees risk and allows for contingencies; monitors and follows up on pending items; conveys enthusiasm about future possibilities;

•         Leadership: Organizational and political agility; developed negotiation skills; identifies key issues in complex situations and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers information before making recommendations or taking decisions; checks assumptions against facts; ability to manage and coordinate many different levels and participants in Field operations, HQ and UN common system;

•         Building Trust:  Unquestionable personal code of ethics, integrity, diversity and trust; creates environments where others can talk and act without fear of repercussion; operates with transparency; places confidence in colleagues; gives proper credit to others; shows courage to take unpopular decisions; ability to evaluate political landscape in UNRWA areas of operation; conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments; motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring equal participation of women and men in all areas of UNRWA’s work;

•         Teamwork: Solicits input from colleagues and genuinely values ideas and expertise of others; able to successfully navigate issues and colleagues within varying degrees of ambiguity in a fast-paced environment; drives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; appraises performance fairly; provides feedback and coaching to staff;

•         Strong strategic/financial analysis skills; supports senior level colleagues in managing their budgets and works closely with Directors of Finance and Planning in the annual and quarterly budgetary processes.

For guidance on how to prepare for competency-based interviews:

            https://careers.un.org/lbw/home.aspx?viewtype=AYI

How to apply

To start the application process, applicants are required to register at http://jobs.unrwa.org by creating a personal profile and completing UNRWA Personal History Form. Only applications received through http://jobs.unrwa.org will be considered. Due to the large number of applications received for UNRWA vacancies, only applicants short-listed for interview will be contacted. The United Nations does not charge fees at any stage of the recruitment process. The United Nations does not concern itself with information related to bank accounts.

General information

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

The 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.

The Agency reserves the right not to make an appointment, to make an appointment at a lower grade, or to make an appointment with a modified job description.

Date of issue: 3 July 2017/ CM