Operations Support Officer (Roster)

Vacancy Announcement

Operations Support Officer (Roster), P-2/P-3

Operations Support Officer posts are based in various duty stations within UNRWA’s five fields of operations: Jordan, Lebanon, West Bank, Gaza, and Syria*

Deadline for Applications

16 September 2017

Duration

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

Vacancy Announcement Number

17-FO-VS-43

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

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. 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.

There are more than twenty five Operation Support Officer (OSO) positions across UNRWA’s five fields of operation, which help the Agency fulfil its neutrality and protection functions.

Do you want to make a lasting difference? 

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. In this role, you will work predominantly at the field level to address the needs of Palestine refugees and the functioning of the Agency, with a specific set of tasks as indicated below, depending on the precise context. The OSO position in UNRWA is challenging but rewarding requiring a broad understanding and experience of humanitarian and protection principles and concepts to succeed

The main responsibilities include:

•         Undertaking regular neutrality inspections of UNRWA installations and premises;

•         Documenting and reporting violations of neutrality in UNRWA installations and premises and undertakes necessary follow-up;

•         Providing awareness and briefing about UNRWA neutrality and its significance to the Agency operations and service delivery, including training sessions on humanitarian principles and in particular neutrality for UNRWA staff;

•         Supporting neutrality and protection activities through undertaking regular field visits in coordination with other programmes;

•         Collecting data and information, monitoring and preparing analytic reports on the living conditions of Palestine refugees and their access to services provided by UNRWA and its partners and supporting actions to mainstream protection in provision of such services;

•         Contributing to the technical support/oversight of functioning protection referral mechanisms within the Agency aimed at identifying, assessing and referring individual protection cases to specialized services both internally to other UNRWA programmes and externally to protection partners;

•         Documenting alleged violations of international humanitarian, human rights and refugee law and undertaking protection monitoring of key protection threats and risks;

•         Undertaking advocacy on protection and humanitarian principles including  providing contextual briefings on UNRWA operations, neutrality and protection issues, and highlighting advocacy concerns as needed including civil-military coordination;

•         Providing other operational support as required, particularly to address gaps in humanitarian and emergency operations.

Conditions of service 

UNRWA offers an attractive and competitive compensation package including annual salary starting for P-2 Level: $46,026 net tax free, and for P-3 Level at: $58,583 net tax free, plus post adjustment for both levels as follows: Amman 36.4%, West Bank and Gaza 55.9%, Beirut 50.5% and Damascus 36.5% (all are subject to change without notice). 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

i)     Additional benefits available to staff working in Gaza:

• Hardship allowance

• Non-family service allowance

• R&R leave (currently every 8 weeks)

• Family visit travel

• Support for settling-in of staff

   members’ families in nearby locations*

* While Gaza is a non-family duty station, eligible staff members may set up a second household in a nearby location to have their family nearby. However, Gaza remains the official duty station with any travel outside the duty station being subject to management approval and in accordance to office practices to ensure international staff presence in Gaza at all times.

ii)    Additional benefits available to staff working in Syria:

• Danger pay

• Family visit travel

• Hardship allowance

• Rest and recuperation leave every 4

• Non-family service allowance

   weeks (subject to change without notice)

* Note: Equivalent post in Syria carries slightly modified title of 'Area Support Officer' and is only available at the P-3' level

Additional information

•         The incumbent will be required to reside at the duty station and may be required to travel daily throughout the field of operations in the course of his/her duties;

•         In select Fields a valid driver’s license and good driving skills are required.

To qualify for this position, you will need:

Education

A university degree from an accredited educational institution, preferably in social science, political affairs, international relations, law or a related field;

Work

experience

For grade P-2:  Four years of relevant experience, including field level humanitarian work, of which at least one year should have been in an international organization;

For grade P-3:  Six years of relevant experience, including field level humanitarian work, of which at least three years should have been in an international organization;

For both levels: Two years of work experience at international level outside your home country;

Language(s)

Excellent command of written and spoken English; for Syria posts, working knowledge of Arabic is also required.

Desirable qualifications:

•         Experience with the procedures followed in communicating by radio;

•         Practical experience in ways of putting operational protection principles within a human development and humanitarian framework;

•         Experience and understanding of the application of humanitarian principles including neutrality in an operational context;

•         Knowledge of the history of the Middle East and issues affecting the region, including Palestine refugees;

•         Ability to speak Arabic (working knowledge of Arabic is a requirement for Syria posts—see above);

•         Experience in counselling or dealing with people who are in shock or suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

You will also need to demonstrate the following competencies:

•         Excellent interpersonal skills, mature, independent, disciplined, loyal, self-confident and self-assured, with an ability to work under pressure and within a team;

•         Familiarity with international humanitarian protection principles, concepts and standards, including International Law;

•         Articulate, politically aware while remaining impartial and discreet at all times;

•         Decisive yet flexible, able to assess and analyse situations quickly, objectively and prudently;

•         Excellent analytical and report writing skills.

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: 6 August 2017/NH