Head of UNRWA Liaison Office in Cairo - Egypt

Vacancy Announcement

Head of UNRWA Liaison Office in Cairo, grade 18

Cairo - Egypt

Deadline for Applications

4 October 2017

Duration

Fixed-term appointment of 3 years including 1 year probation period, with the possibility of further extension, subject to the availability of funds, satisfactory performance and continuing need.

Vacancy Announcement Number

17-AR-CA-47

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.

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.

The main responsibilities include:

•         Under the supervision of the Commissioner-General Office (CGO) and in close coordination with D/ERCD, representing the Agency vis-à-vis a number of partners in Egypt including the League of Arab States (LAS) and its Members, the diplomatic community, the UN, and Egyptian counterparts;

•         Supporting the External Relations and Communication Department, in particular the Arab and Regional Partners Division (ARPD), in their outreach to the League of Arab States and its Member States with the aim of supporting ERCD’s resource mobilization efforts. This consists in establishing and nurturing close relationships with key partners in coordination with the ARPD team and ensuring protocol formalities are met for and during high level visits;

•         Gathering intelligence, keeping donors and partners, and if required the media, informed of UNRWA’s activities, and pro-actively providing advice and information to CGO and ERCD;

•         Under the supervision of the Commissioner-General Office and in close coordination with the concerned Departments, coordinating relevant actions on Palestine refugees issues with UN agencies and partners and in liaison with relevant Egyptian authorities;

•         Being responsible for the effective management of the Cairo Liaison Office, including finance, human resources and administrative functions in close contact with the Finance and Human Resources Departments and Central Support Division for administrative functions.

Conditions of service 

Monthly basic salary $1543.60 plus special professional occupation allowance of 35% of the basic salary. Other benefits include monthly Provident Fund contribution (15% of basic salary paid by the Agency), compulsory medical insurance, 30 days of annual leave, and dependency allowance (if applicable).

Additional information

Additional information

•         The incumbent may be required to travel on duty in the Agency’s area of operations;

•         The incumbent will be requested to work after working hours or on weekends as necessary.

To qualify for this position, you will need:

Education

An advanced university degree from an accredited educational institution in political science, international relations, business or public administration, communication, public relations or other related fields;

Work

experience

At least 8 years’ experience working for a national/international organization or development agency in fund raising, program management, public information, diplomacy and/or external relations;

Language(s)

Excellent command of spoken and written English and Arabic.

Desirable qualifications:

•         Working knowledge of the international aid architecture and discourse;

•         Knowledge of the Middle East history and Palestine refugee issue;

•         Knowledge of the UN system.

You will also need to demonstrate the following competencies:

•         Demonstrated track record in representation and public relations including at senior level, and in maintaining effective working relationships with people of diverse backgrounds, culture and nationalities;

•         Strong political skills, knowledge of the geopolitics of the Middle East and the Arab region at large, including of humanitarian and refugee crisis;

•         Demonstrated competence in negotiation at a high level;

•         Demonstrated understanding and experience of humanitarian / social assistance to refugees or other vulnerable communities;

•         Demonstrated ability to manage an office and handle a variety of tasks, follow up on issues actively in a timely fashion, show team spirit, leadership, initiative and drive for results;

•         High levels of integrity and independence in office management;

•         Professional knowledge of word processing, especially MS Word, Excel and MS Outlook.

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

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

How to Apply

Applicants are required to register at http://jobs.unrwa.org by creating a personal profile and completing an UNRWA Personal History Form. Please note that UNRWA only accepts degrees from accredited educational institutions. Only applications received through http://jobs.unrwa.org will be considered. Due to the large number of applications received, only applicants short-listed for interview will be contacted. Please ensure that the e-mail address that you will indicate in your Personal History Profile is accurate, candidates shortlisted for test or interview will only be contacted by e-mail. No follow up phone calls will be made.

The United Nations does not charge fees at any stage of the recruitment process (application, testing, interviewing, etc). The United Nations does not concern itself with information related to bank accounts.

General Information

This vacancy notice is open to internal and external candidates.

UNRWA is a United Nations organization whose staff are expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity, neutrality and impartiality. This includes respect for human rights, for diversity, and for 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 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.

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: 14 September 2017/LF