Senior Policy Adviser (RBAP)

Before submitting an application, UNHCR staff members intending to apply to this Job Opening are requested to consult the Recruitment and Assignments Policy (RAP, UNHCR/HCP/2017/2 and the Recruitment and Assignments Administrative Instruction (RAAI), UNHCR/AI/2017/7 OF 15 August 2017.

Senior Policy Adviser (RBAP)

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
The role of the Senior Policy Adviser is to lead the development of policies in the Asia and Pacific region, including protection strategies and operational protection responses. The incumbent will be based in the Bureau for Asia & the Pacific at UNHCR Headquarters, Geneva. The Senior Policy Adviser will supervise the two Senior Legal Advisers of the Bureau and report to and be guided by the Director in close coordination with the two Deputy Directors of the Bureau.
The Senior Policy Adviser will coordinate with other Bureaux and Divisions on policy matters that have relevance or resonance for and beyond the Asia Pacific region with the aim of ensuring harmonization across regions and in global policy matters of UNHCR.
Coordination with external actors will be undertaken in policy issues that are predicated on these actors' understanding of and interest in UNHCR policies.
The Senior Policy Adviser will specifically : (i) make recommendations and proposals to the Director and the senior management team in policy and legal/protection related issues; (ii) ensure implementation of decisions taken on these proposals with the Senior Legal Advisers, the two Deputy Directors, and in close coordination with field operations, Bureaux and other Headquarters colleagues, (iii)  develop and coordinate implementation of research strategy to support the Director's policy direction and orientation, (iv) maintain and develop contacts with policy research entities in other international organisations and academic institutions, (v) regularly update, through internal and external processes, the Bureau's Strategic Direction documents, (vi) and to contribute to UNHCR's global and cross-regional strategic thinking.
The incumbent is also expected to support and undertake new initiatives in regional fora which can extend UNHCR's influence and promote solutions for refugee situations in the region, and represent the Asia Bureau in task force, working groups, etc., on cross-cutting policy issues, as may be constituted at UNHCR Headquarters to advise the Director, and the HC/DHC/AHC.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT
Accountability
- Protection principles and international law as relevant to persons of concern to UNHCR are promoted.
- UNHCR's protection and legal work is guided by a coherent strategy to provide quality protection advice.
- UNHCR's policies, standards and doctrine are consistently and coherently applied, and adapted to the country context. 
- UNHCR's international protection priorities and positions are reflected in relevant decisions, policies, laws and initiatives of Governments as well as of regional organizations.

Responsibility 
- Facilitate the development and articulation of the Asia Bureau's priorities for protection strategies and policy development by generating consultative processes among senior protection managers in the field and supporting its use and application through the Policy and Legal Unit team and other relevant colleagues.
- Facilitate overall harmonization and coherence of the Bureau's protection strategies, policies and operations in Asia by regularly convening and exchanging with senior protection managers including Regional Officers.
- Ensure the Bureau's effective representation and engagement with strategy and policy development and evaluation processes on selected cross-cutting protection and policy issues, both within UNHCR and, as appropriate, on the inter-agency level.
- Facilitate effective knowledge management within the Bureau through the documentation and broader introduction of good practices, lessons learned, models and approaches by launching and coordinating studies, organizing workshops and through the use of information technology.
- Coordinate development of the Bureau's strategic partnerships with selected institutions, including regional organizations, relevant NGOs and civil society and academic institutions.
- Coordinate efforts to harmonize and improve the effectiveness of the Bureau's, external protection communications action of the Bureau's. Develop coordination and harmonisation of protection communications with key external counterparts, including donors.
- Perform any other tasks assigned by the Director or the Deputy Director.

Authority
- Take decisions relating to the identification, prioritization and development of UNHCR's protection policies as well as UNHCR's responses to issues and trends which impact on the development of government policy in Asia.
- Provide substantive guidance on UNHCR strategy and operations in the Asia field operations and to Regional Offices as appropriate.
- Apply existing doctrine to relevant situations.
- Represent Office in meetings within UNHCR and with external counterparts.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
- Graduate (equivalent of a Master's) degree in Political or Social Science, Law or related fields.
- Job experience to the function: 11 years.
- In an International capacity: 10 years.
- Extensive protection experience encompassing legal aspects and operational protection at the field level.
- Demonstrated ability to conceptualise, develop and implement strategy and policy.
- Command of English and drafting skills are essential.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES
- Knowledge of French desirable.
- Formal and on the job training in Policy Development methods and Management.
- UNHCR's Protection and management learning programmes, including thematic protection learning programmes. C001L4 - Accountability Level 4
C002L4 - Teamwork & Collaboration Level 4
C003L4 - Communication Level 4
C004L4 - Commitment to Continuous Learning Level 4
C005L4 - Client & Result Orientation Level 4
C006L4 - Organizational Awareness Level 4
M002L4 - Managing Performance Level 4
M006L4 - Managing Resources Level 4
M005L4 - Leadership Level 4
M003L4 - Judgement and Decision Making Level 4
M004L4 - Strategic Planning and Vision Level 4
X006L4 - Policy Development & Research Level 4
X001L4 - Analytical Thinking Level 4
X007L4 - Political Awareness Level 4

Before applying to this position, we strongly encourage colleagues to read the country specific FAQs information leaflets which can be found  on the Intranet under Staff Resources > Duty of Care. The information leaflets are specifically designed to answer some of the key questions potential applicants might have before deciding to apply. 

Proven:
- Strategic policy formulation and conceptual thinking abilities;
- Protection background and demonstrated coordination experience;
- Excellent communication skills including proven analytical and drafting skills;
- Demonstrated ability to conceptualize, develop and implement strategy and policy;
- Recent field experiences in the Asia and Pacific region, as well as demonstrated competencies in operations, protection,political analysis; strategic thinking and hands on operational knowledge is essential for the candidates for this position.  This would require familiarity with, and good understanding of, the policies and strategies in the many complex operations in the Asia region;
- A good understanding of how headquarters functions is also essential for the position in view of the wide variety and numerous requests from different stakeholders, both internal (senior management, support Divisions) and external (permanent missions, NGOs), including for briefings, as well as the need to respond in an effective and timely manner to evolving situations on the ground in the field. - Increasing complexities in the operational environment, changes in the political makeup in some operations, thematic initiatives have necessitated the need to strengthen our strategic policy formulating at the Bureau.
- The role of the Senior Policy Adviser is to lead the development of policies in the Asia and Pacific region, including protection strategies and operational protection responses. The incumbent will be based in the Bureau for Asia & the Pacific at UNHCR Headquarters, Geneva. The Senior Policy Adviser will supervise the Senior Legal Advisor and the Legal Officer of the Bureau and report to and be guided by the Director in close coordination with the two Deputy Directors of the Bureau.
- The Senior Policy Adviser will coordinate with other Bureaux and Divisions, in particular DIP and DPSM, on policy matters that have relevance or resonance for and beyond the Asia Pacific region with the aim of ensuring harmonization across regions and in global policy matters of UNHCR.
- Coordination with external actors will be undertaken in policy issues that are predicated on these actors' understanding of and interest in UNHCR policies.
- The incumbent is also expected to support and undertake new initiatives in regional fora which can extend UNHCR's influence and promote solutions for refugee situations in the region, and represent the Asia Bureau in task force, working groups, etc., on cross-cutting policy issues, as may be constituted at UNHCR Headquarters to advise the Director, and the HC/DHC/AHC. n/a n/a n/a

Please note that the closing date for all vacancies in the September 2017 Compendium is Monday 6 November 2017 (midnight Geneva time).