Deputy Director (Resettlement and Complementary Pathways)

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.

Deputy Director (Resettlement and Complementary Pathways)

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The role and profile of resettlement has strengthened considerably as it has come to play, more than ever, a crucial role in international efforts to assist refugees.  UNHCR must be well positioned to respond to both an increase in states¿ demands, requiring new ways of doing business and to the interest of new state actors seeking to establish programs. It is particularly important that UNHCR is able to actively influence resettlement policy setting at the international and national level, to support states to grow capacity for resettlement, to respond to and monitor UNHCR activity against targets; and to maintain the integrity of its case processing systems.
It is also particularly important that UNHCR is able to actively promote and support Complementary pathways, i.e. safe and regulated avenues by which refugees are provided with lawful stay in a third country where their international protection needs are met, while they are given learning and working opportunities including through family reunification, education opportunities and labour/regional mobility schemes.
The Deputy Director will lead this work under the management and direction of the Director DIP.

The Deputy Director engages comprehensively with staff across the Division and all parts of UNHCR, in particular with the Bureau. Frequently, these contacts are made to discuss thematic and operational issues so as to further the development of operational or policy guidance.

External stakeholders include traditional as well as new and emerging resettlement countries and resettlement service providers and other relevant stakeholders for the identification, development and promotion of resettlement and complementary pathways including, States, host governments, local authorities, NGOs, refugees and diaspora organizations, international organizations, academics and the private sector.
The Deputy Director may be called upon to serve as a member of various steering committees and working groups as the need arises, including but not limited to the following functions and in the following fora:

- As necessary, represent the Director on SMC during her/his absence, or at her/his request (internal);
- Prepare and coordinate in the Annual Tripartite Consultations on Resettlement and its associated Working Groups on Resettlement processes and other global or regional resettlement fora and relevant international conferences;
- Foster and maintain relationships with high level Governments officials, NGOs, other UN organizations, to collaborate on resettlement policy and practice.
- Facilitate annual protection planning and programming including support in the APR.
- In consultation with DER, develop fundraising strategies to support resettlement/complementary pathways.

The Deputy Director is responsible for the work of the Resettlement Service which is structured in cross-cutting small teams that cover liaison with operations by region and with individual resettlement states and states supporting other pathways, as well as activities to support the following objectives:
- The Service regularly provides targeted and implementable policy and operational guidance to the field and to States¿ to inform policy processes related to the design and composition of their national programs.
- The Service plays a role in mobilising resources for resettlement and complementary pathways, both centrally and supporting fund-raising by regional and field offices as needed.
- The Service pursues the continuous improvement of processing modalities as a priority in partnership with States, including through an emphasis on innovation.
- The Service has a role in the tracking and analysis of data and frequent reporting internally and to states to demonstrate that UNHCR is providing effective and timely delivery against global resettlement quotas and other offers of humanitarian pathways.
- The Resettlement Service works on ensuring high quality casework through effective training design and delivery. It also co-leads, together with the Global Learning Centre, the implementation of training activities for UNHCR resettlement staff, as well as government officials where relevant.
- As confidence in the resettlement processing arrangements is critical to the sustainability of States¿ programmes, the Service focuses on strengthening the integrity of the resettlement process to mitigate against fraud.
- The Service ensures access to a high quality and versatile affiliate workforce through the coordination of the Resettlement Deployment Scheme together with relevant NGO partners that are part of the scheme.
- The Service is active in shoring-up the utility of the resettlement stakeholder architecture and its related processes which includes the Annual Tripartite Consultations on Resettlement (ATCR) involving States, NGOs and UNHCR; its associated thematic Working Groups on Resettlement; and caseload specific Core and Contact Groups.
- At a more operational level, the Processing Unit in the Resettlement Service, leads on the effective facilitation of the submission of urgent and emergency resettlement cases on a dossier basis to ensure protection for those most in need.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT

Accountability

- UNHCR¿s global resettlement and complementary pathways strategies are consistent with the organization's overall comprehensive approach to solutions for refugee populations.
- Role of UNHCR in coordinating the global refugee resettlement program and negotiating complementary pathways is enhanced and global resettlement places and other legal pathways are allocated equitably to benefit those most in need of resettlement.
- UNHCR is in the forefront of new policy and operational areas relating to resettlement and complementary pathways.
- The global capacity for resettlement is maintained and its humanitarian emphasis ensured; complementary pathways are also expanded through increased access to family reunification, labour mobility schemes, education opportunities.
- All resettlement quotas and complementary pathways opportunities are met by UNHCR in and efficient and timely manner.
- Field operations capacity to deliver on resettlement targets and other pathways targets is supported and strengthened.
- Integrity of resettlement processes and selection processes for complementary pathways worldwide is enhanced and fraud mitigated.
- Momentum is developed in relation to new and effective processing modalities for resettlement and complementary pathways.
- DIP is engaged in all key internal and external forums in which resettlement and complementary pathways or related issues feature prominently, whether at the policy or operational level.
- Operations and Bureaux are engaged in planning how and when resettlement can be used strategically and as part of a broader solutions approach and in advocating for and supporting other pathways.

Responsibility

- Provide strategic guidance on thematic areas concerning durable solutions, and develop policy and operational guidance.
- Work closely with the bureaux on the integration of resettlement and complementary pathways in protection and solution agendas.
- Lead bilateral relations with countries on policy and operational resettlement/complementary pathways issues.
- Lead the coordination of the yearly ATCR processes including the Working Group meetings on resettlement; present key UNHCR¿s policy and operational positions as well as resettlement needs and challenges.
- Interact regularly with all key resettlement countries to promote expansion of resettlement places, new countries joining the resettlement community, flexibility of intake profiles, and generally advocate for resettlement as a tool of protection, durable solution and burden sharing as well as the strategic use of resettlement.
- Ensure up to date knowledge of developments in key resettlement operations, gaps and challenges, both from the point of view of field offices as well as from the perspectives of resettlement countries, and seek solutions to problems.
- Support operations to deliver on resettlement targets and complementary pathways through adequate deployments, and other related resources, and seek to ensure countries receive timely and quality submissions of cases.
- Enhance knowledge and skills to identify resettlement needs, and to produce timely and quality submissions through training programs and development of relevant tools and guidance.
- Promote with resettlement countries the development of integration strategies relevant to the country concerned; promote sharing of good practices, and support development of tools which help in a better understanding of integration of resettled refugees.
- Manage oversight of addressing resettlement fraud, ensuring field offices implement fraud risk assessments, that fraud incidents can be monitored globally, and investigations into alleged fraud incidents and other responses to resettlement fraud are based on UNHCR¿s standards; ensure a joined-up approach with the IGO.
- Perform other related duties and responsibilities as required.

Authority

- Speak for DIP/UNHCR on the role and value of resettlement and complementary pathways in protection and solutions agendas in internal and external for a.
- Negotiate globally with resettlement/complementary pathways countries and as appropriate with host governments and other resettlement/solutions partners on behalf of UNHCR.
- Approve UNHCR's global resettlement strategy.
- Direct allocations of resettlement places across operations.
- Liaise with Bureaux and field operations on all matters relating to resettlement/complementary pathways, and organize meetings and discussions to address problems.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

- Graduate degree (equivalent of Master¿s) with minimum 16 years of job experience relevant to the function, including experience in international protection, strategic policy and operational design and delivery. Undergraduate degree (equivalent of BA/BS) plus 17 years or Doctorate degree (equivalent of PhD) plus 15 years of previous relevant work experience may also be accepted.
- High level skills in stakeholder engagement including in a multilateral context.
- Articulate and possess strong advocacy and public speaking skills.
- Experience in resource management and effective leadership of teams.
- Computer literacy essential.
-       Superior policy drafting skills essential.
- Fluency in English (oral and written).

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES

- Organisational and external relations skills.
- Experience in establishing and maintaining broad partnership networks.
- Well-developed understanding of States' migration and visa programs.
- Knowledge of French language an asset. 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
M001L4 - Empowering and Building Trust 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
X008L4 - Stakeholder Management Level 4

Please note that the closing date for this vacancy is Thursday 25 January 2018, midnight Geneva time.