Head, Refugee Registration and Eligibility Services

Vacancy Announcement

Head, Refugee Registration and Eligibility Services, P-4

Amman, Jordan

Deadline for Applications

7 April 2018

(24 March 2018 for internal applicants)

Duration

2 years, with the possibility of further extension

Vacancy Announcement Number

18-HQ-AM-12

UNRWA is committed to achieving gender parity at all levels of staffing under the current UN-wide gender agenda and strongly encourages applications from qualified women.

UNRWA 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 highly committed professionals wishing to make a change.

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 passionate about making a lasting difference for Palestine refugees, this role will give you the opportunity to oversee and guide UNRWA’s refugee registration processes and systems and contribute to UNRWA’s data access and protection policies.

The main responsibilities include:

•        Supervising and guiding the overall functioning of the Refugee Registration Information System (RRIS);

•        Analyzing the content of refugee registration information on the RRIS with regards to its relevance to UNRWA Programmes and for external communication and advocacy purposes. Producing relevant reports accordingly and suggest improvements to registration policy and processes for improving information credibility as required;

•        Supporting the development of an information management policy and capacity building across the Agency for a better understanding of available information in light of data protection needs related to personally and demographically identifiable information as stored on the RRIS. Reviewing, proposing and implementing as far as possible data access and sharing options for refugees and third party users with regards to the RRIS; reviewing and directing the preparation of user requirements across the Agency in accessing RRIS information;

•        Reviewing, drafting, updating and contributing as applicable to policies, instructions and procedures pertaining to the refugee registration and eligibility services provided by the Relief and Social Services Department including in emergency contexts;

•        Overseeing and guiding the quarterly issuance of UNRWA’s Refugee Registration Statistical Bulletin and such other eligibility and registration periodic reports as may be generated;

•        Acting as the principal custodian and responsible for safe guarding the Agency’s registration records and digitally scanned documents of registered refugees/persons to ensure these are continuously up-to-date and valid for internal and external use, as necessary.

Conditions of service 

UNRWA offers an attractive compensation package including annual salary starting at $71,332 net tax free with post adjustment of 44.0% (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

Any publications made available will be reviewed and considered as an asset as applicable. A demonstrated high level of integrity, the ability to work in an independent and self-driven manner and commitment to the job is required.

To qualify for this position, you will need:

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) from an accredited educational institution in the field of demography, social statistics, social sciences, history, international law; 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

Eight years of experience in the fields of academic research, policy analysis, applied social sciences, refugee registration and/or demographic/ population data management, including two years of experience at international level outside your home country;

Experience in project and team management in a large organization including government services is considered an asset; Prior working experience in the Middle and/or Near East and knowledge of the political and socio-economic history and dynamics of the region is required;

Language(s)

Fluency in English; working knowledge of Arabic is an asset.

You will also need to demonstrate the following competencies:

•        Applying Technical Expertise

•        Formulating Strategies and Concepts

•        Creating and Innovating

•        Relating and Networking

•        Analyzing

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: 11 March 2018/LF