Representative

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.

Representative

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
As the High Commissioner's senior representative in the country, the Representative provides managerial leadership and oversight to ensure UNHCR's effective performance in the country of her/his assignment. The incumbent usually manages a budget of USD 6 million and above.

Reporting to the Director of the Bureau, the Representative is responsible and accountable for translating organizational and Bureau-wide objectives and policies into effective programmes. Through a continuous process of situational analysis, the Representative works with his/her team to identify strategic objectives and develop coherent, consistent and effective responses to the challenges faced.  He/she is responsible for ensuring the adequate provision of technical support and guidance to the office to enable them to fulfil their accountabilities, including those outlined in the Terms of Reference of UNHCR offices as well as the Age, Gender and Diversity Accountability Framework. 

The Representative works to ensure that UNHCR is widely perceived as an effective and trusted partner. S/he is responsible for creating effective networks, relationships, partnerships, and synergies with governments, NGOs, relevant regional political and other fora, civil society, persons of concern and all other key strategic partners and actors. He/she lends visibility to important strategic issues, promotes concerted action and the commitment of sufficient resources and expertise to address important matters of concern to UNHCR.

In a complex and demanding political and operational environment, the Representative strives to build a dynamic and sufficiently capacitated team. S/he devolves appropriate authorities, facilitates the sharing of expertise and best practice and creates a climate of collaboration, which aims to empower and motivate colleagues to approach challenges with insight and innovation and to work toward achieving measurable and effective results. S/he has a responsibility to inform the Bureau and other relevant parties at Headquarters of key political and operational developments in a timely manner.

The comports and actions of the Representative must at all times reflect the core values and principles embodied in UNHCR's mandate. A failure on the part of the Representative to adhere to these standards would have negative implications for UNHCR's credibility, operations and, ultimately, the protection and well-being of persons of concern to the Office.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT
Accountability
- UNHCR has a clearly articulated country strategy to protect and find solutions for persons of concern.
- The protection framework in the country ensure availability and quality of asylum, operating systems and search for durable solutions for all categories of persons of concern.
- UNHCR is fully integrated into the UN Resident Coordinator System.
- UNHCR's policies and standards are applied consistently within the country operation to ensure quality protection for populations of concern.
- Resources are commensurate with operational objective and are allocated and managed effectively to meet the country/regional operation's objectives.
- UNHCR provides a healthy, safe and respectful working environment for its workforce in the country.

Responsibility
Strategic Direction
- Stay abreast of the challenges posed by the local political context.
- Manage a consultative process within the country operations and with external partners.
- Develop and implement a comprehensive communications strategy that generates political and financial support for UNHCR's operations. Mobilize financial support for UNHCR corporate priorities as well for country specific projects.

Operations
- Implement a results-oriented approach for assessing, designing and delivering the country operation.
- Ensure that the protection strategy is fully integrated into the country operations plan and that necessary resources are allocated to it.
- Ensure the country operation's adherence to UNHCR's policy on Age, Gender and Diversity Mainstreaming (AGDM).
- Ensure the country operation plans are consistent with the regional and global strategic priorities; manage a participatory process, with all stakeholders, to apply UNHCR's standards and indicators in assessing and measuring the performance of the country operations.
- Promote accession to the Convention and Protocol, and ensure the application of protection standards in the treatment of all persons of concern especially women and children.
- Ensure all persons of concern, especially women and children, have access to relevant information; ensure that cases of sexual violence and abuse against girls and boys are reported and dealt with expeditiously.
- Ensure the engagement of UNHCR in the UNCT, UN common programming, planning and funding activities and to actively contribute in the establishment of the CCA/UNDAF and the consequent joint implementation activities.
- Participate in the Cluster approach, ensure UNHCR's Cluster Lead role and implement other IASC and inter-agency/UN policies.
- Ensure that risks to the operation¿s objectives are regularly assessed, priority risks are identified and risk treatments for the priority risks form an integral part of the operations plans.

Resource Management
- Ensure that staff and financial resources are commensurate with operational objectives.
- Ensure effective and efficient management of resources within the rules and procedures of UNHCR.
- Establish and manage local administrative mechanisms such as a Local Contracts (or Purchasing) Committee, Local Asset Management Board and APPC.
- Ensure local compliance with UNHCR's human resources (HR) policies including on gender, disabilities, diversity, ethics and HIV/AIDS.
- Manage a process of recruitment, assignment and reassignment of local staff for the country operation, in accordance UN/UNHCR rules and procedures.
- Where necessary, identify the most appropriate affiliate workforce and optimize its use.
- In coordination with the Global Learning Centre, ensure that the learning needs of UNHCR's workforce in the country are identified, assessed and addressed.
- Exercise effective managerial oversight, direction, guidance and support and conduct regular performance appraisals and coaching.

Security
- In close collaboration with the Designated Official (DO), UNDSS and UN country team/Security Management Team (SMT), gather and analyse information on the local security situation and play an active role in the inter-agency security and contingency planning processes.
- Ensure that appropriate security measures are in place to protect staff, and that the country operation complies with UN  MOSS/MORSS staff security rules, guidelines and procedures.

Authority
- Represent UNHCR in the UNCT/Humanitarian Country Team and other inter-agency fora.
- Decide on the country strategy and priorities, country operations plans, and approve the country operation's protection strategy.
- Enforce local compliance with UNHCR's global protection, programme, finance and human resources and security policies and standards.
- Negotiate and sign local agreements with implementing and operational partners.
- Authorize payments as per the organization's Delegation of Authority Plan (DOAP) and in accordance with UN/UNHCR rules and procedures.
- Modify operational projects and reallocate funds, within the approved budgets and in respect of donor earmarking.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
- Graduate (equivalent of a Master's) degree in Political Science, Social Science, International Relations, Law, Business Administration, Human Resources Management, and/or other relevant fields plus minimum 16 years of relevant job experience at professional level, with more than 10 years in international capacity. Senior positions in a large governmental or international agency.  Undergraduate degree (equivalent of a BA/BS) plus 17 years or Doctorate degree (equivalent of a PhD) plus 15 years of previous relevant work experience may also be accepted.
- Extensive knowledge of UNHCR operations and services.
- A high level of skill in management of broad programmes, political decision making and negotiating, as well as demonstrated tolerance to frequently changing and highly charged situations.
- Ability to lead strategic planning, change processes, results-based management and reporting.
- Ability to lead formulation, oversight of implementation, monitoring and evaluation of operations.
- Ability to manage for results: translates strategic aims into achievable plans, with established priorities, monitors them, making periodic adjustments as required.
- Ability to effectively represent UNHCR at the senior level in internal and external meetings and to build strong relationships with clients.
- Excellent knowledge of English with working knowledge of another relevant UN language. 

(In offices where the working language is not English, excellent knowledge of UN working language of duty station and working knowledge of English.)

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES
- Completion of UNHCR training programmes, such us Protection Learning Programme, Operations Management Learning Programme.
- Knowledge of geo-political realities and their socio-cultural implications. 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
X004L4 - Negotiation and Conflict Resolution Level 4
X001L4 - Analytical Thinking Level 4
X007L4 - Political Awareness Level 4 <p>The UNHCR workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages and opinions. UNHCR seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.</p>
========================================================================================================
See below for this postion's Operational Context
======================================================================================================== The incumbent for this position requires solid experience in interacting with UN agencies but mainly with high level national authorities to implement the protection and solutions strategies in the whole operation, in a fragile security environment, especially along the Northern border where refugees live in both rural and urban areas and now with increasing mass arrivals of Venezuelans who are either transiting Ecuador or remaining in the country (23%).
The incumbent will lead a team of 57 staff and 30 UNOPS, 4 international UNVs plus secondments, posted in 6 offices (one Branch Office, four Field Offices and two Field Units) who need to be coached and mentored. The incumbent¿s ability to deal with politically delicate situations and emergencies is important in the context of Ecuador.
Donor interest in the Ecuador operation has been going down with the peace process in Colombia but it has recently picked up due to the challenges in the implementation of the peace agreement and with the massive arrival of Venezuelans.  Ability to raise funds,cultivate donor relations and exercise effective oversight regarding the use of resources are essential for this position. Through a continuous process of situational analysis, the Representative works with his/her team to identify strategic objectives and develop coherent, consistent and effective strategic and operational responses to the challenges faced.  He/she is responsible for ensuring the adequate provision of technical support and guidance to the Office to enable them to fulfil their accountabilities, including those outlined in the Terms of Reference of UNHCR Offices as well as the age, gender and diversity accountability framework.  Under the current circumstances, the Representative will lead the operational emergency response to the increasing number of Venezuelan mixed flows arriving in the country, involving both persons in need of international refugee protection and migrants, while at the same time continuing to give visibility to the Colombia Situation, namely, increasing asylum seekers from Colombia and the precarious security situation in the Northern Border with Colombia.

The conduct and actions of the Representative must at all times reflect the core values and principles embodied in UNHCR¿s mandate. A failure on the part of the Representative to adhere to these standards would have negative implications for UNHCR¿s credibility, operations and, ultimately, the protection and well-being of persons of concern to the Office. ¿ The incumbent must have experience in senior positions in large governmental or international organizations.
¿ Extensive knowledge of UNHCR¿s mandate, operations and services.
¿ Solid knowledge of and protection experience is essential.
¿ Strong diplomatic skills and political awareness to be able to navigate a highly sensitive and complex political environment.
¿ Demonstrated experience in lobbying and advocacy with Governments. Excellent high level of diplomacy and negotiation skills to navigate complex inter-agency contexts and ability promote and maintain relations and partnership with a wide variety of stakeholders including government, UN organizations, diplomatic missions, civil society organizations, media, private sector, civil society, academia, multilateral organizations, and persons of concern to the Office, scholars and public-at-large. Ability to engage with senior government officials and broad range of stakeholders including civil society, faith based institutions, the private sector, etc.

¿ A high level skill in management of broad programmes, political decision making and negotiating, as well as demonstrated flexibility, creativity and adaptability to frequently changing and highly charged situations. ¿ Considering the Situation in Venezuela, knowledge of mixed movements is an asset.
¿ Ability to come up with innovative and creative solutions to operational challenges.
¿ Strong presentation and public speaking skills and demonstrated experience in representing an organization in the public sphere including through public speaking engagements, the press, television, facebook live, radio etc.
¿ Experience managing humanitarian emergencies are clear asset.
¿ Excellent managerial skills. Ability to lead, motivate and manage a team and foster good team spirit to achieve collective outcomes.
¿ Excellent command of the Spanish language, both written and spoken, is needed in order to interact with several levels of authorities, civil society and with persons of concern.  Excellent English skills are also needed to prepare reports for Headquarters. Ecuador has the largest recognised refugee population in Latin America, mostly fleeing the internal armed conflict in Colombia, but also increasing arrivals of Venezuelans in need of international protection. Government figures, by end of July 2018,, show that there are some 63,000 individually recognized refugees. Since 1989, more than 250,000 have requested asylum in Ecuador. Over 7,000 Venezuelan nationals had  requested refugee status between 2016 and July 2018.
Approximately, 70% of the population of concern lives in urban areas, while 30% live in rural areas, near the border of Colombia in isolated and under-developed areas. About 23% of the population is comprised of children and adolescents. The  Currently, Venezuelans are the first nationality of asylum, while Colombians represent 41% of asylum claims despite increasing numbers. By 31 July, an average of 1,211 people requested asylum, a considerable increase from some 500 during 2018. Ecuador is a State Party to the 1951 Geneva Convention relating to the Status of Refugees (since 1955); the 1967 Protocol to the 1951 Geneva Convention (since 1969); and the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons (since 1970); among other key human rights instruments. In 2012, it ratified the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.  In 2017, Ecuador adopted the Human Mobility Law which is largely in line with international refugee protection standards. UNHCR Ecuador is one of the countries piloting the Multi-Year Multi-Partner Protection and Solutions Strategy. UNHCR Ecuador¿s operational vision for the next three years (2018-2020) is that with the support of UNHCR, civil society, communities and other actors, the Ecuadorean State ensures that people of concern to UNHCR live increasingly safe and secure lives in their communities and progressively attain durable solutions, including access to rights (economic and social integration and truth, reparation, and justice), applying a community-based protection and AGD sensitive approach.
Despite the initially encouraging context in Colombia following the peace agreement between the government and the FARC, asylum seekers continue to arrive in Ecuador due to increased violence by illegal armed actors in areas formerly under the control of FARC. Violence in Colombia has spilled over ¿ and there have been bombings, attacks on the military, kidnappings, the killing of five kidnapped people and, for the first time, internal displacement (some 600  people, many of them indigenous). Ecuador is a main transit country but also a country of destination for Venezuelans.  The number of Venezuelans arriving in Ecuador in 2018 had reached over 540,000 by  end of July, a dramatic increase from the 288,005 who arrived in 2017. An average of 2,500 to 3,000 men, women and children have crossed the Colombian border into Ecuador per day over the past months. Peaks saw up to 5,000 daily arrivals, overwhelming the capacities of immigration authorities and forcing Venezuelans to wait in long queues, at times for up to two days, in border crossings which were not planned to receive such numbers ¿ shelter, water and sanitation were also largely insufficient.. Many Venezuelans  are travelling for days, even weeks, often on foot, and arrive in Ecuador with serious medical and humanitarian needs after facing precarious conditions along the main routes (e.g. at bus terminals and impromptu shelters). Many lack resources to continue their journey, and some resort to begging and sleeping in open spaces, and with severe needs on the way.  Although Ecuador has provided residence permits for some 90,000 Venezuelans since 2014, at least an equal number are in an irregular situation or at risk of being in an irregular irregular situation. For many, it is impossible to regularise their stay as they lack the required documents ¿ which are not being issued by Venezuela (e.g. passports). This increases the risk of trafficking and labour and sexual exploitation problems, and forces many Venezuelans to work informally. Working for lower wages than those given to nationals has increased competition and is creating xenophobic reactions from sectors of the population. In addition, an increasing number (20%) of people with specific protection needs are being identified at the borders (including children at risk, women at risk, single parents or caregivers, persons with disabilities) in urgent need of assistance. Women and girls represent 41% of the Venezuelans arriving in Ecuador. With limited access to migratory alternatives and livelihoods opportunities, Venezuelan women are exposed to serious SGBV risks, in particular survival sex and trafficking. In an environment with limited information to new arrivals, only 7,000 have requested asylum so far, while an estimated 70% of Venezuelans in Ecuador have international protection needs, based on extensive protection monitoring by UNHCR. Local services are very good (Quito is an A Duty Station). 
Quito is located 2,800 meters above sea level.  The weather is consistent with that of a subtropical highland climate. The city has a constant cool climate due to its elevation and proximity to the equator. Most of Ecuador is under general security level 2-LOW (SLS 2)   while the level of hazards is MODERATE or SUBSTANTIAL mainly due to the earthquakes and road traffic accidents. The Ecuador side of the Colombian border, the Province of Sucumbios and North Esmeraldas, are SLS 3 (MODERATE) areas.
Quito is rated as an ¿A¿ category family duty station and at SLS 2.  Similar to most other Latin American countries, the most frequent criminal activities in Quito are petty crime in streets and public places; residence break-ins; vehicle theft (often armed); smuggling; homicides; momentary kidnapping; and intimidation/extortion. In addition to the aforementioned, Escopalamine (the ¿rape drug¿) poisoning (intoxication), a substance used by criminals on occasion to render victims compliant in order to steal valuables, is also a concern; the method is used to gain access to residences or conduct momentary kidnappings. An increased police presence in the last two years since 2013 has been effective in reducing reported crime rates in the city (and also countrywide). It is essential that the incumbent have a deep knowledge of politics and operations in Latin America, particularly with regard to the Colombian Situation, and possesses strong political vision, diplomatic and negotiation skills.

Please note that the closing date for all vacancies in this Flash Vacancy is Thursday 23 August 2018 (midnight Geneva time).