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>
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See below for this postion's Operational Context
======================================================================================================== The Representative provides managerial leadership and oversight to ensure UNHCR¿s effective performance in the country of her/his assignment.  The incumbent will report to the Director of the Bureau, in Geneva.

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. 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 a large governmental or international organizations.
¿ Strong diplomatic skills and political awareness to be able to tactfully navigate a highly sensitive and complex political context.
¿ Sound knowledge and protection experience.
¿ 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, UN organizations, diplomatic missions, civil society organizations, media, scholars and public-at-large.
¿ A high level skill in management of broad programmes, political decision making and negotiating, as well as demonstrated flexibility and tolerance to frequently changing and highly charged situations. ¿ Ability to work collaboratively with government counterparts and local authorities (Cities of Solidarity) to incorporate refugees in existing programs and/or formulate specific public policies to ensure that refugees fulfil their potential of local integration and self-reliance.
¿ Ability to build alliances with civil society organizations and the regional academic/research network and mobilize resources from the private sector to support the economic, social and cultural integration of refugees.
¿ Ability to come up with innovative and creative solutions to operational challenges.
¿ Considering the Situation in Venezuela, knowledge of mixed movements is an asset.
¿ 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.
¿ Ability to engage with senior government officials and broad range of stakeholders including civil society, faith based institutions, the private sector, etc.
¿ Experience in managing large scale humanitarian emergencies is an asset.
¿ 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. ¿ At the end of 2015, Peru officially reported 700 asylum seekers in total. They were 4,500 at the end of 2016 and became 36,000 at the end of 2017. The dramatic increase has been determined by the constantly growing influx of VEN nationals. In the beginning of 2018, the influx has continued unabated with an average of 800 new asylum applications per day registered by the Special Commission for Refugees (CEPR). By the end of June 2018 numbered over 125,000 (highest number of asylum seekers from Venezuelan in one single country worldwide). VEN nationals who are arriving in an increasingly vulnerable condition (SGBV, women heads of households, etc.). If this pace continues, Peru may have over 200,000 asylum seekers from Venezuela by the end of the year.

¿ The main entry point into Peru is now the northern border with Ecuador (Tumbes). A certain percentage of the VEN nationals arriving in Peru move onwards to reach Chile (in 2017 about 60,000 VEN nationals left Peru entering Chile from Tacna). The influx of VEN nationals from Ecuador continues unabated at the pace of approximately 1000/2000 per day. ¿ The authorities have reported that at the end of June 2018, the VEN nationals in Peru number in total approximately 350.000. The government estimates that the VEN nationals in Peru will number between 700,000 and 1M by the end of 2018. In addition to the possibility of applying for refugee status, Peru also offers other legal stay arragements (Temporary Residence Permit ¿ PTP) through which the legal status of over 33,000 VEN nationals has been already regularized.

¿ UNHCR established an initial presence in the country with a NOA in September 2017 which has been strengthened with the arrival of an international staff in January 2018. In early April, the L2 Emergency has been declared and an emergency team has been deployed.

¿ UNHCR is responding to the influx directly and in support to the Government of Peru (e.g. to the Special Commission for Refugees to deal with the asylum backlog and strengthen registration procedures) and through an inter-agency effort co-led together with IOM, and also working closely with the civil society (partners). The cooperation with IOM is being increasingly consolidated within the framework indicated by the Secretary General who has stated that the UN response to the VENSIT will be under the joint leadership/coordination of UNHCR and IOM. ¿ In addition to Lima, UNHCR is focusing on the entry and exit points (Tumbes and Tacna) while also attending to protection risks and needs along the routes from Tumbes to Lima (Piura and Trujillo) and from Lima to Tacna. UNHCR has already established a presence in Lima, Tumbes, and Tacna. The Office in Tumbes will be a UNHCR/IOM Office. Also in Tacna, UNHCR will offer the same arrangement to IOM

¿ The Representation in Peru will be directly reporting to the Director of the Bureau based in Geneva

¿ The Operation foresees in its latest organigramme .an Office with at least 15 international staff in regular positions, Lima is a modern city with a great variety of commercial, economic, cultural and industrial activities.

February is the hottest month in Lima with an average temperature of 24°C and the coldest is August at 17°

Possibility of renting private accommodation. This is a category ¿A¿ family duty station.

The Security Level for Lima is LOW.

The most frequent crimes nationwide are violent assaults in the streets, robberies in hotels, restaurants and malls. During the night, criminals attempt to break car windows at traffic stops to snatch whatever valuable; the route to Lima¿s Jorge Chavez International Airport is one of the selected targets.

Peru is a highly seismic country with the possibility of an earthquake at any time.

No vaccinations are required for travel to the country, but it is important to verify endemic areas. Related to the Zika virus, Peru has not presented local cases of the virus, but it is expected to appear in the upcoming months.

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