Field Officer

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.

Field Officer

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
The Field Officer is normally supervised by the Snr Field Coordinator or Head of Sub-Office/Field Office depending on the structure of the Office. S/he may receive indirect guidance from other sections and units relevant to the country/regional programme(s). UNHCR Manual, programme and protection objectives, Operations Plans, UN and UNHCR financial/budgetary rules and regulations will guide the work of the incumbent.

The incumbent normally supervises some support staff and may supervise lower grade professional staff. S/he has daily contacts with staff in the various field offices and with the functional units at the Country/Regional Office. S/he also has close liaison with a range of local civilian and military authorities and counterparts in NGOs and UN agencies to discuss matters of common interest.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT
Accountability
- UNHCR's operations in the area of responsibility (AoR) are designed to meet the needs of persons of concern.
- An effective monitoring system of the field operations is in place resulting in better service to the persons of concern.
- The protection needs of populations of concern are met through the application of International and National Law, relevant UN/UNHCR protection standards and IASC principles governing humanitarian coordination.
- Protection incidents and gaps in assistance are immediately identified and addressed.

Responsibility
- Prepare project proposals; draw up plan of operation for implementation, including institutional arrangements for budgets.
- Assess refugee needs in the various fields of assistance and make recommendations for the establishment of projects, adjustment or discontinuation of existing projects and advise the Head of Office accordingly.
- Closely monitor the implementation of projects under the geographical area of responsibility and ensure the provisions under the agreements signed with the implementing partners are being adhered to.
- Regularly prepare written reports on the implementation of projects and the situation in the sites.
- Maintain good working relations with local government officials, implementing partners and other agencies in the area.
- Report immediately on any security problems that may occur affecting programme, beneficiaries and the smooth running of the operation.
- Provide assistance to UNHCR Technical advisers and consultants as well as visitors visiting project sites.
- Undertake other relevant duties as required.

Authority
- Represent UNHCR in the Field. 
- Negotiate with local authority counterparts, partners and populations of concern.
- Approve expenditures within the DOAP.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
- Undergraduate degree (equivalent of a BA/BS) in Law, Political Sciences or related fields plus minimum 6 years of previous work experience relevant to the function. Graduate degree (equivalent of a Master¿s) plus 5 years or Doctorate degree (equivalent of a PhD) plus 4 years of previous relevant work experience may also be accepted.
- Field experience.
- Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.

***For National Officer positions, very good knowledge of local language and local institutions is essential.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES
- Computer skills.
- Knowledge of refugee law.
- Good knowledge of UNHCR's programmes.
- UNHCR Protection Learning Programme.
- UNHCR Operations Management Learning Programme.
- Knowledge of additional UN languages.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR Field Officer positions. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates. C001L3 - Accountability Level 3
C002L3 - Teamwork & Collaboration Level 3
C003L3 - Communication Level 3
C004L3 - Commitment to Continuous Learning Level 3
C005L3 - Client & Result Orientation Level 3
C006L3 - Organizational Awareness Level 3
M001L3 - Empowering and Building Trust Level 3
M002L3 - Managing Performance Level 3
M003L3 - Judgement and Decision Making Level 3
X001L3 - Analytical Thinking Level 3
X007L3 - Political Awareness Level 3
X008L3 - Stakeholder Management Level 3 <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
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For those people applying for High Risk Duty Stations, we strongly encourage colleagues to read the country specific security and welfare profiles which can be found on the Intranet under Support Services - Duty of Care (https://intranet.unhcr.org/en/support-services/duty-of-care.html). These profiles have been specifically designed to answer some of the key questions (on security conditions, medical provisions, staff welfare, living and working conditions) potential applicants might have before deciding to apply. Ensuring staff are better informed is part of the increased attention UNHCR is paying to Duty of Care. This project is still in the pilot phase, and as such some of the information leaflets are being produced as we speak and might not be available yet. They will be soon, so keep checking. 

The Field Officer in Zahle Sub-Office is supervised by the Senior Field Coordinator. S/he may receive indirect guidance from the Technical Unit (Shelter/ WASH) in BO Beirut. UNHCR¿s Shelter/ WASH strategies, country operational plan, programme and protection objectives, sector standard operating procedures and UNHCR financial/budgetary rules and regulations will guide the work of the field officer.
The Field Officer will normally supervise a team of; G6 Shelter Associate, P3 WASH Specialist (deployee), NOA Assistant WASH Officer and G6 Field Associate (WASH/Shelter). S/he has daily contact with staff in the various field offices and with the functional units at BO Beirut. S/he also has close liaison with a range of local civilian and military authorities and counterparts in NGOs and UN agencies to discuss matters of common interest.
The Field Officer will be responsible for managing Shelter and WASH activities for over 400,000 refugees in differing shelter contexts i.e. informal `camp like¿ settlements and residential/ non-residential sub-standard buildings. S/he has significant budgetary responsibility and guidance of 5 international/ local partners within the shelter & WASH sectors.
The Field Officer will be required to coordinate the shelter working group at the Bekaa level consisting of government counterparts, UN agencies and international & local NGOs. S/he shall also act as the emergency/ contingency planning focal point for the UNHCR Bekaa operation.
This post requires a candidate with good managerial and co-ordination skills. Experience in dealing with multiple crises is an asset. The ability to develop innovative and creative processes and solutions to operational challenges is necessary. Good information management skills is preferred. There are around one million Syrian refugees registered with UNHCR in Lebanon, which continues to be the highest refugee-hosting country per capita in the world. With no approved camps in the country, refugees are living in more than 2000 locations across the country. The Syrian refugee response is led by the Government and local actors, supported by the international community. As the designated lead agency in the refugee response, UNHCR has established a sector-based structure in Beirut and in the field. The structure brings together over 100 UN agencies, national and international NGO partners in identifying and agreeing on the strategic priorities to address the needs of Syrian refugees and other affected populations. The Lebanon national response falls under the Regional Refugee and Resilience Plan (3RP), whereby UNHCR guides the refugee response and UNDP facilitates the resilience and stabilization component.

The UNHCR operational response in Lebanon is one of the largest for the organisation, with a total budget of USD 463 million for 2018. Media and donor attention and the frequency of influential high-profile visitors are high. The Office currently has more than 600 staff located in Beirut, Zahle, Tripoli, Tyre, and Qobayat. Beirut, Mount Lebanon, Tripoli, Qobayyat and Zahle are classified as "B" family duty stations.  Tyr is classified as "C" family duty station.  All duty stations have education, health (private) and recreational facilities. The election of Michel Aoun as President in October 2016 ended a two and a half year political stalemate.  This, coupled with the removal of Extremist Armed Elements (mainly al-Nusra and ISIL) from the Eastern border area has resulted in an improvement to the general security environment in Lebanon.  The threat from Armed Conflict has dropped from High to Low and while the General Threat Assessment for Terrorism remains High, authorities have instigated joint preventative counter terrorism measures focused on tackling terrorism and organised crime networks in Lebanon. 

Terrorism
¿ There is a threat from terrorist attacks in Lebanon and these could occur at any time and any place, including areas frequented by large numbers of people such as malls or places of worship.  Lebanese authorities work to strengthen the inhibiting context with, amongst other things, highly visible security officials carrying out regular anti-terrorism operations across the country.  Terrorism attacks escalated from 2012 to 2014 with 44 incidents over the three year period.  Security authorities foiled various attacks in 2015 resulting in a reduction in the number of attacks to 9 with around 100 terrorism related arrests.  In 2016 there were only 4 attacks with the total number of terrorism related arrests reaching more than 535.  In 2017 there were no terrorist attacks and 560 terrorism related arrests.

Armed Conflict
¿ The security environment of Palestinian refugee camps is unpredictable and can deteriorate quickly leading to violent armed clashes.  Cross border incidents can occur, especially within 3-km of the border.  In some parts of the country (not generally frequented by UN personnel) unexploded ordnance poses a threat although de-mining activities are making progress. Civil Unrest
¿ There has been a decrease in the number of demonstrations over the last year.  While they can occur at short notice, most are planned with the vast majority being small and peaceful. 

Crime
¿ Remains at its lowest level since 2011 although there is still a risk from both petty and violent crime.  As part of the joint preventative counter-terrorist measures, security services have been focusing on organised crime.  Weapons remain easily accessible and personal disputes can sometimes quickly escalate into shooting incidents.  Celebratory gunfire used to be fairly common, although more recently authorities are prosecuting those who commit such acts, following a number of casualties from falling bullets.

Hazard
¿ Although Lebanon does lie in an earthquake zone it has not experienced any major tremors in recent years.  Preparedness has improved recently through the national emergency response.


Specific Information:
Zahle ¿ UNHCR has frequent field missions to Arsal.  Although the security conditions within Arsal town have improved recently, the outskirts remain heavily contaminated with mines.

Please note that the closing date for all vacancies in the Add.4 to March 2018 Compendium is Wednesday 5 Septembe 2018 (midnight Geneva time).