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Site Management Officer

Cox's Bazaar

  • Organization: UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
  • Location: Cox's Bazaar
  • Grade: Mid level - P-3, International Professional - Internationally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Managerial positions
  • Closing Date: Closed

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.

Site Management Officer

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The Site Management Officer supports UNHCR to ensure that camps are adequately coordinated and managed. The Site Management Officer liaises extensively with UNHCR technical sectors, field and protection units, Site Management Support (SMS) Partners, Site Management Sector and external technical sectors, Government representatives, etc. to ensure that services are provided in camps and that gaps are filled as well as to ensure refugee participation through camp governance.     

This includes the provision of active support, as applicable, to SMS Partners and to Government counterparts. Necessary skill set include facilitation, negotiation and conflict resolution skills, in which respect the principles of partnership and collaboration are essential. The incumbent is supervised by the Head of Office or a Senior Officer. S/he may supervise some support staff.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT

Accountability
- The needs of populations of concern are met through timely, appropriate, and coordinated action in camps.
- At camp level, effective coordination mechanisms and tools, including information management and camp monitoring, are established and maintained with stakeholders, including government counterparts, ensuring timely and effective provision of services.

Responsibility
- Ensure that SMS Partners conduct camp level coordination meetings, in line with the Principles of Partnership, making sure that participation is inclusive, consultative and results-oriented.
- Ensure the site management strategic documents are updated and that UNHCR Site Management Unit have capacity to respond to requests from ISCG and Site Management Sector.
- Establish strong working relationships with all internal and external stakeholders in order to facilitate effective collaboration and communication.
- Ensure that SMS Partners conduct Camp Monitoring of services and ensure that gaps are filled through camp level coordination or by the ISCG sectors through referrals to the Site Management Sector.
- Ensure that SMS Partners update camp level Emergency Response Plans as need be 
- Organize and/or Assist Site Management and/or training activities for stakeholders, including local partners and relevant authorities. If need be ensure that the logistical requirements of the capacity development initiatives are in place in terms of organising venues, developing the lists of participants and that the other relevant logistical and administrative requirements are met.
- Ensure that SMS partners share weekly reports with UNHCR Site Management and Field units.
- Ensure that all reporting requirements of the Site Management are delivered on timely basis.
- Support SMS partners and stakeholders on camp level participatory Governance.
- Coordinate with UNHCR Information management focal point to develop and update products such as Camp profiles, Camp directories, volunteer units mapping, infrastructure maps, etc.
- Coordinate closely with UNHCR Program Unit to follow up on PPAs and to provide inputs for reporting against indicators.
- Coordinate support staff.
- Perform other related duties as required.

Authority
- Represent the UNHCR in meetings with sectoral and external partners, authorities and other relevant                      interlocutors when needed.
- Liaise and negotiate with local authority counterparts, partners and populations of concern.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
- Undergraduate degree (equivalent of a BA/BS) in Law, Political Science, Economics, International Relations, Business Administration, Social Science or related fields plus minimum 6 years of relevant experience in different international organizations (e.g. UN agencies, INGOs, IOs, Donors, Red Cross Red Crescent).
- Work experience in the Region would be an advantage. 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.
- Knowledge of CCCM and/or site management and protection technical guidelines and standards.
- Excellent knowledge of English.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES
- Applied knowledge in UNHCR mandate, its policies and priorities in relation to Camp Management and Camp Coordination (CCCM).
- Demonstrated expertise in program management and reporting requirements.
- Knowledge of additional UN languages. 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
M003L3 - Judgement and Decision Making Level 3
X001L3 - Analytical Thinking Level 3
X005L3 - Planning and Organizing 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 contextual environment remains challenging. The Cox¿s Bazar office covers not only the largest refugee camp in the world in Kutupalong but also the Nayapara and Charkmarkul camps. UNHCR and Partners are faced with the challenge to provide essential services while at the same time working on disaster risk reduction to mitigate impact of cyclones and monsoon rains.  It is preferred that the candidate has experience of emergency operations as well experience of working in contexts where Disaster Risk Reduction is a significant part of operation. 

At the same time, the Operation is transitioning from the emergency phase to the pursuit of mid-term solutions, where site / camp management will increasingly become analogous to city management, with all of its services and governance structures. Following militant attacks against security posts on 25 August 2017, Myanmar launched a brutal crackdown on Rohingya residents of Rakhine State, triggering the largest, swiftest refugee exodus in the region in decades, with over 720,000 fleeing across the border. A level 3 emergency remains in effect.

Prior to the current emergency, an estimated 300,000 Rohingya refugees were present in Cox¿s Bazar. Today, over 900,000 have sought safety in official and makeshift camps. Of those, 620,000 live in the congested Kutupalong mega camp, the largest in the world with high risks of flooding and landslides. In response, UNHCR is implementing large-scale disaster risk reduction projects and the relocation of at-risk persons, while transitioning to mid-term site planning and development. Concurrently, UNHCR is addressing strains on host communities through investments in livelihoods and infrastructure.

The Rohingya are diverse and resilient, but with acute protection needs. Restricted movement and scarcity of available land in Bangladesh results in overcrowded sites with a range of risks. Protection and gender mainstreaming are thus key, with focus on community-based empowerment and resilience. Targeted interventions are needed to address widespread trauma, legal and physical needs, GBV, and child protection.

The operation requires strong interagency coordination in a complex, politically charged environment. UNHCR is uniquely situated in Bangladesh, where the government has given IOM a lead role within a coordination structure distinct from a traditional Refugee Coordination Model. UNHCR works closely with local officials and the RRRC in Cox¿s Bazar, but Dhaka-level ministries and taskforces exert strong influence. Additionally, UNHCR manages engagement of nearly 100 international and national NGOs, a division of the Bangladesh military, and several battalions of border guards. The Office also spends considerable time on representational, external relations, and PI work. Cox¿s Bazar is a category ¿D,¿ family duty station with a 2-year of SAL.  Educational facilities are limited, and international schools from primary to secondary school are currently only available in Dhaka. Health services are limited, but better medical services are available in Dhaka/Bangkok. Malaria and dengue risks exist throughout the year.  Vaccination against Japanese Encephalitis and diphtheria are required.

Cox¿s Bazar is the principle tourist destination in Bangladesh, with the longest beach in the world stretching over 120km to the tip of the peninsula, with dramatic scenery and a number of high quality hotels and restaurants. Leisure and recreational facilities generally focus on beach activities (surfing, jet ski, etc.) and hotel-based activities (swimming pools, gyms, restaurant, and bars). Infrastructure and shopping options in Cox's Bazar -- a small city of just 250,000 persons -- are relatively limited, however.

Cox¿s Bazar is a comfortable duty station, but the workload in the L3 emergency setting is heavy, with staff regularly working long hours and often under stressful conditions.  The R&R cycle is every 8 weeks. There are domestic flights available from/to Dhaka on a daily basis during daylight hours. Banks/ATM machines are available in Cox's Bazar and credit/debit cards are accepted. Foreign currency can be exchanged easily in banks and exchange houses. UNHCR staff members who upon assignment to Bangladesh opt not to install their family (i.e. eligible dependents) in Cox¿s Bazar may be compensated for maintaining two households through a `living allowance¿.  For more details, please refer to the Administrative Instruction on Exceptional Administrative Measures for the Bangladesh Emergency operation UNHCR/AI/2017/10.¿ The security level system in Bangladesh is level 3 moderate.  Although security is generally acceptable, given the current situation in the area, no movement on highways at night is allowed.  Walking and jogging on the streets as earmarked is permitted.  Staff members may avail rickshaws and taxis within Cox¿s Bazar city only.  Crowded local markets should be avoided.

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).

This vacancy is now closed.
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