Senior Field Coordinator

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.

Senior Field Coordinator

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

The Senior Field Coordinator is normally supervised by the Head of Sub-Office or Representative or Deputy/Assistant Representative 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 Senior Field Coordinator. S/he is expected to stay abreast of the challenges posed to the country/region by the political context, the UN and humanitarian reform and institutional developments.

The incumbent normally supervises some professional and support 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.
- The AOR has a clear and coherent protection strategy and incorporates a thorough age, gender and diversity (AGD) analysis and reflects the Organization's global, regional and country level priorities.
- The Participation of persons of concern is assured through continuous assessment and evaluation using participatory, rights and community based approaches.
- Protection incidents and gaps in assistance are immediately identified and addressed.

Responsibility

- Coordinate and supervise the field activities in the areas of protection and programme in the AoR.
- Stay abreast of political, social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on the protection environment and provide advice to the Head of Sub-Office/Representative.
- Maintain relations with local Government Officials at a senior level, as well as with UN agencies, NGOs and other parties operating in the area, in order to promote UNHCR objectives.
- Ensure through direct action and advocacy with senior management that the necessary resources are allocated to address protection and operational gaps.
- Build the capacity of local partners and civil society through training and other initiatives to protect persons of concern.
- Develop and coordinate capacity-building initiatives for communities and persons of concern to assert their rights.
- Ensure through direct action and advocacy with senior management that the necessary resources are allocated to address protection and operational gaps.
- Through a wide network of external contacts and through studying field reports, regularly analyse the operational context, early warning signs and the protection situation of returnees/refugees and other persons of concern to UNHCR.
- Prepare analytic papers and formulate recommendations for action for the Office.
- Liaise with local Government authorities and operational partners on issues relating to the protection and assistance of returnees/refugees and other persons of concern. 
- Supervise and monitor the implementation of UNHCR projects; provide protection for persons of concern to UNHCR by ensuring the observance by the local authorities of the recognized principles of refugee, humanitarian and Human Rights law.  Intervene promptly with the authorities in the event of any action or measure detrimental to returnees/refugees and other persons of concern if/when necessary.
- Maintain close contact with UNHCR Field Offices that may have been established on both sides of the border.
- Undertake other relevant duties as required.

Authority

- Represent UNHCR in the Field. 
- Negotiate with local authority counterparts, partners and populations of concern.
- Enforce compliance with, and integrity of, all protection and assistance standard operating procedures.
- Approve expenditures within the DOAP.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

- Graduate degree (equivalent of a Master's) in Law, Political Sciences or related fields plus minimum 8 years of previous work experience relevant to the function. Undergraduate degree (equivalent of a BA/BS) plus 9 years or Doctorate degree (equivalent of a PhD) plus 7 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 Senior Field Coordinator 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
M006L3 - Managing Resources Level 3
M005L3 - Leadership Level 3
M003L3 - Judgement and Decision Making Level 3
M004L3 - Strategic Planning and Vision Level 3
X007L3 - Political Awareness Level 3
X001L3 - Analytical Thinking 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 Senior Field Coordinator position has been created considering the scaling up of SO response to the IDPs and Iraqi refugee crisis and anticipated returns in Syria. The Senior Field Coordinator, will perform the duties and functions of this position, and supervise staff accordingly. S/he will be expected to coordinate activities in his/her respective areas of responsibilities, in particular the shelter and NFIs sectors in which UNHCR takes a lead. At present UNHCR¿s response to IDPs and refugees crisis includes the activities in sectors of protection / community services, shelter, NFI (CRIs), health, livelihood and education. S/He may be requested to perform duties of the Area Security Coordinator and act as OiC. The incumbent is also expected to ensure and promote a smooth and efficient camp coordination at managerial and sectorial level, produce regular reporting on field activities and keep the Head of Sub Office updated and timely informed on main and critical developments happening in the in Camps; be part of Multifunctional Team (MFT) and ensure an active participation of Field Team in MFT; promote and ensure a good and regular coordination between the Field Unit and the other functional units at SO, Partners and Operational Partners. UNHCR is currently leading coordination both in Refugee camps, (Newroz, Roj, Hol ) and IDPs camp (Areesha, Ain Isssa, and Mabruka), including weekly or monthly working groups. 

The incumbent will face multiple challenges, including: sensitive relationships with local authorities of Kurdish Self-administration and Syrian government and partners as well; security situation; increased logistical obstacles; few independent or objective sources of information; and an overriding need to be perceived as impartial in all matters. S/he will be expected to participate in Inter- agency humanitarian convoys, redline convoys and conduct regular field visits to newly accessible areas and sometimes in the hard-to-reach areas. Well-rounded and experienced field profiles are therefore critical. Prior experience with IDPs and refugees and return operations will be important along with work with urban caseloads and a protection background. The incumbent should have previous experience in locations where security is volatile and be prepared to take on security management responsibilities.

The incumbent should be proactive by nature and able to implement successfully under adverse security conditions. S/he should have demonstrated socio-political awareness and be able to deal effectively with both self-administration authorities, regional governmental authorities and national partners. S/he must have good interpersonal skills to be able to motivate and train teams of national staff with varying degrees of experience with UNHCR. Field monitoring, analysis and reporting are integral to all of these activities; effective written and oral communication ability are required.

The Senior Field Coordinator reports directly to the Head of Sub Office Qamishli. The Senior Field Coordinator will be based in Sub Office Qamishli. Sub Office Qamishli (SOQ) in North East Syria is operating in a very complex context in three governorates, Hassakeh, Raqqa and Deir Ezour. Large part of them are currently under the control of Kurdish led forces. In the area covered by SO Quamishli there are six camps (Menbij, Ain Issa, Karame, Mabrouka, Al Hol, Abu Khashab, Areesha) hosting some 50,000 refugees, asylum seekers and IDPs. Camps were established or reopened in the last two years as part of the ongoing emergency response to the displacement generated by offensives against ISIS in Iraq and within Syria, where the crisis resulted in destruction of infrastructure, private properties, public facilities such water pumping stations, government buildings, electricity lines, schools, hospitals etc.

UNHCR is directly responsible to provide NFI and shelter, ensure that new arrivals in camps are identified and assisted as wells as departures registered;  support the camp coordination and the delivery of humanitarian assistance in close coordination with other UN agencies and NGOs. UNHCR leads the CCCM, despite the fact that the cluster system is not activated. A main operational challenge of SOQ is the lack of camp management agencies in most of the camps, which increases the workload on UNHCR field team that is forced to deal with the day-to-day problems of camps scattered in a vast geographical area.

In addition to work in camps, UNHCR is providing a consistent  protection support to IDPs living in urban areas through multi-service community centers run by national NGOs. Persons with special needs are primarily targeted, support also includes livelihood activities. The present situation in Syria is unstable and uncertain. This creates on-going pressures at work and in daily life as priorities are frequently upended for other urgent ad hoc tasks. The incumbent should be prepared to work under such conditions and be able to manage stressful situations.

As of 12 February 2012 Syria is officially a non-family duty station with a 4-week R&R cycle.

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).