Senior Sector Coordinator (NFI)

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 Sector Coordinator (NFI)

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
The NFI Sector Coordinator will report directly to the Senior Operations Manager  and also will be a part of the Snr management team and represent UNHCR in the sector activities of NFIs with UNHT. S/he may receive indirect guidance from other sections of UNHT and units relevant to the country/regional programme(s). UNHCR Manual, programme and protection objectives, Operations Plans, Regional Response plans, UNCT/HT and UNHCR regional and country plans will guide the work of the incumbent.

The incumbent is expected to have daily contacts with actors in other UN agencies, UNHCR FOs in the country and the region, with the functional units at the country and Bureu. 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
- UNCT/UNHT operations response plan in the area of responsibility is designed and coordinated as a part of UNCT/UNHT operational plan to the response to the current situation.
- 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.
- A coherent and effective response in relation to Non Food Items (NFIs) is ensured by mobilizing groups of agencies, organizations and NGOs to respond in a strategic manner across all key activities.

Responsibility
- Lead the process of preparation of the sector project response plan and project proposals in close coordination with all actors of UNHT/UNCT.
- Prepare project proposals; draw up plan of operation for implementation, including institutional arrangements for budgets for the sector as needed according to the established guidelines and procedures for the sector.
- Assess needs in the various fields of assistance and make recommendations for the establishment of projects, adjustment or discontinuation of existing projects, in close coordination with Field Offices and all actors of the area of responsibilities.
- Establish and maintain appropriate coordination mechanisms in all activities related to distribution of assistance to the persons of concern.
- Ensure appropriate coordination with all partners (including national and international NGOs, UN, IOM and other international organizations), through establishment/maintenance of appropriate sectorial coordination mechanisms, including working groups at the national and, if necessary, local level.
- Secure commitments from partners in responding to assessing the needs and filling gaps, ensuring an appropriate distribution of responsibilities within the sectorial group, with clearly defined focal points for specific issues where necessary.
- Coordinate with national/local authorities, state institutions, local civil society and other relevant actors (e.g. peacekeeping forces) and ensure appropriate coordination and information exchange with them.
- Ensure that sectorial group participants are aware of relevant policy guidelines, technical standards related to contents of packages and distribution procedures.
- Ensure that responses are in line with existing policy guidance, technical standards, and relevant IASC principles.
- 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
- Chair meetings of the NFI Sector.
- Approve the final proposal on the sector plan activities in line with UNCT/UNHT strategy.
- Approve the core relief item strategy of UNHCR for endorsement by the Representative of UNHCR and and/or Headquarters.
- Negotiate with local authority counterparts, partners and populations of concern.
- Enforce compliance of staff and partners with global policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of Core Relief Items (CRIs).
- Clarify funding requirements, prioritization, and sector contributions for overall humanitarian funding considerations.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
- Graduate (Equivalent of Master's) degree in Economics, Business Administration, Logistics or related fields. Undergraduate (Equivalent of a BA/BS) degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the graduate degree.
- Field experience.
- Excellent knowledge of English and working knowledge of another UN language.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES
- Diverse field experience.
- Good IT skills including database management skills.
- Training on Cluster Coordination (Shelter Cluster Coordination training or Coordination and Leadership training).
- Applied knowledge in UNHCR programme management, Project formulation, its programme cycles and reporting standards.
- Previous exposure to cluster approach, preferably both at the global policy level and at field implementation approach.
- Expertise in planning, formulation, implementation, monitoring and reporting on humanitarian operations. 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
M005L3 - Leadership Level 3
M004L3 - Strategic Planning and Vision Level 3
M002L3 - Managing Performance Level 3
X001L3 - Analytical Thinking Level 3
X004L3 - Negotiation and Conflict Resolution 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 incumbent will lead NFIs working group, coordinating closely with the sector partners as well as the Syrian Arab Red Crescents (SARC). S/he will closely interact with SARC, UN sister agencies, partners and other stakeholders, and is expected to establish and maintain the coordination mechanism within the NFIs sector, to maximize the available resources to expand the NFIs outreach in the country, by means of avoiding duplication and ensuring cost effective use of available resources. 

The incumbent must have strong coordination skills and excellent organizational skills. S/he must ably build and maintain interface with communities of concern, partners as well as a broader network of stakeholders. The sector coordinator represents all the sector partners in all inter-sector coordination structures, thus strong coordination skills and prior experience in sector coordination are essential for the effective discharge of the functions of this post.  

Also, given the highly politicized operation context, the successful incumbent will have strong political sense, in addition to good knowledge of the local politics, culture and sensitivities, to uphold the humanitarian principles of neutrality and impartiality. 

In addition, inter-personal skills, and advanced written and oral communication ability are required. Demonstrated ability to deliver well in rural/urban IDP situations is highly desirable, and so is fluency in the Arabic language. Moreover, female applicants with fluency in the Arabic language will be given priority over other equally qualified applicants. This position was created in view of the need to strengthen the UNHCR¿s capacity in NFIs sector coordination in the IDP operation in Syria. While NFIs coordination is normally a part of the Shelter Sector coordination, in the Syrian complex context, which is characterized by numerous sensitivities and multiplicity of actors involved in distribution of NFIs, it was deemed necessary that NFIs coordination be handled as a sector on its own.

The incumbent will face multiple challenges, including: sensitive relationship with the authorities and partners; a fragile security situation; many logistical obstacles; limited access to field locations, limited independent or objective sources of information; and an overriding need to be perceived as impartial in all matters.

The NFI Sector Coordinator, reporting directly to and receiving guidance from the Representative, will supervises 1 national staff and is co-responsible for the IM unit attached to the sector together with the Shelter Sector. The NFI Sector Coordinator will travel to field locations and will support the NFI Sector Sub-national Working Groups and NFI Sector Focal Points based in the field locations responsible for operational coordination, in addition to inter-acting with other sector coordinators at Damascus level and with the WoS coordinator in the Whole-of-Syria (WoS) coordination framework. The present security situation in Syria also creates 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 deliver effectively in stressful situations.

Syria is officially a non-family duty station with a four-week R&R cycle and the security situation remains fragile.

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).