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Field Officer

Tapachula

  • Organization: UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
  • Location: Tapachula
  • Grade: Mid level - P-3, International Professional - Internationally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Civil Society and Local governance
    • Protection Officer (Refugee)
  • 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.

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 them – before deciding to apply- to read the country specific security and welfare country 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). Ensuring staff are better informed is part of the increased attention UNHCR is paying to Duty of Care.

 

Staff after having applied to High Risk Duty Stations will have access to country specific information webinars with Field Safety Section (FSS) and Staff Welfare Section (SWS) colleagues and provided with a tool to test their psychological preparedness for serving in High Risk Duty Stations. Applicants who applied for a position in a High Risk country will receive, after the deadline for applications has expired, a joint invitation from the Staff Welfare Section (SWS) and the Field Safety Section (FSS) to participate in these webinars. During the Webinars, latest updates on security and well-being will be provided, and FSS and SWS will address questions raised by participants. Applicants are highly encouraged to benefit, when applicable, from all measures as they provide most up-to-date security and well-being information helpful to assess staff’s readiness to serve in a High Risk Duty Station. A Staff Welfare Officer will also be available, if and when required, to discuss with interested applicants the results of the psychological preparedness tool as well as readiness for assignment in High Risk Duty Stations.

 

¿ Good negotiation skills to effectively interact with various government stakeholders, UN agencies, international and national NGOs.
¿ Good knowledge of UNHCR's programmes.
¿ Consensus teambuilding and cultural sensitivity needed as the team is diverse.
¿ On-the-job coaching and mentoring of national staff.
¿ Ability to devise with innovative and creative solutions to operational challenges.
¿ Flexibility and ability to work under pressure. Good time management skills.
¿ Excellent command of Spanish and English, written and spoken is essential.
¿ Previous experience in Latin America is highly desirable. Central Americans continue to cross Mexico¿s southern border in significant numbers to seek protection. Due to a lack of information, detention policies, the limited number of locations with COMAR presence as well as inadequate reception arrangements, many people with international protection needs attempt to make the dangerous journey north to the United States without making an asylum claim in Mexico. As progress has been achieved in building the asylum system and in improving reception arrangements, as well as in the provision of local integration opportunities, the number of claimants in Mexico has increased dramatically, requiring a comprehensive approach from the operation to ensure successful integration.
This increase is putting additional pressure on an already weak asylum system and assistance providers. The impact of the increasing number of claimants is most acutely felt in towns and cities close to the border with Guatemala. Authorities in southern Mexico report that public services are stretched by these arrivals and that this is feeding xenophobia. UNHCR estimates that violence against PoC is underreported, and generally goes unpunished. An increasing number of PoC have required relocation due to security risks in the southern states, especially transgender women. In Mexico, UNHCR is working with and supporting the government and other actors to build a stronger asylum and protection system that allows refugees to fully exercise their human rights, from the moment of entry into Mexico, to when a durable solution is found. To this end, the Operation in Mexico has prioritized actions aimed at ensuring access to the RSD procedure, which includes the dissemination, through different means, of information on access to asylum as well as measures to rapidly mobilise the needed support for persons of concern. . ¿ Tapachula is a small border city with adequate public services. Facilities such as supermarkets, cinemas and restaurants are available.
¿ Possibility of renting private accommodation.
¿ Adequate health facilities available locally.
¿ Although Tapachula is a family duty station, education facilities are available only in the local language and they are basic. Tapachula belongs to the Security Risk Management area 06, South East, with the current General Threat Level 2, LOW. There are no known direct threats to UNHCR, yet the UNHCR personnel may be affected indirectly by crime and civil unrest. The State Police indicated increase in crime rates in the period towards the end of 2018, due to active presence of organized crime, primarily MS-13 and MS-18 ¿maras¿. Reportedly, up to 70% of crime incidence is attributed to the foreigners originated from Central America. Most of crime incidents are assaults and robberies with the use of weapons. Kidnapping/abductions, including express kidnapping, are very rare incidents in Tapachula, and no cases registered in a 2018. The UNHCR personnel must remain security aware at all times, apply personal security measures and avoid movement after darkness. There is no curfew in Tapachula, yet the incidence at night hours is high.  While on road missions, exercise caution and always obtain Security Clearance through UNDSS COSNU, road travel at night is restricted. Large-scale public demonstrations, road blocks or strikes are quite common in Chiapas State. UNHCR personnel should avoid areas of civil unrest and plan field travel accordingly. Tapachula is located in a seismic area, which should be considered while selecting private residence.

Please note that the closing date for vacancies in the Addendum 4 is Thursday 28 February 2019 (midnight Geneva time)

This vacancy is now closed.
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