Chief Of Staff

Org. Setting and Reporting

Due to the promotion of the current incumbent, the position of Chief of Staff has become available.

At a time when there might be new dynamics in the region and a renewed global attention to it, this is a great opportunity to be part of UNRWA and serve the Palestine refugee community. The Chief of Staff has a unique role as the interface between the Executive Office and the staff at large, including the Management committee, and is expected to contribute strategies and guidance and ensure the Agency continues to modernize and deliver on its mandate.

Under the leadership of the Commissioner-General of UNRWA, the Chief of Staff is responsible for providing leadership in coordinating all aspects of UNRWA’s overall management and serving as a trusted advisor to the Commissioner-General (CG) and Deputy Commissioner-General (DCG).

This key position requires outstanding leadership, strategic visioning, and competencies to engage with key internal and external stakeholders to ensure the effective and efficient delivery of UNRWA’s mandate.

Responsibilities

- Provides strategic leadership in executive planning, formulation and coordination of all aspects of UNRWA’s management including engagement in change management initiatives and leading special CG/DCG-initiated projects.

- Coordinates and oversees projects directly involving the CG/DCG on budgeting, strategic planning and executive reporting, ensuring alignment among multiple stakeholders.

- Ensures active and open communication to and from the CG/DCG on decisions concerning operational issues upon which the senior management team may need CG’s guidance and/or decision.

- Brings to the CG’s attention critical issues requiring intervention and decisions; supports CG/DCG in leading specific Headquarter and field interface and Agency-wide emergency response taskforces and working groups.

- Serves as UNRWA’s focal point for initiative protecting the neutrality of the Agency and coordinates UNRWA’s ongoing efforts to ensure compliance with essential humanitarian operational principles in the workforce including timely management of infringements.

- Serves as the Commissioner General’s focal point for all Agency initiatives related to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) and Sexual Harassment (SH) and provides programmatic expertise and support to promote a healthy working environment free from SEA and SH.

Competencies

- Communications. Highly-developed communications skills both in writing and orally, outstanding interpersonal skills including in sharing information with a diverse team of staff and stakeholders.

- Judgment/Planning. develops clear project goals consistent with CG strategies; prioritizes and adjusts as needed; foresees risk and allows for contingencies; monitors and follows up on pending aspects and conveys enthusiasm about future possibilities.

- Leadership. Acts as positive leadership role model, motivates, directs and inspires staff to succeed, utilizing appropriate leadership styles and collaborates with various stakeholders across different levels in Field operations, HQ and UN common system.

- Building Trust. Treats all individuals with respect; responds sensitively to differences and encourages others to do the same. Upholds organizational and ethical norms. Maintains high standards of trustworthiness. Role model for diversity and inclusion in all areas of UNRWA’s work.

- Teamwork. Solicits input from colleagues and genuinely values ideas and expertise of others; successfully navigates issues and colleagues within varying degrees of ambiguity in a fast-paced environment and drives for change and improvements.

- Strong strategic/financial analysis skills; Supports senior-level colleagues in managing their budgets and works closely with Directors of Finance and Planning in the annual and quarterly budgetary processes.

For guidance on how to prepare for competency-based interviews: https://careers.un.org/lbw/home.aspx?viewtype=AYI

Education

An advanced university degree from an accredited educational institution in political science, international relations, international economics, law, public administration, or related field.

Work Experience

At least 15 years of progressively responsible experience in areas such as political, social, civil, humanitarian, or legal affairs; public or business administration; public sector policy roles.
Proven track record and international exposure in senior leadership and management functions, including coordination of interdisciplinary teams as well as in dealing from/or with a UN entity.
Experience serving in an advisory or managerial capacity in United Nations field operations and particularly in the Middle Eastern context.
A minimum of 2 continuous years of relevant international experience outside UNRWA, and outside the country(s) of which the candidate is a national or holds citizenship, a passport or a national identity number.
Experience in both inter-Agency and operational planning and analysis in the Near East and/or with refugee or other vulnerable groups in humanitarian situations. (desirable)

Languages

- Excellent command of written and spoken English.

- Knowledge of Arabic language and of another UN official language is desirable.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice

Type of Contract and Duration: 2 years, with the possibility of further extension.

The Chief of Staff will be required to travel throughout the Agency's area of operations in the Middle East.

UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions from UN member states, regional bodies, business foundations and individual contributions. The mission of UNRWA is to help Palestine refugees achieve their full potential in human development under the difficult circumstances in which they live.

For more details on UNRWA, please visit: https://www.unrwa.org/

United Nations Considerations

Staff members are subject to the authority of the Commissioner-General of UNRWA and to assignment by him or her.

UNRWA is committed to achieving gender parity at all levels of staffing under the current UN-wide gender agenda and strongly encourages applications from qualified applicants from under-represented groups.

At UNRWA, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. UNRWA is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

UNRWA Considerations
UNRWA staff are expected to uphold the highest standards of efficiency, competence, neutrality, impartiality and integrity. This includes respect for and commitment to human rights, diversity and non-violent means of dealing with all kinds of conflict. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for UNRWA jobs. Candidates will not be considered for employment with UNRWA if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. The Agency may disqualify applicants who have separated for reason of misconduct, who left a UN Agency while misconduct processes were pending, or who appear on the UN Sanctions List.
UNRWA is a non-smoking work environment.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.