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Senior Programme Assistant

San Salvador | El Salvador

  • Organization: UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
  • Location: San Salvador | El Salvador
  • Grade: Administrative support - GS-5, General Service - No need for Higher Education - Locally recruited position
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Administrative support
    • Project and Programme Management
  • Closing Date: Closed

This position is advertised open to internal & external applicants. Interested applicants should consult the Administrative Instruction on Recruitment & Assignment of Locally Recruited Staff (RALS) Organizational Setting & Work Relationships

The Senior Programme Assistant would normally receive guidance from more senior programme staff in the operation/bureau/division. The incumbent may receive indirect guidance from other sections & units relevant to the country/region programme(s). UNHCR Manual, Operations Plans, UN & UNHCR financial/budgetary rules & regulations will guide the work of the Senior Program Assistant. S/he is expected to have contacts within the organization & outside the duty station, as well as with partners & other stakeholders to collect information, monitor programme activities & implement administrative requirements. The incumbent is expected to work in line with the multi-functional team (MFT) approach as defined within the Program Manual, ensuring the participation of relevant stakeholders in all phases of the Program Management Cycle.
All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations & Rules, UNHCR Policies & Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional & managerial competencies & UNHCR's core values of professionalism, integrity & respect for diversity.

Duties
- Provide administrative assistance & support in routine services & activities within Programme thus better able to meet the needs of persons of concern.
- Assist in organizing & documenting the selection of partners in accordance with the policy on selection & retention of partners, ensuring due diligence to meet the requirements of projects.
- Provide support to ensure partnership agreements are established in a timely manner, regularly monitored & reported on, in compliance with established guidelines & procedures included in the framework for implementing with partners.
- Guided by the MFT approach, support the development & implementation of monitoring plans for activities implemented through partnerships & those under direct implementation in line with Programme Manual & programming instructions.
- Contribute to the review & analysis of operations plans, mid-year & year-end reports, ensuring quality assurance & compliance with established policies, guidelines, procedures & standards. Generate & maintain records of implementation rate (performance progress & expenditures) on a regular basis.
- Assist in ensuring compliance with issuance of audit certificates for partners in line with the Policy on Risk-Based Project Audits.
- Use UNHCR's corporate tools (e.g. Focus Client, Global Focus Insight & FOCUS Reader, MSRP) for core activities related to planning, budgeting, implementation & reporting, generating data for evidence-based programmatic decisions & analysis.
- Actively contribute to UNHCRs programming of community of practice & continuously contributing to improvements of programming tools & processes.
- Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications
Years of Experience / Degree Level: G5 - 2 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 1 year relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Relevant Job Experience
Essential: Demonstrated experience in Programme Management, Operation Management Cycle & related processes; Knowledge of Results Based-Management; Computer skills (in MS office) including advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, data management, etc)

Desirable: Completion of UNHCR Learning Programmes or specific training relevant to function of the position including Programme Management Level 1. E-tutoring of PM1, Framework for Implementing with Partners Learning Programme.
Experience in programme management training & capacity building activities.

Functional Skills: PG-Programme Management (project formulation, programme cycles & reporting standards); PG-Results-Based Management; DM-Database Management; PG-Programme Analysis; IT-Computer Literacy. (Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements: Fluency in Spanish & working knowledge of English

All UNHCR workforce members must individually & collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, & empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation & abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination & abuse of power.

As individuals & as managers, all must be proactive in preventing & responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters & speaking up & seeking guidance & support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title & grade level. 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 & will be considered for the screening, shortlisting & selection of candidates.

Operational Context

El Salvador has a population of 6.7 million people, with at least 20% of El Salvador's population living abroad.  It has a small, dollarized economy closely linked to the United States, from which it receives remittances that constitute around 20% of its GDP. 22.8% of its population lives below the poverty line, out of which 4.5% are extremely poor.
In 2018, the Government acknowledged the phenomenon of internal forced displacement & published a Profiling Study on Internal Mobility due to violence in El Salvador, which estimated that approximately 1.1% of the population were forced to move internally due to violence. In July 2018, as a result of a constitutional ruling of the Supreme Court, public institutions were ordered to recognize the existence of internal displacement nationwide, & to take appropriate measures to prevent & mitigate its impact at national & local levels. In 2020, the Government signed an IDP law, which UNHCR supported in congress.
There is now the need to design specific policies, further develop the legal framework & to support the Government in implementing them throughout the territory. UNHCR is working closely with the Government on the introduction of legal & policy frameworks to implement the provisions of the 2020 IDP law. UNHCR is also supporting the strengthening of national mechanisms for the protection of forcibly displaced persons with shelter, livelihoods, education, psycho-social support, legal counselling, land, & property protection, among others. UNHCR has been working in high risk communities to bring such protection services, as well as supporting with solutions. Since July 2019, El Salvador is part of the Comprehensive Regional Framework for Protection & Solutions (MIRPS) & has committed to take concrete steps to assist, protect & find suitable solutions for forcibly displaced people. UNHCR is currently present in 40 communities & 17 Municipalities nationwide.
The incumbent will work under the direct supervision of the Programme Officer & will supervise one GS support staff. The incumbent will be part of the Programme Unit & S/he will provide administrative support in the programme activities.
Cross-Functional Competencies desirable: Analytical Thinking, Planning & Organizing, Stakeholder Management. Candidates interested in applying for this position must be national from El Salvador or must hold a valid work permit in El Salvador at the time of application, recruitment, & hire.
Only shortlisted candidates will be notified & may be required to sit for a test & will undertake a competency-based interview.The evaluation of applicants will be conducted based on the information submitted during the application.
Applicants must provide complete & accurate information pertaining to their personal profile & qualifications. 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.
UNHCR is committed to diversity & job inclusion, therefore, all people are encouraged to apply for this vacancy regardless of religion, age, sex, ethnicity, disability, gender identity or expression, or sexual orientation
Recruitment as a UNHCR staff member & engagement under a UNHCR affiliate scheme or as an intern is subject to proof of full vaccination for COVID-19
Remuneration:
A competitive compensation & benefits package is offered. For information on UN salaries, allowances & benefits, please visit the portal of the International Civil Service Commission at: http://icsc.un.org
UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing, or any other fees) Please note that the closing date for apply to this vacancy is Monday 30 May 2022. (midnight Geneva time)
This vacancy is now closed.
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