Chief Field Microfinance Programme, Gaza Field Office (Re-advertisement)

Org. Setting and Reporting

The incumbent is in charge of the Field Microfinance Programme. Supervision and guidance on policy, standards, operations and performance are exercised by the Director of Microfinance (D/MD).

Responsibilities

In accordance with established Agency policy and procedures, the incumbent:

• Advises the Director of Microfinance (DM)on technical and policy matters affecting the credit outreach of the field office and its branches and affiliated offices; ensures the proper application of the approved policies, directive, standards and microfinance industry best practices in his/her respective Field;
• Manages, supervises and develops all aspects of the credit operations procedures for the range of credit products within the Field Office and its branch offices; advises DM on how the mission and objectives can be attained and improved;
• Leads, manages, supervises and guides the Microfinance Department (MD) team in the implementation of the programme in the Field Office; oversees the development of the MD team ensuring enhancement of the required competencies through appropriate training;
• Designs, introduces and develops field monitoring processes and proposes development on procedure manuals for each credit operation, in coordination with other MD Field Offices and the Department’s HQ staff; monitors and evaluates the Programme activities including adoption of the best practices for the management of the microfinance operations and administration;
• Identifies appropriate outcomes, outputs, indicators and targets; ensures that branch offices, supervisors and staff achieve the outreach, productivity and efficiency targets set for MD in the Field in line with the MD strategic business plan;
• Under the guidance of the MD Chief of Finance at Headquarter and in coordination with the MD Accounts and Finance Officer (Gaza), oversees the development of the financial and operational procedures for the Programme's branch office network;
• Supervises and coordinates the development of reporting formats for planning the operational and financial sustainability of the credit products and operations at the Field Office level;
• Provides conceptual input and guidance in the planning, design, development and operations of the Programme's loan tracking and management information systems;
• Co-ordinates, plans and writes proposals and donor reports on the activities of the Microfinance Programme for the Field Office;
• Represents the programme and is responsible for the dissemination of information on the Programme's microfinance and business training activities to international organisations, governmental and non-governmental organisations and private sector institutions in the national office setting;
• Participates in Field-level meetings (programme team, operations, RBM quarterly management review and end-of-year results review, etc.); provides periodic reports on MD activities to Field Office management; provides briefings for MD visitors, donors and official delegations; accompanies UNRWA management in field visits involving Adcom representatives and other officials). Submits reports to Field Office Director on the routine operations and administration of the Microfinance Programme at the Field Office level;
• Performs such other duties as may be assigned.

Competencies

• Ability to plan, organize and supervise the work of others;
• Proven ability in establishing effective internal and external work relationships at all levels;
• Ability to plan, organize and prioritize own work, work well under tight deadlines and handle multiple concurrent activities;
• Initiative and proven ability to work with little supervision;
• Computer literacy and previous exposure to database management and data presentation.

Education

• Advanced university degree in business, finance, economics, management or development studies;
• Training in microfinance management and/or small business development.

Job - Specific Qualification

Possession of a valid driver's license is essential, as the incumbent is required to travel frequently in the field to perform his/her duties.

Work Experience

At least ten years of experience in management, supervision, administration and development of a microfinance institution / programme of which five years should have been in a large governmental or international organization at a senior level.(Required )

Experience in business management of a going concern. (Desirable)

Experience in organising and conducting training courses. (Desirable)

Languages

Excellent command of written and spoken English.

Assessment

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

Special Notice

Type of Contract: Fixed Term Appointment

Duration of Contract: 3 years including 1 year probation period, with the possibility of further extension, subject to the availability of funds, satisfactory performance and continuing need.

Conditions of service:
• Basic Salary: Monthly basic salary from $2,243.60; plus monthly senior professional officer allowance 90% of the basic salary and monthly dependency allowance up to $123.25.
• Leave: 36 days of annual leave for staff attending UNRWA duty stations with six-day working week. 30 days of annual leave for staff attending UNRWA duty stations with five-day working week.
• Pension: Provident Fund contribution (15.2% of basic salary paid by the Agency)
• Other conditions of service and benefits may apply.

Additional Information:
• Must be willing to travel to UNRWA area of operations when required;
• The incumbent should have the willingness to work after normal duty hours and official holidays.

This vacancy notice is open to internal and external candidates. Only candidates residing in Gaza Strip, and within commuting distance of the duty station with authorization to work in the duty station at the time of application are eligible to apply. The Agency will not assume responsibility or accountability to support or facilitate the issuance of work permit in Gaza Strip, and without a valid work permit, the appointment may be rescinded.

Preference will be given to registered Palestine refugees and candidates assisting the Agency to meet its commitment to gender parity. UNRWA welcomes applications from qualified candidates with disabilities.

A roster may be created from the selection exercise, and successful candidates may become eligible for appointment to the same post or a similar post.

Only applications that have been fully completed in UNRWA’s online e-recruitment system inspira will be considered and no late applications will be accepted. The PHP should be completed with full relevant work experience under the experience tabs as per the requirements in the Job Opening. All acquired university degrees must also be stated, if applicable. Applicants applying to positions for Grades 12 to 20 must submit a cover letter/motivational statement in order to be considered. Additionally, providing incorrect or misleading information on an application will result in the immediate disqualification of a candidate.

For UNRWA internal staff, they are required to specify and include their current UNRWA grade level. To do so applicants should select under “Category” RLG, scroll down to see all categories, then select their local grade.

Equivalency:
Equivalency may apply for this post.
NB: Work experience alone or formal qualifications with no relevant work experience are not considered an acceptable combination.

Advertisements published only in English will only accept applications in English, and Arabic submissions will not be considered.

The Agency may disqualify applicants whose name appears on the UN Sanctions List or a UN database of staff separated for reason of misconduct or of staff who separated whilst misconduct processes were pending.

UNRWA shares investigation and misconduct information with other UN Agencies, and past and prospective employers, about staff members who have been separated for misconduct, or who have separated whilst an investigation and/or disciplinary process for misconduct is underway; and such persons may be prohibited from employment with the United Nations.

The Agency will immediately disqualify applicants who are ineligible for any reason in accordance with the Agency regulatory framework.

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.