Government Liaison Associate

This position is advertised and open to both internal and external applicants. All applicants must have legal residence with valid work permit in the US at the time of submitting their applications. Government Liaison Associate

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Government Liaison Associate is a member of the Government Liaison Unit. S/he normally reports to the (Senior) Government Liaison Officer. The incumbent receives regular guidance and advice from the supervisor. S/he participates in all meetings/working groups related to the Government and to provide support on coordination work on common processes.
Under the supervision of the (Senior) Government Liaison Officer, the responsibilities of the Government Liaison Associate is to give, obtain and exchange information requiring discussions and explanations both to UNHCR staff members, Government authorities and other external parties on subject matters which may be of importance to the Organization.

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 and Rules, UNHCR Policies and 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 and managerial competencies and UNHCR¿s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties
- Assist in the establishment of close working relations with officials in various ministries especially Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Keep track of evolving issues concerning asylum seekers, stateless persons and refugees within the Area of Responsibility (AoR).
- Ensure that the office is kept informed of local and international developments which may have a political or operational impact on the office¿s relation with the Government, including latest developments with regard to the implementation of the GCR, UN reform etc.
- Inform the supervisor and/or other senior managers on a continuing basis of relevant information on the outcome of discussions with government authorities on various issues.
- Assist senior management in dealing with the challenges posed by the political context, developments with the Government and issues related to humanitarian and development processes.
- Accompany the Representative/Deputy Representative/Head of Office and Headquarters visitors on missions and meetings.
- Assist in preparation for different visits and missions to the Operation.
- Liaise with Government partners and local authorities on behalf of UNHCR, as required.
- Draft correspondence and reports as required and assist in the drafting of briefing notes, background material, talking points, fact sheets, as required.
- Manage budget, when requested, including tracking expenditures.
- Initiate upon request of the supervisor the contact with the relevant external parties on various issues.
- Coordinate with different units in the office that information presented to government authorities is duly verified and endorsed by the supervisor.
- Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For G6 - 3 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Field(s) of Education
Not applicable.

Certificates and/or Licenses
Political/Social Science;
Business Administration;
or other relevant field;
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Not specified.
Desirable
Good knowledge of UNHCR operations and good political awareness.

Functional Skills
MS-Drafting, Documentation, Data Presentation
MS-Networking
CO-Cross-cultural communication;
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements
For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.
For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

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

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

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and 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 and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates. All jobs at UNHCR require six core competencies and may also require managerial competencies and/or cross-functional competencies. The six core competencies are listed below.

Core Competencies
Accountability
Communication
Organizational Awareness
Teamwork & Collaboration
Commitment to Continuous Learning
Client & Result Orientation

Managerial Competencies
Not specified.

Cross-Functional Competencies
Analytical Thinking
Innovation and Creativity
Political Awareness Please note that person interested in applying must be US national or legally present in the US at the time of application, selection process and hire. Only those shortlisted candidates will be contacted. CVs/Resumes will not be accepted by email. ONLY THOSE APPLICATIONS SENT THROUGH THE SYSTEM WILL BE CONSIDERED.
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See below for this postion's Operational Context
======================================================================================================== The Government Liaison Associate reports to the Sr. External Relations Officer and is part of the External Relations unit in the UNHCR Multi-Country office in Washington (MCOW). The ER unit works to engage and inform U.S. government officials, Congress, the diplomatic community, and civil society about UNHCR¿s global strategic priorities and operations and the needs of refugees and other forcibly displaced persons, and to ensure continued bipartisan U.S. political and financial support for the organization¿s work around the globe. The Government Liaison Associate monitors U.S. policy developments related to global and domestic refugee protection; attends think tank and NGO briefings and other events of interest; provides regular information sharing, analysis, and reporting to HQ, Bureau, and field colleagues on relevant political and policy developments; provides support to the Sr. ER Officer on budget and planning processes; provides logistical support for high-level events and meetings; and plays a critical role in organizing both incoming visits by senior UNHCR officials and outgoing trips by ER staff and partners. The GL Associate also drafts, edits, and formats materials such as talking points for meetings, as well as briefs, updates, and fact sheets for distribution to key external audiences and partners.

As the ER team works closely with colleagues across the office and organization, the position requires excellent writing/communication skills, an ability to work collaboratively in a multicultural and international environment, and strong relationship-building and stakeholder management skills. Ability to prioritize and multi-task in a fast-paced work environment is a must. Given the U.S.¿ engagement on global refugee and humanitarian assistance and its role as the largest donor to UNHCR, the ER unit routinely supports high-level missions to Washington by senior UNHCR officials, so the position requires a high level of attention to detail, the ability to assist in the preparation and planning for missions, and the ability to interact and work with senior UNHCR officials. This position requires an awareness of political and public sensitivities around global refugee policies, and an understanding of the U.S. policymaking process. Demonstrated interest in refugee and humanitarian policies highly desirable. Prior experience working with senior officials in the U.S. government, Congress, or with a humanitarian organization is also highly desirable. The closing date for submission of application is MONDAY, 29 AUGUST 2022 (Midnight Geneva time // 6 PM EST). No late applications will be accepted.

HOW TO APPLY:
Internal candidates: Your application must be submitted by: MSRP - Self-Service - Recruiting - Careers - USA - NAME OF THE POSITION
External candidates: Candidates must submit their application through UNHCR's official application site: www.unhcr.org/careers.html
In case of technical problems, please login with a different browser
For any technical problems encountered during the online application, please contact the Global Service Desk (hqussd@unhcr.org) prior to the deadline to allow sufficient time to resolve the issues. For any questions regarding the selection process, please contact Human Resources (usawaadm@unhcr.org)

CVs/Resumes will not be accepted by email. ONLY THOSE APPLICATIONS SENT THROUGH THE SYSTEM WILL BE CONSIDERED.

We are committed to maintaining diversity in terms of gender, ethnicity and culture.  Persons belonging to minority groups, persons with special abilities, men and women, are encouraged to apply for vacancies. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.

We do not confirm receipt of applications or report on the status of the process. Only qualified candidates will be contacted for an interview and possibly a written test.
UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing or any other fees).