PROJECTS SUPPORT AND COMPLIANCE OFFICER [Temporary]

Org. Setting and Reporting

UNRWA, the largest United Nations operation in the Middle East with over 30,000 staff working across five areas of operation, is looking for highly committed personnel wishing to make a change.

If you are looking for a rewarding opportunity to make a tangible difference for one of the most vulnerable communities in the world, UNRWA would like to hear from you.

The Projects Support and Compliance Officer reports to the Deputy Director of UNRWA Affairs, Operations.

Responsibilities

- Provides substantive support to senior management at the Field level during the preparation of Fields’ priorities and master plan, ensuring that projects are integrated thereof, to meet the increasing refugees’ needs, and that projects synergize within the Agency’s overall policy, strategies and priorities, and that UNRWA requirements are addressed and followed efficiently and effectively through adherence to project management principles and best practices; participates in the Fields’ relevant management committees.

- Leads the assessment of planning and implementation of projects’ related activities, ensuring compliance with applied rules, directives and technical instructions as well as donor requirements; analyses the existing systems and processes for the purposes of identifying areas of improvements and drafting guiding papers/ documents to address the related needs and backfilling administrative and reporting gaps, where needed.

- Maintains monitoring & guidance system for internal systematic application of procedural requirements when planning, implementing, and concluding relevant projects; in conjunction with existing technical expertise at Field Programme Support Office, provides oversight and compliance of key project deliverables, including project controls and reporting;

- Provides guidance and support to the projects owners/managers during setting priorities, planning and preparation of the Project Implementation Plans and their execution as per the applicable standards and norms; provides support in contract management, oversight and compliance for the contracts related to the projects within the implementing Programmes / Offices.

- Maintains contacts with, and facilitates the response to, the queries from external stakeholders, including donors, UNRWA HQs, UN sister agencies, emergency clusters and implementing partners, public service and local authoritative organizations; provides input to introduce innovative approaches for establishing partnerships and funding the essential interventions.

- In coordination and cooperation with Human Resources department and Heads of Departments/ Offices, facilitates the internal capacity building of the Field’s staff on Project Cycle Management (PCM) principles and activities, including specialized training session throughout the different stages of project development and implementation; supports process of accumulating and documenting lessons learned as well as knowledge retention and sharing on related activities activities.

- Works closely with the Field Programme Chiefs and Heads of Departments / Offices in support of emergency preparedness; prepare various related reports, for internal and external use, including project implementation plans and their execution.-

Competencies

UN Core Values of Integrity, Professionalism and Respect for Diversity, and Core Competencies of Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results apply by default
.
- Persuading and Influencing
- Planning and Organizing
- Relating and Networking
- Delivering Results
- Managing Complexity and Change
- High level skill in the management of a broad range of programmes.
- Excellent writing skills including experience in drafting strategic documents, reports, proposals, and presentations.
- Excellent computer skills.

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

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) from an accredited educational institution in development studies, business administration, programme or project management or a related discipline.

Work Experience

At least eight years of progressively responsible and relevant experience in project planning, oversight and compliance, programme controls or project management and coordination, including the application of results-based management/project cycle management in large public, international or non-governmental organizations is required.

Unless already serving as an international staff member in the UN Common System, at least two continuous years of relevant international experience outside UNRWA, and outside the country(s) of citizenship is required.

Languages

Excellent command of written and spoken English is required.

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: Temporary Appointment for 364 days, with the possibility of further extension, subject to availability of funds, need and performance.

Applicants have to complete the Personal History Profile (PHP) in inspira in order to be considered. The PHP should be completed with full relevant work experience as per the requirements in the Job Opening, in order to be considered.

UNRWA welcomes applications from qualified candidates with disabilities.

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

Equivalency:
A first level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
NB: work experience alone or formal qualifications with no relevant work experience are not considered an acceptable combination.

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.