Org. Setting and Reporting

• Supervisor:
Deputy Director of UNRWA Affairs Programmes, P5.

• Supervisees:
The incumbent of this post provides direct supervision to a number of professional and general services staff members.

Responsibilities

• Provides leadership for the Infrastructure and Camp Improvement Programme (ICIP) in the Field; sets plans, activities, priorities, and policies and workflows, establishes revises and oversees the implementation of policies and procedures; ensures UNRWA requirements are addressed and followed and ICIP services to the refugees are delivered efficiently and effectively.

• Oversees and promotes a multidisciplinary urban development overall planning and implementation that impact positively on the lives of refugees at large and particularly in the camps; enhances community participatory approaches, in close consultation with DICI and in coordination with external stakeholders, including municipalities, local authorities, other community based organizations and NGOs, in order to ensure coherence and complementarity of interventions and consistency with UNRWA approved strategic approach and national urban development plans.

• Leads the preparation of the programme’s strategy at the field level, contributes substantively to the programme’s strategic planning at the Agency level and leads the planning of related activities, including budget management and advocacy and introducing innovative approaches for establishing partnerships and funding of the ICIP interventions.

• Performs the duties of the Director of Works as defined in UNRWA documents; provides overall contract administration oversight and central reviews to confirm satisfaction of all contract obligations and reducing contractual risks and liabilities of the Agency particularly in managing variations and claims; certifies the validity and accuracy of bills of quantities and financial interim and final accounts for work executed.

• Supervises plans for environmental health services in the field and initiates and oversees new solid waste management plans in the camps; supervises other environmental health related services, including water quality control and well development, where applicable.

• Provides high level and overall supervision on planning, design and construction of Agency facilities as well as environmental infrastructure, including those designed/supervised by external consultants, including water supply, wastewater, stormwater, roads, shelters and maintenance works in the Field, as applicable; arranges for the appointment, briefing and control of consultants in coordination with DICI.

• Writes and submits overall progress reports for the programme in the Field; oversees preparations of other reports for internal use and for submission to external parties to the Agency such as donors and refuges; oversees preparation on results-based management reports and achievement of objectives of the programme through analysis of indicators and trends; represents the field in external relevant meetings, and provides briefing as required.

• Oversees management of the human resources of the department, including work assignments, performance and coaching; supervises staff capacity development and training, ensuring that ICIP staff are equipped with the necessary competencies to perform their duties effectively, efficiently and ethically; responsible for facilitating individual excellence along with team excellence, ensuring that the work allocated is matching to the team members skill set; ensures better communication within the team and that the road-map is clear to all; ensures that everyone get proper feedback on their performance and the teams performance, good work gets the recognition it deserves and supports.

• Makes sure that the Agency protection standards and other standards are streamlined within the programme operations in the Field, including those dealing with safety of the built environment and its inclusiveness to accommodate people with disabilities, making sure all the time of gender related requirements and cultural dimensions.

• Performs other duties as may be assigned by the supervisor.

Competencies

• UN Core Values of Integrity, Professionalism and Respect for Diversity.
• Core Competencies of Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results apply by default.
• Coping with Pressure and Setbacks.
• Planning and Organizing.
• Relating and Networking.
• Delivering Results.
• Innovating and Taking Risks.

Education

• First university degree from an accredited educational institution in Civil/Structural Engineering or Architecture.

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) from an accredited educational institution in civil/structural engineering, architecture, management or other relevant academic fields.

Work Experience

• At least ten years of progressively responsible and relevant work experience including at least five years’ experience as an engineer/architect in charge of the planning, management and execution of urban planning, construction projects, low-income housing and infrastructure works at senior level is required.

Languages

• Excellent command of spoken and written English and Arabic.

Assessment

During the assessment, the applications will be given preference based on the following desirable qualifications:
• Additional three years of progressively responsible experience with facilities and infrastructure, or similar, in the areas of planning, designing and supervising engineering related construction/commissioning projects, and managing routine and non-routine maintenance and repairs is desirable.
• Additional two years of supervisory experience in project management and contract management for medium to large scale design/construction projects and facilities maintenance programs is desirable.
• Experience providing services in the field of Engineering Management and Contract Management is desirable.
• Experience in management of sustainable environment design techniques is desirable.
• Experience with enterprise resource planning, computer assisted design and project management software is desirable.
• Experience in Performance Management, data management, performance reporting (i.e. Power BI) is desirable.
• Provided very good understanding of the context of Palestine refugees and UNRWA operations.
• Experience in the infrastructure and construction industry in the Middle East.
• Experience in community development and urban planning.
• Specific experience in upgrading and /or rehabilitation projects in built environment similar to the camps.
• Experience with involving the community and stakeholders in planning and implementation of development projects utilizing multi-disciplinary teams.
• Proven knowledge and abilities of project management and contract administration.

The shortlisted candidates will be afterwards evaluated based on:
• Technical Test.
• Competency-based Interview.

Special Notice

Contract Status:
Fixed-Term Appointment for 3 years including 1 year probation period, with the possibility of further extension, subject to the availability of funds, satisfactory performance and continuing need.

Benefits:
Grade 20, Monthly Salary from JD 1,462.300 Fils Plus SOA 89.32% of the basic salary.
Other benefits include Provident Fund contribution (15.4% of basic salary paid by the Agency) & medical insurance. Dependency allowance is subject to eligibility.

Department/Office: Infrastructure and Camp Improvement Programme.

Duty Station: Jordan Field Office (Amman).

Other Information:
• Travel outside the Field for duty purposes.
• Drive within the Field in performing his/her duties, thus s/he must be willing and capable of driving a UN vehicle.

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.

General Information:

• This vacancy notice is open to internal candidates and external candidates. Only candidates residing in Jordan, 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 Jordan, and without a valid work permit, the appointment may be rescinded.

• Since the Vacancy is an Area Staff post, the Agency will not provide coverage for relocation costs.

• 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.

• UNRWA encourages applications from qualified and experienced women.

• A roster may be created from the selection exercise, and that successful candidates may be appointed to the same post. In the case of multiple or recurring posts, that a roster will be created from which the candidates will be selected for appointment;

• 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.

• 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.

• Applications from UNRWA staff member who had been demoted with deferred eligibility
for promotion will not be considered.

• Applications from Staff members who were recipients under the Early Voluntary Retirement
or Exceptional Voluntary Separation Schemes will not be considered.

• Applications from Internal candidate serving for less than one year in your current post will not be considered.

• The Agency reserves the right not to make an appointment, to make an appointment at a
lower grade, or to make an appointment with a modified job description or to change the
contract Modality.

• A candidate is not eligible for consideration if he or she was short-listed and found not suitable for the same post within the previous 12 months unless the post description has since been altered by 30% or more, as determined by ODCS.

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.