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 Director of Internal Oversight Services reports to the Commissioner-General.

Responsibilities

– Sets clear work objectives for the Department and ensures timely and effective use of performance reviews and feedback mechanisms; ensures regular communications and solves interpersonal or technical conflicts; establishes and supports a learning environment to include staff development fundamentals, managerial competencies and technical expertise; ensures the Department’s compliance with appropriate oversight professional standards and codes of ethics; provides leadership and technical guidance to and ensures optimal cohesion of DIOS.

– Develops, organizes and directs implementation of a long-term strategy and a risk-based internal audit and evaluation plan in line with the Agency’s strategic objectives and its Strategic Plan.

– Leads, supports and supervises audit investigations and evaluations, ensuring optimal relations between DIOS and the rest of the Agency, including with senior management.

– Directs the development of, and follow-up to high-quality reports and recommendations on audit and evaluations and any investigation performed; monitors the actions taken on recommendations, and reviews and reports on the adequacy and effectiveness of implementation.

– Directs the internal audit activity to add value to UNRWA by providing independent and objective assurance and advice on, and contributing to, the effectiveness and efficiency of governance, risk management and control processes.

– Oversees the maintenance of UNRWA’s capacity to safeguard its financial and other resources; proactively assesses fraud risk and recommends preventive measures in high-risk areas; leads the conduct of investigations into suspected accounting, financial reporting and operational irregularities including, but not limited to: fraud and corruption; sexual exploitation and abuse; harassment including sexual harassment; abuse of authority; or failure to observe regulations, rules and other administrative issuances, policies and procedures.

– Directs independent strategic evaluations throughout the organization; aligns the Agency’s evaluation programme with the priorities of the Strategic Plan and the Agency’s programme of work; issues normative guidelines for the conduct of programme evaluations for use by programmes and fields.

– Represents UNRWA at oversight-related meetings within the UN common system, professional organizations, and host and donor country representatives; collaborates with other UN system agencies on oversight-related matters of mutual interest.

– Reports regularly and as required to the Commissioner-General, the Advisory Committee on Internal Oversight (ACIO) and UNRWA’s Advisory Commission on the Department’s activities, including the orientation and scope of such activities; serves as the Secretariat of the ACIO, ensuring that the ACIO’s functions are maximized in the Agency’s interests, including through providing strategic input to its work.

– Coordinates with Field and Headquarters Directors effective responses to complaints by staff, beneficiaries and other parties; implements Agency policies for the protection of whistleblowers.

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. Default managerial competencies may apply.

– Formulating Strategies and Concepts
– Leading and Supervising
– Relating and Networking
– Persuading and Influencing
– Deciding and Initiating Action
– Creating and Maintaining Impact and Partnership.
– Managing Complexity and Change
– Ability to handle complex and/or sensitive issues with diplomacy, tact and confidentially, and with sensitivity to the interests of staff members and the Agency.
– Excellent writing skills.

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

Education

An advanced university (Master’s or Equivalent) from an accredited educational institution in public or business administration, auditing, finance, social sciences, law or other related area.

Job – Specific Qualification

Professional certification/certificates in at least one of the three oversight functions of audit, evaluation or investigation (e.g. CIA, CPA, CA, CFE, CISA, CGAP or similar) from an officially recognized oversight body or professional association as part of an academic degree is required.

Work Experience

At least 15 years of progressively responsible relevant combined national and international professional experience in an oversight function is required.

At least five years of professional experience at supervisory level is required.

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

An advanced university (Master’s or Equivalent) from an accredited educational institution in public or business administration, auditing, finance, social sciences, law or other related area is required,

Professional certification/certificates in at least one of the three oversight functions of audit,
evaluation or investigation (e.g. CIA, CPA, CA, CFE, CISA, CGAP or similar) from an officially
recognized oversight body or professional association as part of an academic degree is required

Working knowledge of written and spoken Arabic is desirable

Knowledge of UN financial rules, regulations and procedures, as well as knowledge of audit,
investigation and evaluation guidelines is desirable

Experience with risk management in large organizations is desirable.

Languages

Excellent command of written and spoken English is required

Working knowledge of written and spoken Arabic is desirable.

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: 2 years, with the possibility of further extension.

The incumbent will be required to travel in UNRWA’s Area of Operations in the Middle East.

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.

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

UNRWA welcomes applications from qualified candidates with disabilities.

Join our eco-friendly organization dedicated to environment sustainability and targeting to be plastic free by 2025.

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

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.