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 Portfolio Manager reports to the Chief Protection Division.

Responsibilities

– Provides substantive support in the planning, management and oversight of Protection projects, to ensure alignment and synergy with the Programme overall objectives, strategic plan and core activities to allow the Agency to take advantage of synergies, as well as to ensure that risks related to project implementation and core programming are assessed and mitigated in a timely manner.

– Supports UNRWA’s protection programme, project and emergency appeal planning processes and provides input, within the context of relevant Agency strategic planning frameworks, into annual operational plans.

– Manages day-to-day operations of administrative matters related to the implementation of protection programmes, including emergency and project operations; coordinates programme and project budget preparation, financial control, human resource management, travel, logistics, missions and operational backstopping to field offices.

– Follow-up on work plan implementation, monitoring progress and identifying corrective measures to overcome operational constraints; facilitates results-based programme plans built on evidence from evaluations and assessments and using theories of change and logical frameworks.

– Works closely with the thematic protection leaders at HQs and Fields to ensure best practices for project management and lessons learned to improve future projects at the phase formulation and implementations.

– Coordinates and/or prepare, briefs, financial and programme/project implementation reports to internal and external stakeholders, including projects final statements to donors.

– Supports resource mobilization efforts and liaises with the External Relations and Communications Department (ERCD) and updates current donors on project developments and protection needs; designs and formulates project proposals, that aligned with the Protection Division’s strategic plan, and coordinate with ERCD to identify appropriate donors;

– Organizes the project’s leadership committee meetings, technical meetings, and planning meetings.

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.

– Analyzing
– Entrepreneurial Thinking
– Relating and Networking
– Delivering Results
– Managing Complexity and Change

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 Public or Business Administration, Project Management, Monitoring and Evaluation, Management or a related discipline is required.

Job – Specific Qualification

Project Management Certification, such as PMP or Prince2 is required

Work Experience

At least of eight years of progressively responsible experience in project management in the humanitarian field, in governmental, non-governmental or community-based 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.

Working knowledge of the Agency’s operations in the Middle East is desirable.

Knowledge of the Middle East cultures and international setting is desirable.

Experience working in the United Nations system is desirable.

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: Fixed term project funded, 1 year extendable subject to availability of funds, need and performance.

The Portfolio Manager will be based in Amman and may be required to travel within 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.

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.