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 Senior Advisor- Policy reports to the Chief of Staff.

Responsibilities

Lead UNRWA staff for Advisory Commission-related processes:

– Serves as the lead UNRWA staff member responsible for consultation and dialogue between UNRWA and the Advisory Commission, supporting the inclusion of strategic concerns affecting UNRWA under the Advisory Commission’s consideration; gauges the positions of various Government stakeholders and builds consensus toward results that support UNRWA’s mandate.

– Navigates within a complex array of differing political approaches and positions in the interest of the Agency, facilitates transparent discussions and advances the implementation of priority issues and/or issues of strategic importance to the Agency.

– In the interest of promoting a strategic partnership between the Agency and the Advisory Commission members, supports Advisory Commission relations, dialogue, and effective communication to promote common understanding and building consensus on issues facing the Advisory Commission.

Head of the Secretariat of the Advisory Commission and the Sub-Committee:

– Serves as Secretary of the Advisory Commission and the Sub-Committee and their subsidiary committees or working groups. Supports the Chairpersons of the Advisory Commission, Sub-Committee and subsidiary entities with the administrative organization of agendas and meetings, including enabling consultation; coordinates follow-up activities and implementation of recommendations from these bodies across the Agency.

– Oversees the production of documentation, ensuring that the documentation submitted by the Agency and Agency inputs are of adequate quality and coherent with Agency policy; ensures documents are edited to high standards and are in line with the branding guidelines.

– Supports UNRWA leadership and senior management in preparing for participation in Advisory Commission, and subsidiary meetings.

Support to the Effective Functioning of the Executive Office

– Leads or coordinates, on behalf of the Executive Office, UNRWA’s engagement on UN system processes and agendas. Advises on UNRWA’s strategic positioning in UN system processes and agendas as well as coordinates internally necessary inputs for these processes and agendas. Ensures that inputs are of adequate quality and coherent with the Agency’s priorities.

– Supports and advises the Agency’s leadership and senior management by providing recommendations for immediate and long-term courses of action on policies, strategies and other measures necessary to address issues of concern and to facilitate and advance the Agency’s mandated objectives, including through the Agency’s Executive Advisory Group.

-Leads the secretariat functions of the Executive Advisory Group and ensures that it functions effectively, and as guided by the CG’s strategic priorities.

– Manages the Executive Office in Jerusalem ensuring that the team and the office are functioning well.

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.

Coping with Pressure and Setbacks
Relating and Networking
Formulating Strategies and Concepts
Analyzing
Persuading and Influencing
Managing Complexity and Change
Innovating and Taking Risks

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

Education

Advanced university degree (Masters’ or equivalent) from an accredited educational institution in political science, international relations, international economics, law, public administration, or a related field.

Work Experience

– A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible professional experience in political science, international relations, law, disarmament, development management, conflict resolution or related area, is required.

– At least five years of international exposure in leadership and management functions in an Executive Office or similar, including coordination of interdisciplinary teams, project management and in dealing from/or with a UN entity as well as proven track of substantive policy development and management, and designing and facilitating complex development interventions, 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.

– Experience in political outreach, analysis, advice and reporting is required.

– Familiarity with the United Nations system and practices, is desirable.

– Knowledge of historical and contemporary issues of the Middle East, is desirable.

Languages

– Excellent command of written and spoken English.
– 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.

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.