occupied Palestinian territory: Programme Support and Planning Team Leader

UNITED NATIONS RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY

FOR PALESTINE REFUGEES IN THE NEAR EAST

UNRWA

UNRWA is a United Nations agency established by the General Assembly in 1949 and is mandated to provide assistance and protection to a population of some 5 million registered Palestine refugees. Its mission is to help Palestine refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and the Gaza Strip to achieve their full potential in human development, pending a just solution to their plight. UNRWA’s services encompass education, health care, relief and social services, camp infrastructure and improvement, microfinance and emergency assistance. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions. UNRWA is the largest UN operation in the Middle East with more than 30,000 staff. For its international team, UNRWA is seeking to employ a qualified:

Programme Support and Planning Team Leader

Vacancy Announcement Number

16-FO-GA-63

Grade

P-3

Deadline for Applications

19 December 2016

(5 December 2016 for internal applicants)

Duty Station

Gaza

Under the overall guidance and direction of the Head, Field Planning, Projects, and Partnership Office (HFPPPO), Gaza, the incumbent leads efforts and provides support in the research, analysis and planning, in order to maximize programmes' efficiency, coherence, complementation and positive impact on Palestine refugees. In accordance with Agency policies and procedures, the Programme Support and Planning Team Leader will:

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

· Lead the efforts to support the HFPPPO in Programme planning within the context of the Agency’s Strategic and Programme framework in order to maximize programmes’ efficiency and impact for the benefit of Palestine refugees; provide input into and support the implementation of UNRWA’s mid-term Strategic Plan, ensure the mainstreaming of cross-cutting issues including youth, gender, disability, protection, etc. within all aspects of programme planning and implementation; supervise, guide and train, as necessary, the programme support and planning team, and monitor adherence to key planning targets and deadlines;

· Provide inputs and support effective and quality annual plans and planning processes within UNRWA Gaza Field Office in the context of the Field Strategic Plan; provide technical support to Programmes, Departments and Areas to associate community needs and identify and support the integration of programmes activities to improve services coherence and complementation, identify means to maximise programme impact within changing context of Gaza;

· Monitor trends and developments in the utilisation of services; analyse relevant strategies and provide recommendations for improvement; contribute to the needs analysis and priority processes, utilise data as appropriate from the Results Based Management (RBM) data warehouse system, lessons learned and other internal and third party sources; ensure quality and standards are in line with UNRWA instructions/guidelines and industry standard, indicators and good practice, including activities in relation to Field’s humanitarian response;

· Analyse trends of refugees’ needs and UNRWA activities and services to determine potential gaps in programming; provide substantive support in coordination with Field’s programme departments, headquarters, external knowledge-based networks, civil society, community based organizations and other interlocutors with a particular focus on advocacy matters, including livelihoods, employment and others as determined by supervisor;

· Produce regular quarterly reports and a comprehensive semi-annual results review on implementation of programme objectives and achievements using the RBM Results Review Guidelines and best practice from Programme Cycle Management (PCM) Handbook;

· Support HFPPPO in providing advice to the Office of the Director and senior managers with a view to achieving high quality and impact of Gaza Field Office (GFO) programmes, including projects and financial management; act for the HFPPPO during the latter’s absence;

· Support the design and review of the RBM to maximise effectiveness of the system and relevance of indicators and ratios.

Professional Knowledge and Experience

· A university degree from an accredited educational institution in public policy, social or political science, research, project management, international relations or international development;

· A minimum of six years of relevant professional experience including at least three years at supervisory or management level in a large governmental or international organization, including two years of international experience outside one’s home country;

· Excellent command of written and spoken English.

Competencies

· Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity;

· High level skills in negotiation and problem-solving in a crisis/emergency setting;

· Demonstrated competence in all aspects of project planning and management, including application of all aspects of results-based management/project cycle management;

· Ability to develop clear goals, independently plan and prioritize own work, work well under tight deadlines and handle multiple concurrent projects/activities while maintaining strategic oversight and priorities;

· Positive attitude and strong analytical, and interpersonal skills, with an ability to empower and guide team while maintaining comprehensive programme overview;

· Excellent communication skills and writing skills with ability to handle details and present a persuasive case for external and internal audiences;

· Evidence of the utilization of planning tools and methodologies for assessment, design, monitoring and evaluation purposes.

Desirable Qualifications

· An understanding of the culture and political complexity of the area;

· Knowledge of Arabic.

Additional Information

The incumbent might be required to travel throughout the Agency's area of operations in the Middle East as required.

Equivalency

When the minimum requirements are not fully met, the Human Resources Department may substitute part of the unmet requirements under UNRWA’s equivalency determination guidelines with a combination of relevant academic qualification, additional professional training and/or progressive relevant work experience. Note: Work experience alone or formal qualifications with no relevant work experience are not considered sufficient for an equivalency determination.

Conditions of Service

UNRWA offers an attractive compensation package including annual salary starting at $61,470 net tax free with dependants or $57,379 single, plus post adjustment of 52.5% (subject to change without notice). Other benefits, subject to eligibility, include education grant, dependency allowance, home leave, pension fund, health insurance and 6 weeks annual leave. Staff members based in Gaza are entitled to additional benefits, subject to eligibility, including expanded leave provisions, hardship pay, and R&R leave currently every 8 weeks (according to the UN classification of the duty station and subject to change without notice). While Gaza is a non-family duty station, eligible staff members may set up a second household in a nearby location to have their family nearby. Initial contract is for one year, with the possibility of further extensions subject to the availability of funds, performance and the continuing need for the post.

How to Apply

To start the application process, applicants are required to register at http://jobs.unrwa.org by creating a personal profile and completing UNRWAPersonal History Form. Please note that UNRWA only accepts degrees from accredited educational institutions. Only applications received throughhttp://jobs.unrwa.orgwill be considered. Due to the large number of applications received for UNRWA vacancies, only applicants short-listed for interview will be contacted.

The United Nations does not charge fees at any stage of the recruitment process (application, testing, interviewing, etc.). The United Nations does not concern itself with information related to bank accounts.

General Information

UNRWA encourages applications from qualified women.

UNRWA welcomes applications from qualified candidates with disabilities.

UNRWA is a United Nations organization whose staff are expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity, neutrality and impartiality. This includes respect for and commitment to human rights, diversity, and non-violent means of dealing with all kinds of conflict. UNRWA staff are expected to uphold these values at all times, both at work and outside. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for UNRWA jobs. UNRWA is a non-smoking work environment.

The statutory retirement age for staff entering or re-entering service in the UN Common System after 1 January 1990 is 62 and 65 after 1 January 2014. For external applicants, only those who are expected to complete a term of appointment will normally 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.

On appointment, all individuals will be asked to sign a self-attestation, confirming that they have not committed, been convicted of, or prosecuted for, any criminal offence and that they have not been involved, by act or omission, in the commission of any violation of international human rights law or international humanitarian law.

Date of issue: 22 November 2016 / LAN

To start the application process, applicants are required to register at http://jobs.unrwa.org by creating a personal profile and completing UNRWAPersonal History Form. Please note that UNRWA only accepts degrees from accredited educational institutions. Only applications received throughhttp://jobs.unrwa.orgwill be considered. Due to the large number of applications received for UNRWA vacancies, only applicants short-listed for interview will be contacted.

The United Nations does not charge fees at any stage of the recruitment process (application, testing, interviewing, etc.). The United Nations does not concern itself with information related to bank accounts.