Protection & Neutrality Team Leader

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 Protection Team Leader reports to the Deputy Director of UNRWA Affairs (Programme) unless otherwise assigned by the Director of UNRWA Affairs. The position receives technical advice and strategic direction from the Chief Protection Division and the Senior Humanitarian Principles Coordinator both sitting in HQ Amman.

Responsibilities

– Oversees the leadership and management of the Protection Unit/Department through the daily supervision of relevant staff and the development and implementation of annual work-plans and operational plans in order to complete agreed-upon tasks with adequate resource mobilization, administration and logistical matters; provides mentoring of other staff at the field office level on technical issues related to protection and humanitarian principles as needed; – Leads the development and implementation of the protection strategy – both prevention and response – and operational measures to address protection issues at the field level in particular by providing technical guidance in support of programmes and other interlocutors in accordance with the Agency’s protection policy, framework and priorities to make sure that protection principles and standards are mainstreamed through UNRWA services through the programme cycle and the protection needs of Palestine refugees are addressed through a rights-based approach; – Acts as the technical focal point on all matters relating to humanitarian principles in the field office in line with Agency policies and frameworks ensuring that the concept is widely understood within the office and that related training and SOPs remain relevant; plays a key role in identifying potential concerns related to humanitarian principles, including by ensuring regular comprehensive integrated assessments of installations by senior programme area staff and undertaking spot check visits as necessary; – Provides coordination on all protection matters including the facilitation of protection coordination mechanisms and relevant working groups at the field and area level, and representing UNRWA in external Protection Clusters and other relevant coordination fora and with external protection partners including UNHCR, OHCHR, UNICEF, NGOs, civil society and government actors or other authorities with protection functions as relevant; – Provides technical guidance – in particular to programmes – on protection matters including general protection, gender, gender-based violence, child protection and disability and inclusion in accordance with Agency policies, frameworks, strategies and guidelines and ensures their implementation at the field level. This includes the translation of these approaches through in particular supporting programmes in the development of practical field-based guidelines, manuals, user-friendly tools, procedures, etc. for staff to apply in their day-to-day work as well as capacity building, quality assurance and monitoring and assessment of results and outcomes on protection. These field-based approaches shall build upon – and not replace – those already developed by programmes and ensure consistency between fields; – Leads the monitoring, documentation and reporting – as required – on external protection incidents, patterns and trends and provides analysis with the production of reports and other products so appropriate responses are implemented either through internal referrals to UNRWA services, external referrals or through advocacy with appropriate duty bearers (oversees data collection and other information management systems in this regard; – Conducts advocacy and humanitarian diplomacy based upon monitoring and documentation as well as analyses of protection and humanitarian issues with a range of interlocutors including duty bearers, including private meetings and reports, field briefings and public advocacy and communication activities.

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. – Leading and Supervising – Managing Complexity and Change – Applying Technical Expertise – Planning and Organizing – Analyzing 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 law, political or social sciences, or related field is required.

Job – Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible and relevant professional experience, including two years of experience with supervision and management of protection interventions and projects as part of humanitarian operations at the field 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 outside UNRWA, and outside the country(s) of citizenship is required. Demonstrable knowledge, understanding and experience of protection and humanitarian principles policies and approaches is required.

Languages

Excellent command of written and spoken English is required. Working knowledge of Arabic is desirable.

Assessment

Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice

This is a UN Regular Budget post. Type of Contract and duration: 2 years, with the possibility of further extension. The incumbent may be required to travel to other locations within UNRWA’s area of operations. 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 Personal History Profile (PHP) should be completed with full work experience under the experience tabs as per the requirements in the Job Opening. UNRWA welcomes applications from qualified candidates with disabilities. A roster may be created from the selection exercise, and successful candidates may become eligible for appointment to the same post or a similar post. 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 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.

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY FOR PALESTINE REFUGEES IN THE NEAR EAST (UNRWA) DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE OR REQUEST MONEY FROM CANDIDATES AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT AND ONBOARDING PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING, ONBOARDING). UNRWA DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.