Senior Field Assistant

General Background 

UNHCR has an official presence in Deir Ezzor governorate which is located in the east area of Syria through the Field Unit (FU) reports to Sub-Office Qamishli in Hassakeh governorate.

• Deir Ezzor governorate went through heavy armed conflicts in the past years, this resulted in massive displacements of the population. The level of destruction was so high in different aspects, mainly in infrastructure and shelter at house-hold level as well as loss of livelihood in both urban and rural areas.
• Recently, Deir Ezzor governorate witnesses a high number of returnees including IDPs and refugee and return from camps to their places of origin after several years of multi-displacement. Many of the families returned to the abandon houses. Eventually, the families return to damaged houses without doors and windows, and a proper WASH and electricity facilities.
• UNHCR is providing the assistance for the returnee families through the provision of NFIs, shelter assistances, protection services under the area-based approach. In addition, UNHCR is planning and implementing several livelihood interventions in rural and urban areas. Due to the fact that Agriculture is the main livelihood income resource for the population effected heavily by the conflicts, and because of the damaged/ destroyed irrigation pump stations which have become non-functional. The farmers face difficulties and obstacles to irrigate their lands in rural areas and to reintegrate in communities.
• Therefore, shelter, livelihood, area-based interventions of small scales projects and NFI interventions require extensive field visits including tracking of the return movements, evaluation of projects, assessments of the needs at Head of Household level, prepare the technical related documents for direct implementation modality. In addition to monitor the implementation and provide technical support and suggest relevant course of action on UNHCR projects.
• Due to the unstable security situation in the governorate, the expectation of displacement movement should be in consideration. The incumber will support in providing the required information to the head of field unit and sub sector coordinator for contingency plans once required.
• Furthermore, the incumbent will carry out post-distribution monitoring visits, receives and analyses the feedback from the community and propose interventions accordingly and to ensure that the provided services met the needs of the people who UNHCR is work for and with.

Desired Candidate Profile

• Proven communication skills both oral and written, and excellent drafting skills is preferable.
• Very good Knowledge of the local context in Northeast Syria (Hassakeh, Raqqa and Deir Ezzor), including the political and socio-economic situation.
• Excellent experience in coordination and managing relations with multiple stakeholders.
• Excellent liaison skills with partners to ensure standardization of provided protection services.
• Solid field background, including a concrete experience in infrastructure projects as well as shelter projects at HH level and non-food items.
• Previous work experience with UN and partners in the humanitarian field is preferred.

Standard Job Description 

Senior Field Assistant

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

• The Senior Field Assistant is normally supervised by the (Senior) Field Officer/Associate and performs a variety of functions related to Field activities within the office. The supervisor defines work processes and provides regular advice and guidance.
• The incumbent keeps frequent internal contacts with staff members in the same duty station to exchange information and with the external contacts generally with officials of national and international institutions, leaders of the refugee community, local population and/or Implementing Partners (IPs) on routine subject matters under the direction of the supervisor.
• All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR’s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties

• Assist in monitoring the implementation of UNHCR programme including the delivery of all assistance items and monitoring of infrastructure.
• Assist in administrative tasks as required such as preparation of reports and meeting authorized personnel and assisting them during field missions.
• Act as interpreter in the exchange of routine information, contribute to related liaison activities and respond directly to routine queries.
• Collect data and other information relevant to UNHCR and report to the supervisor accordingly.
• Keep regular contacts with local authorities and implementing partners as requested by supervisor.
• In coordination with implementing partners, assist in the reception, registration and provision of assistance to persons of concern to UNHCR.
• Follow up, on a regular basis, the overall situation of persons of concern in camps and other areas where they have been accommodated and report accordingly.
• Liaise with local authority counterparts, partners and populations of concern.
• Direct incidents and problems to the supervisor when they cannot be resolved at their level.
• Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
• Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Professional Work Experience

Years of Experience / Degree Level

• G5 – 2 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 1 year relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Certificates and/or Licenses

• Business Administration Law Political Science
• (Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements

• For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
• For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.
• For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

Source: https://unhcr.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/External/job/Deir-Ezzor-Syria/Senior-Field-Assistant_JR2446147