Chief Field Relief & Social Services Programme

UNRWA is the largest United Nations programme in the Middle East. It provides Education, Health Care, Relief Assistance and Social Services to Palestine refugees. UNRWA is currently inviting applications from qualified men and women for the following opening in our West Bank Field Office in Jerusalem:

Vacancy Announcement Number   VN/WB/085/09/X
Deadline for Applications                 30 November 2009
Duty Station                                        Field Office - Jerusalem

1-FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
In accordance with established Agency policy and procedures, the incumbent is responsible for the overall management and supervision of the Agency’s Relief and Social Services Programme in a Field to which assigned in compliance with UNRWA’s overall policies; develops, administers, and monitors the programme’s activities; approves the annual work plan, recommends the budget and controls the programme’s financial and other resources; advises the Field Director and DRSS on the Agency’s Relief and Social Services activities and proposes policy changes to the DRSS; assesses priority needs among disadvantaged refugees in the Field and evaluates appropriateness and effectiveness of the Programme services; proposes areas of intervention to meet the refugees’ needs, additional programme activities and methods of their implementation;
guides the process of project development; recommends projects for approval and supervises the implementation of projects; approves eligibility for registration; supervises maintenance of refugees records and family files, and preparation of related statistics; supervises the Relief and Social Services sub-programmes including the Special Hardship Programme, controls the eligibility for admission to the subprogrammes and approves various forms of social assistance; guides the Programme’s human resources and ensures provision of a need based technical training; conducts surveys; plans and supervises emergency programmes as and when need arises; co-ordinates on multi-sectoral activities with the Agency’s other programme departments; liaises and co-ordinates activities with other UN agencies, private institutions, governmental and non-governmental organizations involved in provision of relief and social services to the refugee community in the field of operation; briefs delegations representing donor governments, NGOs and media on RSS services; serves as a member of the Field Contracts Committee, Field Property Survey Board and the Micro-credit Community
Support Programme (MCSP) Loan Approving Committee; performs such other duties as may be assigned.

2- IMPACT OF INCUMBENT’S WORK
a-Importance of decisions and proposals made by the incumbent Decisions are usually related to managerial aspects of the programme activities to ensure compliance with the approved Agency policies and procedures and to improve the effectiveness of management tools used in a Field _to which assigned, organization of services and ensuring optimal use of human, financial and other resources available.
Proposals cover both managerial and technical aspects of the programme.
Such proposals relate to major decisions that need to be cleared by the Field Director or DRSS and might have major administrative, financial, programmatic and political implications.
b- Possible consequences of involuntary errors made by the incumbent:
Oversight or errors may lead management to wrong decisions, which could have serious administrative, financial and political, or policy implications.

3-INDEPENDENCE OF WORK
a-Application of guidelines
The Relief and Social Services Department’s mission and strategic development goals govern the overall technical management of the programme. The work is carried out in accordance with the approved Agency policies, Rules and Regulations, Personnel Directives, Budget technical Instructions and technical instructions and guidelines pertaining to the programme such as Eligibility for Registration Instructions, Relief Services Instructions for the Special hardship Program, Guidelines for MCSP.
b-Supervisory control over work of incumbent
Close administrative supervision is provided by the Field Director and technical guidance form the DRSS is essential to ensure compliance with the approved policies and procedures.

4- MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
-Advanced university degree in social sciences, public administration, management or related field.
-Ability to operate standard computer software used by the Agency such as Ms Word, Excel, Access, Outlook, Internet Explorer.
-Ten years experience in relief services and / or social development programmes, five of which should have been in a senior management position in a large humanitarian assistance organization, offering similar services to those provided by UNRWA.
-Excellent command of spoken and written English and Arabic.
-Possession of a valid driving license.
-Knowledge of the socio-economics conditions of the Palestine refugees.

5-CONDITIONS OF SERVICE
UNRWA offers an attractive compensation package as detailed here after:
GRADE : 20
MONTHLY BASE SALARY : 1198.9JD (net tax free), + 45% of base salary as SPOA
ALLOWANCES : NIS 510 as W/B Special Allowance + Currency Adjustment Factor tied to the exchange rates.
DEPENDENCY ALLOWANCE : Payable to spouse and up to seven children
PROVIDENT FUND : UNRWA contributes 15% of basic salary as the Agency’s share to the Provident Fund
OTHER FRINGE BENEFITS : Annual leave & Subsidized health insurance
DATE FOR ENTRY ON DUTY : As soon as possible
Initial contract is for 3 years; the first year is considered as a probationary period, and the contract is extendable for further periods depending on the performance of the incumbent.

6- HOW TO APPLY
-To start filling the application, applicants are required to create a profile and complete UN Personal History form (P11) at www.unrwajobs.org.
Please note that only applications received through this site will be considered.
Deadline for submitting applications is 30 November 2009
-For any assistance, you can call the mobile number 0542168658 during the working hours (7:15am – 14:45pm) – Monday to Friday.
-Appointment to this post is subject to Probationary period of one year.
Upon satisfactory completion of this period, Appointment will be confirmed subject to continuing need for the post.
-Candidates with an equivalent combination of relevant academic qualifications, professional training and progressive work experience may also be considered
-Candidates who are seriously considered will only be invited.
-UNRWA is an equal opportunity employer.

7-General Information
UNRWA encourages applications from qualified and experienced women. UNRWA welcomes applications from qualified candidates with disabilities. This vacancy notice is open to internal and external candidates. First priority will be given to fully qualified staff members; second to fully qualified external and internal Palestine refugees. An internal candidate with a temporary-indefinite or fixed-term appointment selected for this post will
retain his/her current contractual status and entitlements in accordance with current letter of appointment and applicable Area Staff Rules.
UNRWA is a United Nations organization whose staff is expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity, neutrality and impartiality. This includes respect for human rights, for diversity, and for non-violent means of dealing with all kinds of conflict. UNRWA staff is 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.
The United Nations does not charge fees at any stage of recruitment process
(application, testing, interviewing, etc). The United Nations does not
concern itself with information on bank accounts.