Deputy Representative at UNHCR Rwanda: (Deadline 9 November 2023)

Deputy Representative at UNHCR Rwanda: (Deadline 9 November 2023)

A (least hardship)

Family

PR5

Professional

* Staff members will not normally serve in International Professional positions in the country of their nationality. In addition, in case of a first appointment upon recruitment, the assignment must be outside the staff member’s country of nationality.

In practical terms this means that you are not eligible to apply for International Professional vacancies advertised in the country where you are national of.

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

No

2023-10-13

November 9, 2023

Deputy Representative – Operations

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Deputy Representative – Operations will function under direct supervision of the UNHCR Representative. The incumbent will advise and assist the Representative in the overall management of UNHCR’s programme and administrative activities and issues of concern within the country operation in an effective and efficient manner which supports the Organization¿s mandate. The incumbent will also have direct working relationship/arrangement with the Head of UNHCR offices within the country. He/she will also have a responsibility to monitor, coach, and guide and intervene with the staff in the country.
UNHCR is well integrated into the UN Resident Coordinator System.

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 the Representative in the overall management of UNHCR¿s programme and administrative activities and issues of concern within the country of assignment in an effective and efficient manner which supports the Organization¿s mandate.
– Promote, together with the Representative, UNHCR¿s objectives and priorities through formal and informal contacts with relevant government ministries and departments, UN Agencies, diplomatic missions, I/NGOs, media and other interested parties to raise support for the work of UNHCR.
– Assist the Representative in supervising the implementation of the country operations plan to ensure that activities are in accordance with UNHCR guidelines.
– Monitor the administration of field offices within the country.
– Ensure effective and efficient management of financial and material resources within the rules and procedures of UNHCR.
– Manage personnel through regular performance appraisals, coaching, and assessments of staff training and development needs.
– Ensure that essential services for the general welfare of staff (e.g. living and working conditions, health, education, recreation, etc.) are in place. This includes the establishment of proper and efficient mechanisms to assist staff suffering from work-related pressure or post-traumatic stress.
– Play an active role in the Security Management team (SMT) in the relevant country and the inter-agency security and contingency planning process; ensure that appropriate security measures and evacuation plans are in place to protect UNHCR staff, and that security guidelines and procedures as outlined by the Designated Official and UNDSS are complied with.
– Report and provide recommendations/solutions to the Representative on political, socio-economic and cultural developments that may affect the situation of the refugees in the country.
– Act as Officer-in-Charge in the absence of the Representative as required.
– Set and enforce parameters, criteria and deadlines for the design, review and report of operations.
– Enforce local compliance with UNHCR¿s workplace standards.
– In coordination with headquarters and the regional office enforce country-level compliance with UNHCR¿s financial rules.
– Enforce compliance with UNHCR¿s human resources policies (e.g. policies on gender, disabilities, diversity, ethics and HIV/AIDS).
– Allocate resources to meet minimum standards for staff working and living conditions
– Clear the submission of the country operations plan (including budgets, staffing levels and structures) as well as of funding submissions, appeals and report.
– Represent UNHCR in UN and other operations management fora.
– Enforce compliance with UNHCR¿s global strategies, protocols and guidelines.

– Lead risk assessments and discussions with team(s) to proactively manage risks and seize opportunities impacting objectives. Ensure that risk management principles are integrated in decision-making both at strategic and operational levels. Allocate resources for planned treatments with resource requirements in Strategic Plans. Ensure that risks are managed to acceptable levels and escalate, as needed. If a Risk Owner, designate the Risk Focal Point and certify that the annual risk review is completed and ensure that the risk register is updated during the year, as needed.
– Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications
Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P5 – 12 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 11 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 10 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
Business Administration; Economics; International Relations;
Political Science; International Law; or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses
HCR Management Lrng Prg; HCR Protection Learning Prg;
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Not specified.

Desirable
– Solid UNHCR experience from both the Field and Headquarters.
– UNHCR specific learning/ training activities (i.e. Management Learning Programme, Protection Learning Programme).

Functional Skills
EX-Intergovernmental Organization/International Organization (United Nations or similar);
EX-Field experience with UNHCR and/or with other humanitarian organizations;
EX-HQs experience with UNHCR and/or with other humanitarian organizations;
(Functional Skills 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.

All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power.

As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.

In view of the Office’s role for managerial oversight, technical guidance, and support to operations in the country, the incumbent of the position should have strong technical capacity and experience in Operations coordination, budgets management and conversant with different systems and policies used for planning, implementing and reporting.

The ideal candidate should have experience in and ability to serve in a variety of functional areas, including capacity development and systematic monitoring and advocacy regarding policy and practices.

The incumbent must be able to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing in English.

S/he should have a proven record of leading/working with functionally and culturally diverse teams. Strong interpersonal and communication skills, diplomacy as well as a mature approach, are a must for the position. The incumbent is expected to be a forward-thinker and solutions-oriented.
S/he is expected to have relevant technical and operational capacity, political sensitivity, and experience in managing Inter-Agency fora, donor relations and partnerships as well as good negotiation skills for advocacy.
Due to the nature of the work, the incumbent is expected be pro-active and prompt to address complex and dynamics situations and remain calm under stressful situations.

Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations

Nature of Position

The UNHCR Rwanda Operations manages a refugee population originating mainly from the Democratic Republic of Congo and have been mostly in Rwandan since 1996 in addition to Burundian refugees who also moved to Rwanda due to the volatile Burundi situation since April 2015.  The total refugee population, asylum seekers and persons at risk of statelessness is 135,733 as of end September 2023. There is also a small population of Rwandan refugees returning after many years in exile. In addition, Rwanda operation receives asylum seekers who continue to flee from Northern Eastern DRC Congo as the conflict persists. Refugees are hosted in 5 camps across the country. The biggest camp hosts about 60,000 refugees as of October 2023. The Operation is also providing assistance to a small number of evacuees from Libya and hosted at an Emergency Transit Mechanism (ETM) facility in Gashora. The ETM can host up to 700 individuals at a time.

The country is subject to some natural disaster like flooding and/or landslide that affect thousands of households yearly.

The operation comprises the Country Branch Office in Kigali, one Sub office Kirehe, and 4 Field offices/units in Gashora, Karongi, Kabarore, Huye and Rubavu with about  245 staff members including affiliate workforce and deployees.

As a core member of the Senior Management team of UNHCR Rwanda, the Deputy Representative reports to the Representative, and support her in managing strategic operational matters and develop coherent, consistent, and effective responses to the challenges faced in delivering UNHCR’s protection and programme to refugees, and our administrative activities.  She/he will be expected to liaise with a large variety of actors, including Headquarters’ focal persons, Regional Bureau, Government authorities, Diplomats, the UN Resident Coordinator office, Heads or deputy of sister agencies, International Humanitarian actors, partners, and other key stakeholders. The incumbent represents UNHCR in the UNCT programme management team (PMT) leading the development of the UN Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF).

She/he will lead the planning process and submission of the UNHCR country operations budgets, staffing levels, structures, and funding submissions as well as reporting.

The incumbent will be directly monitoring and guiding the programme unit, technical experts (WASH, Energy, monitoring, etc.), the MFT, the Head of Sub/Field offices in UNHCR Rwanda Operation. She/he should keep abreast of Security, Political and other Developments relevant to the protection, environment and population movements.

Living and Working Conditions

The Republic of Rwanda is a landlocked country in the Great Lakes region of east-central Africa, bordered by Uganda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tanzania. UNHCR enjoys cordial working relations with Government Officials, other UN Agencies and Partners. Basic health facilities are available with a UN Dispensary that can provide 1st Aid assistance and guidance. Domestic supplies are available on the market. Housing conditions in the capital Kigali are of good standard and rents are reasonable. There are good international schools existing in Kigali at the primary and secondary levels. The main airport in Kigali has several international flights with easy connections to the region.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Bachelor of Arts (BA): Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Economics, Bachelor of Arts (BA): International Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA): International Relations, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Political Science

Certifications

HCR Management Learning Program – UNHCR, HCR Protection Learning Program – UNHCR

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Leadership, Managing performance, Managing resource, Organizational awareness, Political awareness, Stakeholder management, Strategic planning & visions, Teamwork & collaboration

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Compendium

Bi-annual Compendium 2023 Part B – October 2023

Additional Information