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 Chief Protection Division reports to the Deputy Commissioner-General (Programmes and Partnerships). The Chief Protection Division supervises a range of professional and general services posts. S/he is responsible for leading, managing coordinating and supporting the development and implementation of policies, practices and activities related to the protection of Palestine refugees in all the fields of the Agency’s operations.

Responsibilities

Plans, directs and manages the work of the Protection Division at Headquarters, ensuring a rights-based approach that upholds the dignity, safety and agency of Palestine refugees; oversees work planning, staff supervision, and financial management in line with the Agency’s strategic objectives; and creates an inclusive work environment where diverse staff, regardless of identity, culture or situation, feel valued and contribute their expertise, energy and creativity to the work of the Agency. Leads the strengthening of the Agency’s protection function across its programmes, operations, and external engagements, ensuring that the Agency’s approach and direction continue to be anchored in international human rights and humanitarian law as it navigates political, financial and operational challenges. Provides strategic leadership on disability inclusion, gender equity, and child safeguarding, working closely with the Executive Office, Field Offices, Programmes and Departments; oversees Agency-wide reporting and implementation under the UN Disability Inclusion Strategy and UN System-Wide Action Plan on Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women; and supports the strengthening of the Agency’s accountability to Palestine refugees, including through inclusive participation, two-way communication, and responsive community feedback mechanisms. Leads on the Agency’s protection advocacy strategy, working closely with the External Relations and Communications Department, Executive Office, Representative Offices and Liaison Office in Geneva, to raise matters related to the rights of Palestine refugees with appropriate duty bearers, including host governments and third-party member states, including privately and through public advocacy; coordinates submissions to the international human rights and justice mechanisms, working closely with protection teams in the fields as well as the Department of Legal Affairs, ensuring a consistent Agency-wide approach in line with the overall protection advocacy strategy. Develops and supports protection programming at the field level to address specific protection risks and gaps, specifically through providing technical support, guidance, and advice to protection teams and front offices in the field offices. Ensures that adequate protection policies, guidance, tools and procedures are in place across the Agency and that they reflect best practice and complement UNRWA’s programmes; provides practical information and guidance to staff and identifies protection training needs. Strengthens the application of humanitarian principles by working closely with the Neutrality Unit, including by providing guidance to protection field teams on integrated assessments of UNRWA installations and training for staff. Develops and manages key partnerships with other UN agencies, non-governmental organizations, and governmental bodies as relevant that are working on the human rights of Palestine refugees to enhance service delivery and protection, particularly for the most vulnerable.

Competencies

UN Core Values of lntegrity, 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. Functional: i. Leading and Supervising ii. Applying Technical Expertise iii. Planning and Organizing iv. Deciding and Initiating Action Leadership (as applicable): i. Managing Complexity and Change ii. Creating and Maintaining Impact and Partnership

Education

An advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) from an accredited educational institution in law, social or political science, international relations or related fields, preferably with a focus on international human rights, humanitarian law and/or refugee law.

Job - Specific Qualification

Not available.

Work Experience

At least ten years of progressively responsible and relevant experience in country-wide or regional protection operations or human rights is required. At least five years at a senior international level in positions of significant responsibility in country-wide or regional protection operations or human rights is required. Unless already serving as an international staff member in the UN Common System, a candidate for an international post must have at least two continuous years of relevant international experience outside UNRWA, and outside the country(s) of which the candidate is a national or holds citizenship, a passport or a national identity number is required. Work experience with the United Nations Common System is desirable. Field experience is desirable. Candidates are required to make a declaration as to whether they have any current or past affiliations with non-governmental organisations, academic institutions, political organisations, military, or have/are engaged in activities or have made any public statements, that could be seen to impact their neutrality, objectivity or independence in the performance of their duties for the UN / UNRWA. Any declaration will not necessarily disqualify candidates from consideration for this post. For UNRWA internal staff: Do you currently hold a contract of 1 year or more with UNRWA? If yes, please confirm whether you have completed your mandatory probation period is required.

Languages

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 asked to travel throughout UNRWA’s five fields of operation based on operational requirements. 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. All university degrees must also be stated, where applicable. UNRWA personnel must ensure adding their contract type and grade level. Given the large pool of applicants, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further assessment. Providing incorrect or misleading information on an application form will result in the immediate disqualification of the candidate. Advertisements published in English will only accept applications in English, other language submissions will not be considered. 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, when the need arises. 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. The Agency disqualifies applicants whose name appears on the UN Sanctions List or a UN database of staff separated for reason of misconduct or of staff who separated while a misconduct process was pending. UNRWA shares investigation and misconduct information with other UN Agencies, and past and prospective employers about staff members who have been separated for misconduct, or who have separated while an investigation and/or disciplinary process for misconduct is underway; and those individuals may be prohibited from employment with the United Nations. 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.