Careers opportunities – UNHCR United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees – Yaounde, Cameroon: Representative D1

Representative D1

locations
Yaounde, Cameroon
time type
Full time

job requisition id
JR2328023
Only candidates who are not nationals of the country of assignment are eligible to apply to this position
Hardship Level

B

Family Type

Family
Residential location (if applicable)

Grade

DI1
Staff Member / Affiliate Type

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
Remote work accepted

Non
Target Start Date

2023-10-13
Job Posting End Date: November 9, 2023

Standard Job Description

Representative

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
As the High Commissioner¿s senior representative in the country, the Representative provides managerial leadership and oversight to ensure UNHCR’s effective performance in the country of her/his assignment. The incumbent usually manages a budget of USD 6 million and above.

Reporting to the Director of the Bureau, the Representative is responsible and accountable for translating organizational and Bureau-wide objectives and policies into effective programs. Through a continuous process of situational analysis, the Representative works with his/her team to identify strategic objectives and develop coherent, consistent and effective responses to the challenges faced. He/she is responsible for ensuring the adequate provision of technical support and guidance to the office to enable them to fulfill their accountabilities, including those outlined in the Terms of Reference of UNHCR offices as well as the Age, Gender and Diversity Accountability Framework.

The Representative works to ensure that UNHCR is widely perceived as an effective and trusted partner. S/he is responsible for creating effective networks, relationships, partnerships, and synergies with governments, NGOs, relevant regional politics and other forums, civil society, persons of concern and other key strategic partners and actors. He/she lends visibility to important strategic issues, promotes concerted action and the commitment of sufficient resources and expertise to address important matters of concern to UNHCR. UNHCR is well integrated into the UN Resident Coordinator System.

In a complex and demanding political and operational environment, the Representative strives to build a dynamic and sufficiently capacitated team. S/he devolves appropriate authorities, facilitates the sharing of expertise and best practice and creates a climate of collaboration, which aims to empower and motivate colleagues to approach challenges with insight and innovation and to work toward measurable and effective results. The Representative is responsible to ensure a vibrant Multi-Functional Team approach is established and employed at different stages of the operations management cycle, including in program monitoring, and engaging the participation of relevant functions within the operation. S/he has a responsibility to inform the Bureau and other relevant parties at Headquarters of key political and operational developments in a timely manner.

The behaviors and actions of the Representative must always reflect the core values ​​and principles embodied in UNHCR’s mandate. A failure on the part of the Representative to adhere to these standards would have negative implications for UNHCR¿s credibility, operations and, ultimately, the protection and well-being of persons of concern to the Office.

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
Strategic Direction
– Stay abreast of the challenges posed by the local political context.
– Manage a consultative process within the country operations and with external partners.
– Develop and implement a comprehensive communications strategy that generates political and financial support for UNHCR¿s operations. Mobilize financial support for UNHCR corporate priorities as well as for country specific projects.

Operations
– Implement a results-oriented approach, engaging a robust Multi-Functional Team, for assessing, designing, delivering and monitoring the country operation.
– Ensure that the protection strategy is fully integrated into the country operations plan and that necessary resources are allocated to it.
– Ensure the country operations¿s adherence to UNHCR¿s policy on Age, Gender and Diversity Mainstreaming (AGDM).
– Ensure the country operation plans are consistent with the regional and global strategic priorities; manage a participatory process, with stakeholders, to apply UNHCR¿s standards and indicators in assessing and measuring the performance of the country operations.
– Promote accession to the Convention and Protocol and ensure the application of protection standards in the treatment of persons of concern especially women and children.
– Ensure persons of concern, especially women and children, have access to relevant information; ensure that cases of sexual violence and abuse against girls and boys are reported and dealt with expeditiously.
– Ensure the engagement of UNHCR in the UNCT, UN common programming, planning and funding activities and to actively contribute in the establishment of the CCA/UNDAF and the consequent joint implementation activities.
– Participate in the Cluster approach, ensure UNHCR¿s Cluster Lead role and implement other IASC and inter-agency/UN policies.
– Ensure that risks to the operation¿s objectives are regularly assessed, priority risks are identified and risk treatments for the priority risks form an integral part of the operations plans.

Resource Management
– Ensure that staff and financial resources are commensurate with operational objectives.
– Ensure effective and efficient management of resources within the rules and procedures of UNHCR.
– Establish and manage local administrative mechanisms such as a Local Contracts (or Purchasing) Committee, Local Asset Management Board and APPC.
– Ensure local compliance with UNHCR¿s human resources (HR) policies including on gender, disabilities, diversity, ethics and HIV/AIDS.
– Manage a process of recruitment, assignment and reassignment of local staff for the country operation, in accordance with UN/UNHCR rules and procedures.
– Where necessary, identify the most appropriate affiliate workforce and optimize its use.
– In coordination with the Global Learning Centre, ensure that the learning needs of UNHCR¿s workforce in the country are identified, assessed and addressed.
– Exercise effective managerial oversight, direction, guidance and support and conduct regular performance appraisals and coaching.

Security
– In close collaboration with the Designated Official (DO), UNDSS and UN country team/Security Management Team (SMT), gather and analyze information on the local security situation and play an active role in the inter-agency security and contingency planning processes .
– Ensure that appropriate security measures are in place to protect staff, and that the country operation complies with UN MOSS/MORSS staff security rules, guidelines and procedures.
– Represent UNHCR in the UNCT/Humanitarian Country Team and other inter-agency forums.
– Decide on the country strategy and priorities, country operations plans, and approve the country operations protection strategy.
– Enforce local compliance with UNHCR¿s global protection, program, finance and human resources and security policies and standards.
– Negotiate and sign local agreements with implementing and operational partners.
– Authorize payments as per the organization¿s Delegation of Authority Plan (DOAP) and in accordance with UN/UNHCR rules and procedures.
– Modify operational projects and reallocate funds, within the approved budgets and in respect of donor earmarking.

– Lead risk assessments and discussions with team(s) to proactively manage risks and sixteen 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 D1 – 17 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 16 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 15 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
Business Administration; International Relations; Law;
Political Science; Social Science; or other relevant field.
(Field(s) of Education marked with an asterisk* are essential)

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

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
– Extensive knowledge of UNHCR operations and services. Extensive knowledge of UNHCR operations and services.
– A high level of skill in management of broad programs, political decision making and negotiating, as well as demonstrated tolerance to frequently changing and highly charged situations.
– Ability to lead strategic planning, change processes, results-based management and reporting.
– Ability to lead formulation, oversight of implementation, monitoring and evaluation of operations.
– Ability to manage for results: translates strategic aims into achievable plans, with established priorities, monitors them, making periodic adjustments as required.
– Ability to effectively represent UNHCR at the senior level in internal and external meetings and to build strong relationships with clients.
Desirable
– Knowledge of geo-political realities and their socio-cultural implications.

Functional Skills
MG-Client Relationship Management
MG-Change Management
PG-Programme Management (project formulation, program cycles and reporting standards)
PG-Results-Based Management
UN-UN/UNHCR Inter-agency Policies, Standards, Programs, and Partnerships
UN-UN /UNHCR Mandate and Global Strategic Priorities
MG-Field Operations Management
MG-Political Decision Making
MG-Country/Regional Office Representation
UN-Analysis of geo-political realities and their socio-cultural implications
(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, supporting 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.

Desired Candidate Profile

In view of the political and security complexity of the situation in Cameroon, the ideal candidate for this position should have strong prior experience in managing large Refugees and IDP operations.

S/he should be a well-rounded professional with a broad range of experience in fostering relationships at the inter-agency level, fund-raising and crucially working with different donors and stakeholders, especially development donors to further the inclusion of the forcibly displaced ( refugees and IDPs) in national policies and services.

S/he should be politically-savvy in understanding the issues of importance to UNHCR but also those that may be detrimental to our image and humanitarian principles.

He/ She should be able to manage constantly changing needs and adapt/respond to its demanding challenges due to the geo-political constraints and requirements in Cameroon and neighboring countries.

He/she requires a solid experience in negotiating with high level national authorities to implement the protection and solutions strategies in a very complex security and political transition environment.

The ideal candidate for this position should have proven leadership and strong interpersonal skills. Proven experience in the management of staff and resources related to the activities encompassing strategic initiative for comprehensive and sustainable operational plans are therefore essential.
Required languages ​​(expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):

French
,

All applications must be submitted ONLINE at: 

https://unhcr.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/fr-FR/External/details/Representative-D1_JR2328023