Job Openings at United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

Procedures and Eligibility
    

Before submitting an application, UNHCR staff members intending to apply to this Job Opening are requested to consult the Recruitment and Assignments Policy (RAP, UNHCR/HCP/2017/2 and the Recruitment and Assignments Administrative Instruction (RAAI), UNHCR/AI/2017/7 OF 15 August 2017.
    
Duties and Qualifications
    
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

Access to clean, affordable and reliable energy services is integral part of the humanitarian response and an essential factor in creating sustainable economic development. Sustainable energy services are essential for basic human protection and aim to enable refugees, IDPs, host communities and other persons of concern to meet their energy needs in a safe, sustainable and affordable way, recognizing the critical importance of access to sustainable energy to ensure basic needs, improve human protection and well-being, and foster communities¿ inclusiveness.
Energy services provide cooking, lighting, heating and clean water, and underpin all but the most rudimentary income-earning activities. Energy poverty leads to insecurity, increased risk of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), reduced development opportunities, health problems and environmental degradation.
In line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), access to clean energy could vastly improve the health and well-being of millions of persons.

The Energy Officer will provide technical support to the Organisation to meet the increasing demands of operations for access of persons of concern (PoCs) to sustainable energy as well as reducing costs and carbon footprint. This dedicated expertise and experience would provide continuity and enhance institutional knowledge in this technical area, mainstreaming energy as a cross-cutting issue across UNHCR operations and within internal guiding frameworks such as the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF). The incumbent will typically report to the Senior Programme Officer / Senior Operations or Deputy /Assistant Representative.

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

• Support implementation of the sustainable energy strategies in coordination with partners, government and private sector.
• Be a catalyst for all sustainable energy initiatives.
• Assess, identify and analyse cost effective and appropriate sources of alternative energy for cooking, lighting and electricity in collaboration with all actors, including private sector, development agencies and governmental institutions.
• Support with the design of specific projects and pilot energy for cooking, lighting and powering, including renewable energy, with a view towards enhancing self-reliance, education and protection.
• Work in close collaboration and emphasize the multi-sectoral links of Energy with Environment, Protection, Shelter and Settlement and Public Health and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene.
• Assist with the coordination with government, line ministries and NGO partners to implement a robust and appropriate renewable energy strategy and technologies that promote sustainable patterns of consumption and production, make efficient use of natural resources and ensure safety
• Support the monitoring and coordination of all sustainable energy activities.
• Provide support to identify, establish and maintain links with relevant organizations to ensure access to sustainable energy for both PoCs and the surrounding areas.
• Work in multi-functional team approach and work in close collaboration with Programme and other technical experts, to ensure energy based interventions are approached from a cross-sectoral perspective.
• Ensure that minimum best practices are met to assure health and safety standards across all sustainable energy and energy efficient technologies.
• Document each stage of project development including monitoring, testing, trouble shooting, lessons learned and solutions applied to assure institutional knowledge development.
• Contribute to development of effective communication channels between all key stakeholders and promote the sharing of information on energy related activities.
• Stay informed of all governmental/national electrical/renewable developments to assure legal and advantageous energy incentives are explored.
• Support the representation of UNHCR in relevant international meetings and technical fora.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Professional Work Experience

Years of Experience / Degree Level

For P3/NOC - 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education

• Energy; Energy Engineering; Environment; Environmental Engineering;
• Environmental Sciences or other relevant field.
• (Field(s) of Education marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Certificates and/or Licenses

• Environment Environment Interventions Emergency
• (Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience

Essential:

• Experience in working in humanitarian situations and proven knowledge of sustainable energy and technical skills in set-up, design and monitoring of energy programmes from a multi-sectoral and protection perspective

Desirable:

Knowledge and understanding of international policies and regulations on energy. Knowledge of renewable energy, including financial, regulatory and/or policy frameworks, renewable energy financial management (including community involvement and capacity issues), renewable energy business development (including business planning, entrepreneurship development). Experience of cost recovery systems, metering, energy audits and comparative analyses of fuel and energy systems

Functional Skills

• *EX-Experience in an international, decentralized and/or multinational environment;
• *EX-Experience in complex field emergencies;
• EX-Field experience in emergency and/or large-scale settings;
• SP-Experience of hybrid technologies/energy measurmt & controls/CHP & energy effic measurt
• SP-Emerging environmentally sustainable and appropriate technologies, and renewable energy
• SP-Environment - Solar/wind systems knowledge
• (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.

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.
    
Position Competencies

• C001L3 - Accountability Level 3
• C002L3 - Teamwork & Collaboration Level 3
• C003L3 - Communication Level 3
• C004L3 - Commitment to Continuous Learning Level 3
• C005L3 - Client & Result Orientation Level 3
• C006L3 - Organizational Awareness Level 3
• M001L3 - Empowering and Building Trust Level 3
• M003L3 - Judgement and Decision Making Level 3
• X001L3 - Analytical Thinking Level 3
• X002L3 - Innovation and Creativity Level 3
• X003L3 - Technological Awareness Level 3

    
Additional  Information
    

Please note that UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, travelling, processing, training or any other fees).
    
Additional  Information
    

The UNHCR workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages and opinions. UNHCR seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.

go to method of application »

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

• Establish a system for the identification, catalysation and scaling up of promising practices within UNHCR, which enables that existing and/or emerging innovations are scaled to increase value for refugees and other PoC, for Partners, and for UNHCR.
• Foster the establishment of strategic partnerships with external actors and individuals, including from academia, civil society, and small, as well as large scale private sector organisations.
• Provide ongoing support to multiple innovation projects as a team-member, bringing skills, experiences, and expertise       in innovation processes to bear with other internal stakeholders requiring support, and with other members of the Innovation Service.
• Focus on supporting the build-up of evidence to scale already supported projects within the Innovation Service.
• Provide remote support and technical guidance in monitoring and evidence-building to UNHCR operations which are in the scale up phase of pilot initiatives.
• Apply relevant research, evidence and data-driven decision making to support UNHCR and Partners in the scale up of programmes, through assisting in documenting, codifying and disseminating key programme processes and lessons learned.
• Ensure that innovative solutions build-on/strengthen existing local capacities, including community representation and coordination structures.
• Work with UNHCR operations to strengthen buy-in, commitment and resourcing for projects which are ready to scale ¿ ensuring sustainability and/or scalability of innovations.
• Develop and share guidance and tools, based on field testing, to provide practical support to humanitarian actors.
• Ensure that AGD sensitive analyses, rights and community-based approaches inform human-centred design processes.
• Through direct engagement with key networks, stay abreast of practices around scaling innovations in humanitarian settings and provide thought leadership to external actors.
• Actively build appropriate partnerships with national, regional and global actors to leverage expertise and bring in required skills and appropriate resources at field level.
• Manage funding opportunities for project partners or UNHCR field operations, either thought the management of a fund or supporting projects managed by innovation fund opportunities.
• Liaise internally with key stakeholders including the Division of International Protection and the Division of Resilience and Solutions to ensure coherency of approaches.
• Stay abreast of new innovations and technologies; especially those with the potential to support scaling initiatives.
• Work collaboratively with communities, UNHCR staff and partners to design, develop and deliver innovative solutions to improve information sharing, community dialogue and complaints management in emergency response.
• Provide technical guidance to Innovation Fellows, particularly those with a specific focus on evidence building for decision making around scale.
• Support Innovation colleagues to design, develop and deliver innovative solutions within areas of their thematic interest including, but not limited to, data, connectivity, energy and education.
• Provide a critical analysis of impediments, or areas that require adjustment in order for increased scale, adoption, or diffusion to take place.
• Advocate internally for decisions to be taken that incorporate changes required for the successful scale, adoption, or diffusion of promising practices.
• Establish a network of thought leaders and allies within and outside of UNHCR around the challenges of scale within the humanitarian and UN systems.
• Make decisions on the design and delivery process for scaling across UNHCR, and outside of the Organisation.
• Identify and form collaborative partnerships within UNHCR, and outside of the Organisation.
• Decide, in collaboration with other relevant team members, upon communication efforts within and external to UNHCR around the process of scale, including lessons learned and promising practices.
• Lead the Service¿s advisory efforts on processes of scale, both internally and externally.
• Lead Innovation Service projects, and/or support to other internal innovation efforts as and when requested/appropriate.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Years of Experience / Degree Level

For P3/NOC 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education

1. Development; Humanitarian Law;
2. Refugee Law; Human Rights Law; or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses

not specified

Relevant Job Experience

Essential:

• Experience driving programmes of scale within a UN or partner organisation. Experience of forging and/or maintaining partnerships and collaborative working methods, simultaneously with a range of stakeholders, including private sector entities, donor governments, civil society, communities of concern, INGO, NNGO, and other UN entities. Experience applying Innovation and/or innovative methodologies in forced displacement contexts. Significant experience of providing support to a range of operations through capacity building around scale, evidence building and provision of guidance and creation of tools. Solid experience of assessing and adopting multiple methods and partnerships in order to achieve scale, increased adoption, or diffusion of promising practices. Solid experience in managing funding mechanisms for innovative or other projects. Experience delivering training, and knowledge transfer to partners and UNHCR staff. Experience working for research and development organisations, producing data and evidence on the basis for key decisions to be made. Experience working in organisations with multi-year planning processes, such as development agencies, whether governmental, UN, or other.

Desirable:

A strong understanding of theory, principles, established approaches and evidence concerning effective innovation and programme design. Experience working directly with a media/media development agency. Ability to create and edit content using a range of audio visual media. Previous experience working with UNHCR in an emergency operation.

Functional Skills

• MG-Decision Making
• MG-Team Building
• PR-Experience in Forced Displacement situations
• HR-Gender, Diversity and Inclusion Management

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.

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.
    
Position Competencies

• C001L3 Accountability Level 3
• C002L3 Teamwork & Collaboration Level 3
• C003L3 Communication Level 3
• C004L3 Commitment to Continuous Learning Level 3
• C005L3 Client & Result Orientation Level 3
• C006L3 Organizational Awareness Level 3
• M001L3 Empowering and Building Trust Level 3
• M003L3 Judgement and Decision Making Level 3
• X002L3 Innovation and Creativity Level 3
• X005L3 Planning and Organizing Level 3
• X006L3 Policy Development & Research Level 3

    
Additional  Information   

Please note that UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, travelling, processing, training or any other fees).
    
Additional  Information

The UNHCR workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages and opinions. UNHCR seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.

go to method of application »

Procedures and Eligibility

Before submitting an application, UNHCR staff members intending to apply to this Job Opening are requested to consult the Recruitment and Assignments Policy (RAP, UNHCR/HCP/2017/2 and the Recruitment and Assignments Administrative Instruction (RAAI), UNHCR/AI/2017/7 OF 15 August 2017.
    
Duties and Qualifications
    
Senior Shelter Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The Senior Shelter Officer leads the shelter, infrastructure and NFI activities of UNHCR and also ensures strong cross sectoral synergies with other sectors including WASH, Public Health, Nutrition, Cash, Energy and Environment. The incumbent acts as focal point for maintaining effective coordination with any established shelter sector working group. In addition, s/he is responsible for the strategic management and monitoring of construction related implementing partners and contractors, and for collaboration with Administration, Finance and Programme on all programmatic issues within the Area of Responsibility (AoR). S/he shall be working closely with other sections on shelter and general infrastructure related activities and provides functional shelter and infrastructure guidance to the team as well as to the shelter experts in the Field.

The Senior Shelter Officer should ensure the operation is conducting the most effective shelter and general infrastructure response possible by ensuring comprehensive sectoral needs assessments in liaison with other relevant sectors are available. This implies the gathering of both quantitative and qualitative data on the profile/needs and living conditions of both the displaced population and host community, taking into account the current situation, projected population planning figures and the expected scale of returns.

In the absence of a settlement planner, the Senior Shelter Officer will be responsible for negotiations with local government authorities regarding land acquisition and site development works. Specialized functions to be dealt with by the incumbent in this post include shelter (Incl. NFI) and infrastructure activities throughout the project lifecycle including construction management and monitoring, which imply that the person should have a strong academic qualification in civil engineering or architecture or other appropriate technical qualification.

The Senior Shelter Officer ensures that the development of shelter strategies taking into account the local context, age and gender, culture, climate, environmental protection, available resources and skills. In addition, the incumbent ensures that shelter and infrastructure responses evolve according to the changing nature of the situation, progressively working towards more durable solutions and drawing from local building practices and materials.
Within an urban context, it is essential that shelter responses take into consideration urban planning strategies, including an analysis of residential areas, housing affordability and availability. In addition, regardless of the context, shelter assistance should at all times minimize the risk of eviction, exploitation and abuse, overcrowded living conditions, limited access to services and unhygienic conditions.

In the UNHCR Country Offices the Senior Shelter Officer works closely with the Field Coordinator as well as with the team leaders on the ground, and normally reports to the Deputy Representative of the Country Operation. The incumbent will have direct supervisory responsibility and should remain in close contact with the shelter and settlement section at HQ.

The Senior Shelter Officer supports UNHCR¿s efforts during an emergency and ensures that international Shelter and Infrastructure standards are met.¿

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

• Coordinate, manage and support UNHCR¿s shelter and settlements team in a timely, cost-effective, inter-sectoral manner providing adequate delivery of technical interventions and services to support operational needs.
• Review, identify and assess progress of UNHCR Shelter programs and initiate responses to address the gaps in collaboration and coordination with key UNHCR technical staff, operational partners and authorities as required.
• Participate, as technical focal point for shelter/settlement, in coordination meetings with various stakeholders including Government counterparts to ensure UNHCR¿s interests and those of the POCs are adequately reflected and disseminate information to all stakeholders in a timely, efficient manner.
• Support the Operation with the development and periodically updating of appropriate shelter / settlement strategy and take into consideration the local context, age and gender, culture, climate, environmental protection and the availability of local resources,   including materials, capacities and existing infrastructure.
• Support with HR planning and management to establish and maintain an efficient and skilled technical workforce that is capable of supporting on-going operations.
• Manage the review, update and dissemination of internationally accepted standards and environmental guidelines within UNHCR and among partners.
• Together with UNHCR's implementing partners, compile, analyse and map available information on shelter options in country taking into account relevant policies adopted by the Government. When planning infrastructure works, ensure that the technical component reflects UNHCR minimum standards for the provision of emergency and other types of shelter assistance and is within the budgetary requirements. Due consideration should be given to standards in other relevant sectors such as water and sanitation.
• Coordinate technical specialists to ensure adequate monitoring so that UNHCR¿s technical interventions are produced in a technically sound and standardized manner and establish monitoring tools to ensure that works are implemented according to plans and completed within the designated timeframe.
• Coordinate with Programme and Supply to advise on matters related to the procurement of sector related responses or equipment, including the development of technical specifications, BQ¿s etc. for bid documents, technical evaluation of bids, review/inspection of the quality of products/works.
• Work in close coordination with all functional Units in UNHCR (Protection, Programme, Community Services, Field, Administration, and Supply) for all issues related to protection, population of concern figures and assistance.
• Work in close collaboration with all relevant stakeholders including local authorities, relevant partners and affected communities on issues related to the shelter and settlement programme.
• Ensure technical information is available on the SIP (settlement information portal), ensure shelter dashboards are populated with relevant data, prepare mission reports and debrief.
• Maintain regular contact with the SSS/DPSM Section in Geneva and support regular technical updates.
• Decide priorities in the designing of implementation plan.
• Advise of implementing partners' selection.
• Enforce compliance with and integrity of all shelter/infrastructure standard operating procedures.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Professional Work Experience

Years of Experience / Degree Level

For P4/NOD 9 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 8 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 7 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education

• Architecture Engineering; Civil Engineering;
• or other relevant field.
• (Field(s) of Education marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Certificates and/or Licenses

Not specified
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience

Essential:

Solid management ability to guide a specialist team under tense emergency situations. Previous similar job experience in the shelter / infrastructure sector, including 5 years in an international technical managerial role. Knowledge of technical drawing software and an ability to produce technical plans and conduct training.

Desirable:

Shelter or physical site planning work experience. Ability to use GIS technology would be an asset.

Functional Skills

• IT-Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
• PG-Results-Based Management
• MG-Strategic Planning
• SP-Design tools such as Global Positioning System (GPS)
• SP-Site/Physical Planning
• SP-Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) activities
• UN-UN Systems and Processes
• (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.

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.
    
Position Competencies

• C001L3 Accountability Level 3
• C002L3 Teamwork & Collaboration Level 3
• C003L3 Communication Level 3
• C004L3 Commitment to Continuous Learning Level 3
• C005L3 Client & Result Orientation Level 3
• C006L3 Organizational Awareness Level 3
• M001L3 Empowering and Building Trust Level 3
• M002L3 Managing Performance Level 3
• M006L3 Managing Resources Level 3
• M005L3 Leadership Level 3
• M003L3 Judgement and Decision Making Level 3
• M004L3 Strategic Planning and Vision Level 3
• X007L3 Political Awareness Level 3
• X004L3 Negotiation and Conflict Resolution Level 3
• X008L3 Stakeholder Management Level 3

    
Additional  Information   

Please note that UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, travelling, processing, training or any other fees).
    
Additional  Information 

The UNHCR workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages and opinions. UNHCR seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.