UNITED NATIONS RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY FOR PALESTINE REFUGEES IN THE NEAR EAST – UNRWA
UNRWA is the United Nations agency responsible for the protection, care and human development of a population of some 4.6 million Palestine refugees living in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and the Syrian Arab Republic. The Agency is committed to assisting Palestine refugees in maintaining a decent standard of living, acquiring appropriate knowledge and skills, enjoying the fullest possible extent of human rights, and leading a long and healthy life. UNRWA is by far the largest UN operation in the Middle East with over 29,000 staff. Most of the staff members are refugees themselves, working directly to benefit their communities – as teachers, doctors, nurses or social workers.
Field Social Services Officer
Location Lebanon Field Office Type of Appointment Fixed Term – Three Years Deadline for Application 12 November 2013 Vacancy Announcement Number 59/2013 Grade 15 Department/Division Relief & Social Services Department
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES In accordance with Agency policy and procedures, the incumbent:
(A) Develops a planning framework for the Field’s development social welfare programmes, linking the various components (including poverty alleviation, women-in development, community-based services for disabled persons, community development and local institution-building). (A) With the assistance of individual programme officers assigned to the Social Services Division and Community Development – Social Workers, conducts assessments of need for Social Services Programmes and projects and develops proposals and plans of action to address identified needs; (B) Guides, supports, monitors and evaluates the work of the programme Officers and the Community Development-Social Workers; (C) Guides, supports, monitors and evaluates the involvement of the Area Relief and Social Services Officers, in the social services activities at the Area Level. (D) Ensures that the Social Services Division staff and Area Relief and Social Services Officers, are sufficiently trained to perform their functions, conducting training sessions as required. (E) Co-ordinates with the Field Relief Services Officer to ensure the full participation of Special Hardship families in the Social Services Programmes and reinforce the involvement and cooperation between Relief Social Workers and Community Development-Social Workers; (F) Co-ordinate with counterparts in the Departments of Education and Health to implement appropriate and effective multi-disciplinary approaches. (G) Ensures the full participation of target population in decision-making on and implementation of Social services Programmes and Projects. (H) Plans, organizes and conducts evaluations of results achieved by and the impact of the target population of Social Services programmes and projects. (I) Maintains close contact with local, national and locally-based international organizations working in the same programme sectors. (J) Undertakes any other duties as may be assigned.
PERSONAL & PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES (A) Academic and Professional i) University degree in social science, including coursework in social development; ii) Post-graduate coursework in one or more of the following: poverty alleviation, women-in-development, community-based rehabilitation/mainstreaming of disabled persons, community development, local institution-building.
(B) Technical Basic computer literacy.
(B) Experience (i) Eight years' progressively more responsible working experience in the planning, implementation and evaluation of developmental social welfare programmes, involving one or more of the programme areas listed under 4.1.2, and including at least three years’ supervisory experience. (ii) Practical experience in training staff and client of such programmes. (iii) Participation in action-oriented social research.
(C) Language (i) Excellent command of spoken and written English and Arabic. (ii) Oral communication/presentation skills in English to the level required to brief international experts and donors, and in Arabic to the level required to conduct training sessions.
(D) Other (i) A thorough knowledge of the social structure and culture of the Palestinian people. (ii) Leadership qualities (iii) Willingness/ability to drive UNRWA vehicles in the course of duty.
DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS A post-graduate degree in Socio-economic development, with emphasis on development social welfare.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Will be required to travel in the Agency’s area of operations.
CONDITIONS OF SERVICE Salary: Monthly basic salary L.L. 2,333,866. - PLUS 0.73% SOA (Special Occupational Allowance) Contract Duration: Fixed term – three years Holidays: 30 days annual leave Dependency allowance: Dependent spouse: L.L 60,000 per month Dependent child: L.L 33,000 per month Pension: Provident Fund contribution
EQUIVALENCY Candidates with an equivalent combination of relevant academic qualifications, professional training and progressive work experience may also be considered.
RECRUITMENT PROCESS The Recruitment process is based on the Agency’s strategy to obtain the best qualified and suitable employees through a competitive recruitment process. After the deadline for receiving applications, all applications will be reviewed by the Human Resources Office and the Hiring Department. Only Short-listed candidates who fully meet the required criteria shall be contacted and undergo technical/practical tests and the candidates with the highest passing scores will then be invited to interview (see “Technical and Practical Tests Required” below). The final recommendation for selection is based on the test results, interview assessment, Agency priorities and needs and the candidates’ profiles. For all posts, the weight allocated for the technical/practical tests (listed below) is 60% and for the interview is 40%. ملاحظة: سيتم الاتصال فقط بالمتقدمين الذين يستوفون الشروط المطلوبة للوظيفة.
GENERAL INFORMATION UNRWA is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications equally from men and women. It is Agency Policy to give full consideration to qualified disabled candidates whose disability does not impact their ability to perform the duties and responsibilities of the post.
As a member of the United Nations system, UNRWA maintains a close relatives’ policy. In this regard, if a candidate has a close relative (mother, father, brother, sister, son or daughter) who is already employed by the Agency, he/she can only be employed if the Agency is unable to find another suitable candidate.
UNRWA is a United Nations organization whose staff are 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 are 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. UNRWA is a non-smoking working environment. الأونروا هي منظمة تابعة للأمم المتحدة، وهي منظمة تفترض من موظفيها الالتزام بأعلى معايير الاستقامة والحياد والنزاهة. ويشمل ذلك احترام مبادئ حقوق الإنسان واحترام التنوع وتبني الوسائل غير العنيفة في حل كافة أشكال النزاعات. المتوقع من موظفي الأونروا أن يقوموا بدعم هذه القيم في كافة الأوقات، سواء في أماكن العمل أم خارجه. إن أولئك الأشخاص الذين يتمتعون بالالتزام الكامل وغير المشروط بهذه القيم هم فقط الذين ينبغي أن يتقدموا بطلباتهم للعمل لدى الأونروا. الأنروا هي بيئه عمل لا يسمح فيها بالتدخين.
Where there are two or more equally qualified candidates, selection preference will normally be given to internal candidates, Palestine Refugees and candidates of the under-represented gender. If the post is a project funded post (this will be indicated in the vacancy), an internal candidate with a temporary-indefinite or fixed-term appointment selected for this post will not retain his/her current contractual status and entitlements in accordance with current letter of appointment and applicable Area Staff Rules. The Agency maintains the discretion to fill future vacancies for this position from the roster without re-advertising the vacancy.
TECHNICAL & PRACTICAL TESTS REQUIRED Short-listed candidates will sit for one test: • Computer based technical test (100%).
The top 5 scoring candidates in the written technical test given that none have scored less than 50%, will be invited for an interview.
How to apply:
If you have the skills and experience required above, and want to make an active and lasting contribution to improving the lives of Palestine refugees, then register on http://jobs.unrwa.org by creating a personal profile and completing the UNRWA Personal History Form. Only applications received through this website will be considered and the system will not allow applications after the deadline. Please note that UNRWA only accepts degrees from accredited educational institutions. Candidates may also be invited to take a technical exam in order further evaluate their qualifications for the post. Due to a high volume of applications received, only short-listed applicants will be contacted –“سيتم الإتصال فقط بالأشخاص الذين تنطبق عليهم متطلبات الوظيفة”. The United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process. The United Nations does not concern itself with information on bank accounts. For any queries please send an email to: recruitmentquestions@unrwa.org. Please apply as requested above, do not send your CV To this email address, all cvs sent to this email address will be automatically ignored. يرجى تقديم الطلبات حسب التعليمات اعلاها وعدم ارسال السيرة الذاتية الى هذا البريد الالكتروني, سيتم تجاهل السير الذاتية التي ترسل الى هذا العنوان تلقائيا. or contact the recruitment unit on 009611840490.
Date of issue: 14 October 2013
