Assistant Representative – Administration, P5, Mexico City At UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The Assistant Representative – Administration will function under direct supervision of the UNHCR Representative. The incumbent will advise and assist the Representative in the overall management of UNHCR¿s 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. S/he will also have a responsibility to monitor, coach, and guide and intervene with the staff in the country.

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 activities and issues of concern within the country of assignment to ensure the effective and efficient use of financial and material resources within the rules and procedures of UNHCR.
• Monitors the day-to-day operation of the office, identify problems, and take appropriate action to overcome these through constructive changes.
• Ensure that the administrative budget and post requirements are finalised accurately and incorporated into the Country Operations Plan.
• Liaise, where applicable, with staff in other offices in the country of responsibility to ascertain that the quality of administrative support being provided is adequate.
• Maintain an up-to-date and detailed understanding of UNHCR administrative policies and procedures in order to provide accurate information.
• 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 i.a. 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 Offcial and UNDSS are complied with.
• Act as Officer-in-Charge in the absence of the Representative.
• 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 (admin budgets, staffing levels and structures).
• Represent UNHCR in UN and other operations management fora.
• Enforce compliance with UNHCR¿s global strategies, protocols and guidelines.
• 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.

(Field(s) of Education marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Certificates and/or Licenses
HCR Protection Learning Prg; HCR Management Lrng 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).