Head of Sub-Office P5, Chef de sous-bureau P5, Bertoua, UNHCR
Role Responsibilities/ Responsabilités du rôle
Hardship Level
C
Family Type
Family
Family Type
Family
Residential location (if applicable)
Grade
PR5
Staff Member / Affiliate Type
Professional
Reason
Regular > Regular Assignment
Remote work accepted
No
Target Start Date
2023-03-24
Job Posting End Date
April 20, 2023
Standard Job Description
Head of Sub-Office
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
Head of a UNHCR Sub-Office (HoSO) is a senior managerial position within a given country operation. The incumbent carries the full delegated authority of the UNHCR Representative (or the country Manager) of the country, who will exercise entire supervisory managerial responsibility over the position. The position, on the other hand, provides all information on developments in relation to the protection (legal protection issues relating to the persons of concern to UNHCR), security (Physical security in relation to the UNCR staff and the persons of concern to UNHCR) and operational matters (programme and office management / administration) within the domain of its geographical area of responsibility to the UNHCR Representative (or the country manager) on a regular and timely manner. Subject to the specific legal or socio economic or security developments in the Area of Responsibility (AOR), Representative will direct and guide the Head of the Sub-Office to take the most appropriate course of action. Concerning overall physical security concerns, HoSO will liaise directly with the competent UN security coordinator while keeping the UNHCR Representative fully informed.
While the functional responsibility of a Head of a Sub-Office will always remain the same despite its grade level, the other parameters (therefore the depth and breadth of the competencies) such as the size of the population of concern to UNHCR, their specific legal/security concerns, volume of assistance, Number of operational / Implementing partners and the size of the Office (i.e. number of UNHCR staff and their grade levels) will determine the appropriate grade level. The operational autonomy also depends upon the same parameters/competencies.
As the most senior UNHCR staff member within the given geographical area, he/she is required to liaise with all the relevant senior government officials, security organs in the area, the Head of various Non-Governmental Organisations (both national and internationals based in the area), Civilian/tribal leaders/elders, local opinion makers and the local media net-work to ensure his/her assigned responsibilities are effectively and efficiently discharged.
As the extended field representative of UNHCR at the front line of High Commissioner¿s operations, he/she remain as the effective advocate and assistant to the local authorities to ensure that the respective government authorities in the area implement their conventional responsibilities in favour of refugees and others of concern to UNHCR.
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
– Monitor and report on the implementation of refugee conventional responsibilities and international obligations of the local authorities Vis a Vis the population of concern to UNHCR within the given geographical area; based on local situations/developments make appropriate recommendation to the UNHCR Representative.
– Advocate and promote UNHCR standards concerning the treatment of asylum seekers, refugees and returnees as well as IDPs, where applicable; Advocate, promote and encourage the concerned authorities and local opinion makers to uphold established UNHCR standards that have become the international norms.
– Ensure that the basic needs of the concerned population are properly assessed with the participation of the beneficiaries themselves, the host governments and/or the competent Implementing partners and/or UNHCR itself.
– Subject to the needs, ensure that the planning, formulation and budgeting of identified assistance projects are done as per UNHCR programme cycle; upon approval of assistance project, ensure the timely implementation and rigorous monitoring of identified assistance activities
– Ensure through the subordinate staff that all deadlines for monitoring and reporting of UNHCR operational activities (i.e. include assistance as well as Administrative) are met on a regular basis.
– Manage all UNHCR resources, both human, financial/material, at an optimum level for the wellbeing of the concerned population and the UNHCR staff.
– Ensure that all security measures of UNHCR office (and residential, wherever applicable) compounds are always up to date; any security breaches and/or potential security threat should be reported immediately to competent UN security coordinator in the country.
– Ensure that staff welfare, both in terms of working and living conditions, are maintained at a satisfactory level within the constraints in the operational area; this requires remaining current in health and medical facilities locally available and evacuation options available in a moment of medical urgency.
– Guide, coach and advocate the subordinate staff to maintain highest standards of conduct and behaviour thorough one¿s own practice and deeds.
– Prepare and submit regular reports, both verbally and written, to the UNHCR Representative. In the event of substantial telephone conversation that leads to specific action or non-action, it should be recorded and share with the other party.
– Represent UNHCR in inter-agency fora and with local authorities in the AOR.
– Enforce compliance with UNHCR¿s global protection, programme, finance, human resources and security policies and standards.
– Submit project proposals for assistance to refugees and other persons of concern to UNHCR Representation in coordination with local authorities and NGOs.
– 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
Human Resources Management;
Personnel Administration;
Law;
Political Science;
International Relations;
Economics;
or other relevant field.
(Field(s) of Education marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Certificates and/or Licenses
HCR Management Lrng Prg;
HCR Managing Operatns Lrng Prg;
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Relevant Job Experience
Essential
In-depth knowledge in all aspects of UNHCR¿s Field level operation. Applied experience of protection principles, operational arrangements/standards in relation to protection, assistance, UNHCR office management and staff administration. Should be conversant in the current priorities in the organisation and existing mechanisms within the organisation to implement those priorities.
Desirable
Working experience both in UNHCR HQ and/or a Regional Office and the Field.
Functional Skills
IT-Computer Literacy;
IT-Microsoft Office Productivity Software;
MG-Office Management;
PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators;
HR-Administration of Staff Contracts and Benefits;
(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, support 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
The incumbent will carry out the full delegated authority of the UNHCR Representative in SO Bertoua. He/she is required to liaise with relevant local government officials, security organs in the area, the Head of various Non-Governmental Organizations (both national and internationals based in the area) and partners.
S/he must have an ability to support the operation and regularly visit all Field Offices. Coaching, team building and capacity building are keys.
Moreover, s/he must have proven good advocacy and negotiation skills as well as good experience in coordination and stakeholders’ management. In addition, Cameroon is a bilingual country, candidates should have written and speaking skills in both French and English to have the capacity to communicate during field missions or in public and with some state authorities and donors.
The Head of Sub-Office should know how to establish fruitful partnerships and implement the GCR, in line with the national development strategy.
Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):
French
,
Desired languages
,
Operational context
Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:
Cameroon hosts over 314,329 CAR refugees of diverse nationalities, with a greater number based in the East and Adamawa regions where the refugees live. Cameroon shares borders with countries which are currently experiencing political upheavals. Consequently, the country is receiving influx of displaced persons from its neighbors each time there is a threat or concern in these countries. As compared with its neighbors, Cameroon is stable and prosperous due to its geographical position and the abundance of its natural resources. These refugees are mainly nomadic, Muslim herdsmen of Mbororo origin, while the remaining are Christian or animist farmers from the Gbaya ethnicity. It is worth to mention a bigger need of coordination and involvement of development actors and host government to allow progressive inclusion of Refugees in national and reginal development plans.
Four sites are identified in the East region (Lolo, Mbilé, Gado, Mborguéné). UNHCR’s involvement will gradually be oriented towards supporting refugee communities, while strengthening existing social and economic mechanisms in place to allow for a gradual integration of refugees into the economic and social scheme of the host community through a community-based approach. Refugees will share the same basic services (school, health facilities, water points, etc.) with the local host population, where they exist or are established to maintain peaceful coexistence and social cohesion with host communities. UNHCR will approach the Cameroonian government to ensure the civilian character of settlements and secure access of humanitarian relief items, humanitarian workers and convoys, as well as the refugee sites of new arrivals of refugees from CAR. Ex-combatants (Anti-Balaka and Seleka militias) crossing the border will be separated from civilians seeking asylum in Cameroon. Logistical challenges due to long distances to cover and poor road conditions in some areas exist as well.
Nature of Position:
The incumbent has supervisory responsibility over all Heads of Sections as appropriate and represents the organization to the authorities and partners on all issues. The incumbent reports directly to the Representative in Yaoundé. He/she represents the organization, as appropriate, to authorities, UN sister agencies, partners and other stakeholders on protection issues, programs, and humanitarian interventions in line with UNHCR’s mandate. He/she contributes to the design, implementation, and monitoring of the comprehensive protection strategy for the region by providing timely analysis on the protection situation in the field, highlighting important political, social, military, and economic developments affecting the protection of persons of concern. He/she also ensures that persons of concern are actively engaged with the Office in making decisions that affect them, whether in accessing their rights or in identifying appropriate solutions to issues affecting their situation. In addition, he/she covered FO Meiganga, FO Batouri and FU Djohong. The incumbent of this position will be responsible for:
Coordination of the Refugee response;
Pursue transitional & non transitional partnerships with development actors;
Consult with civil Society to improve the protection environment;
Sensitive to climate charge, deprecation, renewable energy;
Living and Working Conditions:
Security is perceived to be one of the main challenges that UNHCR and its partners face on the ground. Insecurity is still a major concern in the East due to the presence of highway bandits, such as the Seleka and Anti-Balaka militias whose actions from CAR sometimes extend into CMR. The Boko Haram insurgents are also more and more active in the Far North along the border with Nigeria. The multitude of the sites and the entry points for new CAR refugees as well as the wideness of the operational area constitute the logistical challenges. With the recent influx of CAR refugees in the North region, the operation area has been extended. This is further aggravated by precarious road conditions over long distances, the mobility of refugees and the need to relocate the new arrivals from the entry points to the existing or new sites. Health facilities are not always adequate in Bertoua though a family duty, Bertoua does not offer a good education system.
Additional Qualifications
Skills
DE-Knowledge management methods in development partnerships, protracted refugee situations
Education
BA: Economics (Required), BA: International Relations (Required), BA: Law (Required), BA: Management (Required), BA: Personnel Administration (Required), BA: Political Science (Required)
Certifications
HCR Learning Program – UNHCR, Programme Management (PM) 1 – UNHCR
Work Experience
Competencies
Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Leadership, Managing performance, Managing resource, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Political awareness, Strategic planning & visions, Teamwork & collaboration
UNHCR Salary Calculator
https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales
Compendium
March 2023 Compendium – Part B
Additional Information
Functional clearance
This position doesn’t require a functional clearance
Postuler (Apply for the job) sur son site Internet: https://unhcr.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/External/job/Bertoua-Cameroon/Head-of-Sub-Office-P5_JR2315822?locationCountry=b579d21545a140c49418f0a3451a3160
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