Position description
Org. Setting and Reporting
UNRWA, the largest United Nations operation in the Middle East with over 30,000 staff working across five areas of operation, is looking for highly committed personnel wishing to make a change. If you are looking for a rewarding opportunity at a senior leadership role to make a tangible difference for one of the most vulnerable communities in the world, UNRWA would like to hear from you. The incumbent serves as the Agency’s senior representative to the United Nations and other stakeholders in New York. The incumbent leads the Representative Office, ensuring that the mandate and strategic priorities of the Agency as well as the interests of Palestine refugees are effectively promoted through engagement with Member States, UN entities, and other key partners. The Director reports to the Chief of Staff and works in close coordination with the Deputy Commissioners-General, and other senior officials
Responsibilities
Representation Functions:
- Represents and advocates for UNRWA’s mandate, strategic priorities, and operations in New York, engaging with Member States on a bilateral and multilateral basis, including regional groupings, the UN General Assembly, the UN Security Council, and other intergovernmental fora;
- Represents the Agency in senior inter-agency meetings and UN bodies, ensuring that UNRWA’s perspectives and operational priorities are reflected in relevant deliberations;
- Leads engagement with the UN Secretariat, in particular the Executive Office of the Secretary-General (EOSG), the Controller, and the Programme Planning and Budget Division (PPBD), on issues related to the Agency’s budget, financing, and policy matters;
- Engages with other international organizations, think tanks, and advocacy groups based in New York to strengthen support for UNRWA and Palestine refugees.
Head of Office Functions:
- Manages the UNRWA Representative Office in New York, ensuring effective oversight of financial, administrative, and human resources matters;
- Provides strategic leadership to the Office’s staff, fostering a results-oriented and collaborative work environment aligned with UNRWA’s mission and values;
- Ensures compliance with UNRWA’s policies and procedures in the administration and operation of the Representative Office;
- Oversees budget planning and execution for the Office, ensuring efficient resource allocation and financial stewardship. Engagement and Outreach;
- Oversees and manages the networking functions of the Representative Office and builds and sustains strong relationships with the diplomatic community, including Permanent Representatives and Missions of Member States to the United Nations, to foster political and financial support for UNRWA’s mandate and operations;
- Supports UNRWA’s engagement with key UN entities in New York, including the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA), the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the Department of Global Communications (DGC), and other relevant departments to ensure alignment with UN system-wide initiatives and policies;
- Works closely with the UNRWA Director of Communications to support the Agency’s strategic communications and media efforts in New York, including briefing journalists and participating in public events;
- Represents UNRWA in conferences and UN or Member State-hosted events to raise awareness and mobilize political and financial support for the Agency’s work.;
- Coordinates closely with other UNRWA Representative Offices in Washington and Brussels, with ERCD, as well as other UNRWA offices to ensure coherence in external relations and advocacy efforts.
Coordination and Information Sharing:
- Facilitates the missions of UNRWA’s senior leadership to New York, including engagements with key stakeholders across the UN and Member States;
- Ensures regular communication and coordination with UNRWA headquarters and other UNRWA Representative Offices, as well as with UNRWA field offices, to align messaging and advocacy efforts;
- Disseminates timely and relevant information on developments in New York that impact UNRWA’s mandate, operations, and financial sustainability;
- Advises and keeps UNRWA’s senior leadership informed on UN reform matters and other important UN initiatives that could either impact or benefit UNRWA or pose organizational risks;
- Maintains strong working relationships with UN Permanent Missions, UN Secretariat officials, and key stakeholders to enhance support for UNRWA and its beneficiaries.
Competencies
- UN Core Values of lntegrity, Professionalism and Respect for Diversity, and Core Competencies of Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results apply by default. Default managerial competencies may apply. Relating and Networking Creating and Maintaining Impact and Partnership Analyzing Engaging and Nurturing Deciding and Initiating Action Persuading and Influencing Entrepreneurial Thinking Sound judgment on political, media and diplomatic matters, including on high profile issues of international policy, and the capacity for rigorous respect for confidentiality. Ability to handle media relations competently and effectively.
Education
- An advanced university degree (Masters’ or equivalent) from an accredited educational institution in political science, international relations, international law, public or business administration or a related field.
Work Experience
- At least 15 years of progressively responsible and relevant experience in political or administrative affairs is required. At least 10 years of professional work experience in a large governmental or international organization is required. At least five years of work experience in, or in close association with, a United Nations organization is required. Unless already serving as an international staff member in the UN Common System, a candidate for an international post must have at least 2 continuous years of relevant international experience outside UNRWA, and outside the country(s) of which the candidate is a national or holds citizenship, a passport or a national identity number is required. An advanced university degree (Masters’ or equivalent) from an accredited educational institution in political science, international relations, international law, public or business administration or a related field is required. Working knowledge of written and spoken Arabic is desired. Familiarity with political affairs in the Middle East is desired. Knowledge of United Nations political, budgetary and administrative procedures is desired. Knowledge of the Middle East history and Palestine refugee issues is desired. Indicate your current involvement in any outside activities, as it is required. Including but not limited to employment, independent contractor/freelance consultant, board member (corporate, academic, etc), expert group, lobby, public speaking/writing (article, book, blog, social media etc), teaching, conferences, training, press statement, voluntary work, political activity, fundraising/donation for non-UNRWA entity, running for public office, role in political party or orgs., owning business, work for gov./NGO/private company/charity, UNRWA partner/vendor, full/part-time, paid or not. A “yes” answer doesn’t necessarily lead to exclusion from future work at UNRWA, yet misrepresentation in providing accurate/complete info can lead to disqualification/termination of appointment, if hired.
Languages
- Excellent command of written and spoken English is required. Working knowledge of written and spoken Arabic is desirable.
Application instructions
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