INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

The Representation of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Greece invites qualified candidates to apply for the following Job Opening:

Job Opening ID: 30723

Job Posting Title: Associate Programme Officer

Duration of appointment: One-year Fixed-term Appointment (with possibility of extension).

Position number: 10026520

Category and Grade: National Professional Officer, NOB

Duty Station: Athens

Closing date: 4 November 2021 (Midnight, Geneva)

Operational Context

Nature of the position

The Associate Programme Officer will be based in Athens and will be reporting to and be guided by the Senior Programme Officer. The incumbent will supervise a team of 3-4 staff. S/he may refer to UNHCR’s Programme Manual (Chapter IV), UNHCR's corporate and regional strategic priorities, operation plans and other relevant institutional rules and regulations for further guidance.

The Associate Programme Officer will provide programmatic guidance and support with regard to the implementation of protection and solutions strategies within available resources. S/he will coordinate with the other sections/units to ensure harmonized programmatic approaches at all levels and throughout the UNHCR Operations Management Cycle. Main tasks to be delivered will include support to country operations planning and reporting, programme capacitation, quality review and monitoring.

In the context of UNHCR Greece operation, after the transition of accommodation and cash assistance programmes to the Government in 2021, the operation will continue to be involved in monitoring the process of implementation and enhance its engagement in focused advocacy as well as joint planning and coordination activities at the national and EC levels.

A newly-structured and staffed UNHCR Greece Programme team (as of late 2021) will be essential to support the establishment of a solid programme to allow for the implementation of protection-driven strategic priority areas, with periodic reviews and checks in relation to milestones of the interim strategy.

With the adoption of UNHCR’s new approach to Results-Based Management, the office will need strengthened programme staffing capacity to support the Multi-Functional Team to plan, implement and monitor the strategy as well as to report on its results.

Living and Working Conditions

Currently, some 96,000 asylum-seekers and refugees are hosted in Greece. So far in 2021, over 6,300 people have arrived either by sea or land - a significant reduction compared to previous years. UNHCR supports the Government who coordinates the refugee and migrant response in the development of policy, capacity building and targeted interventions in the areas of reception, asylum procedures and for finding durable solutions, with a focus on integration.

Within these 96,000 persons, there are currently almost 5,800 refugees and asylum-seekers on the Aegean islands. The Greek government will open new `Multipurpose Reception and Identification Centres’ on the five Aegean islands hosting asylum-seekers, namely Lesvos, Samos, Chios, Leros and Kos. The first such centre was inaugurated on Samos in September 2021.

UNHCR also has multiple interventions in core areas of Child Protection, GBV and areas addressing specific needs of persons of concern. The Office retains a readiness to respond to emergencies and new arrivals, with a focus on immediate support to the most vulnerable.

UNHCR Greece plays a strong advocacy role since continued support is needed particularly from EU countries and EU institutions in providing immediate protection to those most at-risk through sufficient resources, ensuring capacity in the country and responsibility-sharing. UNHCR, along with other actors, fully supports the relocation process led by the Greek government and supported by the EU, of unaccompanied children, vulnerable asylum-seeking families and refugees. To date, some 4,381 people have been relocated from Greece to 14 EU countries. UNHCR will continue to assist Greek authorities in responding to both short and long-term challenges.

Athens is a family duty station. In accordance with UNDSS security risk assessment, the whole Greek operation is classified as Security Level 2 (low). Security Clearance is required for travelling in the country.

Duties and Qualifications

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The Associate Programme Officer may be based in HQ, field/regional bureau, typically reporting to and be guided by the Program officer and may supervise a small team of local staff. He/she may refer to UNHCR's Programme Manual (Chapter IV), UNHCR's corporate and regional strategic priorities, operation plans and other relevant institutional rules and regulations for further guidance.

The Associate Programme Officer will provide programmatic guidance and support with regard to the implementation of protection and solutions strategies within available resources. S/he will coordinate with the other sections/units to ensure harmonized programmatic approaches at all levels and throughout the UNHCR Operations Management Cycle. The incumbent will work in line with the overall UNHCR directions which crucially require working with partners, including with persons of concern, governmental institutions and the private sector, ensuring that programme management is approached as per UNHCR’s Strategic Directions, Global Strategic Priorities (GSPs), Global Compact for Refugees (GCR), and corporate positions on SDGs.

The incumbent is expected to work in line with the multi-functional team (MFT) approach as defined within the Program Manual, ensuring the participation of relevant stakeholders in all phases of the Program Management Cycle.

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 in assessing and analysing the needs of persons of concern in a participatory manner, using an Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective as basis for planning.
• Provide support on programmatic aspects of developing multi-year protection and solutions strategies and annual plans with corresponding priorities taking into account corporate priorities.
• Support Results Based Management and programme capacity in light of evolving requirements, programming approaches and gaps.
• Assist the planning process in compliance with planning parameters outlined in the Programme Manual and the planning instructions.
• Support the revision and analysis of plans, mid-year and year-end reports of UNHCR office(s) in the Area of Responsibility AoR), ensure quality assurance and compliance with established policies, guidelines, procedures and standards.
• Assist in the provision of overall direction to broaden partnerships with key stakeholders in order to maximize the protection and solutions response for persons of concern.
• Provide support to ensure a consistent application of the framework for implementing with partners, including the effective implementation of the policy on selection and retention of partners, management of partnership agreements, risk-based project performance monitoring, and risk-based project audits, among others.
• Contribute to ensure consistent and coherent monitoring approaches, tools and systems across the region, in line with global standards and polices.
• Actively contribute to UNHCRs programming of community of practice and continuously contribute to improvements of programming tools and processes.
• Oversee a timely and effective follow-up of internal and external audits observations and recommendations that relate to programmatic issues.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Professional Work Experience

Years of Experience / Degree Level

• 3 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 2 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 1 year relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education

Desirable:

• Economics; Business Administration; Social Sciences; or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses

Desirable:

• Programme Management
• Certification Programme in Programme Management (CP-PM)

Language Requirements

• Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.

Relevant Job Experience

Essential:

• Demonstrated experience in programme management including familiarization with the OMC and sound knowledge of Results Based-Management. Demonstrated experience in field operations, sound knowledge on the centrality of protection in programming, Joint Needs Assessments and the principles of targeting.

Desirable:

• Demonstrated experience in coordination within an inter-agency context and other actors, in a refugee or humanitarian context. Sound experience in program management training and capacity building activities.

Functional Skills

Desirable:

• MG-Project Management
• PG-Results-Based Management
• PG-UNHCR's Programmes
• PG-Experience with coordinating with Implementing Partners (Governmt/INGO/NGO/Corporate)
• DM-Data Management

Competencies

All jobs at UNHCR require six core competencies and may also require managerial competencies and/or cross-functional competencies. The six core competencies are listed below:

Core Competencies:

• Accountability
• Communication
• Organizational Awareness
• Teamwork & Collaboration
• Commitment to Continuous Learning
• Client & Result Orientation

Managerial Competencies:

• Judgement and Decision Making
• Managing Resources
• Empowering and Building Trust

Cross-Functional Competencies:

• Analytical Thinking
• Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
• Political Awareness

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.

Eligible Applicants

• This position is open to all applicants (internals/externals).
• Recruitment against this position is on a local basis.
• Candidates for positions in the National Professional Officer category must be nationals of Greece (primary nationality).

Duration of Appointment

• One-year Fixed-term Appointment (with possibility of extension).
• Expected start date of this assignment: 01/01/2022.

Additional Information

The closing date for submission is 4 November 2021 (Midnight, Geneva).

• No late applications will be accepted.
• Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
• Shortlisted candidates might be required to sit for a written test and will have to undergo an oral interview.

Kindly note that only electronic applications will be considered:

• Internal applicants (Group 1) are invited to apply online through the MSRP portal (self-service) and fill in the letter of interest.
• External applicants are invited to apply using the external Careers pages www.unhcr.org/careers and https://www.unhcr.org/gr-jobs/ .
• Should you encounter technical issues or have questions during the online application, please contact the HR Unit at  well before the deadline.

UNHCR is an equal opportunity employer and does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, training or any other fees).

UNHCR is committed to diversity and welcomes applications from qualified candidates regardless of disability, gender identity, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour or ethnic and national origins, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.

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