Senior Resettlement Assistant at United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

Job Description

UNHCR was created in , during the aftermath of the Second World War, to help millions of Europeans who had fled or lost their homes. We had three years to complete our work and then disband. Today, over 65 years later, our organization is still hard at work, protecting and assisting refugees around the world.

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

A Senior Resettlement Assistant position is typically located at MultiCountry Office, Branch Office or Field Office. Under supervision, the incumbent’s primary role is to assist the supervisor in effective resettlement delivery of a given UNHCR Office in accordance with the UNHCR Resettlement Handbook, UNHCR Manual and relevant policy papers and publications. The incumbent provides important clerical and administrative support to resettlement operations and may as required take part in assessing cases for resettlement and conducting interviews. S/he maintains frequent contacts with the supervisor, relevant colleagues within the same Office or Offices under purview to exchange information and discuss issues on resettlement cases. Some contacts and communication at a working level are required with Embassy / Immigration Officials of resettlement countries, IOM as well as with other operating partners regarding resettlement issues. 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, crossfunctional and managerial competencies and UNHCR¿s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties

 Carry out preliminary interviews and initial assessments to process refugees for resettlement following established procedures.  Prepare written documentation for resettlement submission; ensure that records / files of individual cases are updated in a systematic and timely manner.  Assess and review individual resettlement cases and prepare individual / group submission for scrutiny by the supervisor.  Provide persons of concern (PoC) with uptodate and accurate information on UNHCR’s resettlement policies and procedures.  Comply with UNHCR’s standard operating procedures on resettlement, ensuring timely action on cases.  Follow up on cases from time of submission to final decision and departure; ensure effective incountry communication on the status and followup on PoC being considered for resettlement.  Assist in maintaining and updating proGres or Consolidated Online Resettlement Tracking System (CORTS) database and provide technical support.  Coordinate travel and departure arrangements for refugees accepted for resettlement.  Organize logistical support for governments undertaking resettlement missions.  Provide administrative support for resettlementrelated training activities, including organization of resettlement workshops and meetings as required.  Maintain accurate resettlement statistics as well as uptodate records on individual cases; assist in the preparation of reports.  Draft / type routine correspondence to Field Offices / MultiCountry Offices / Headquarters.  Systematically apply an Age, Gender and Diversity perspective in all aspects of the resettlement process; comply with UNHCR policy and guidelines on HIV/AIDS.  Assist in mitigating resettlement fraud by reporting suspected fraud.  Recommend eligible cases for resettlement consideration.  Provide counselling to PoC.  Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Professional Work Experience

Years of Experience / Degree Level For G5 2 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 1 year relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Field(s) of Education 

Not applicable (Field(s) of Education marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Certificates and/or Licenses 

International Law; International Relations; (Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience

Essential

Not specified

Desirable

Good knowledge of resettlement issues and UNHCR resettlement policies and operational applications. Completion of UNHCR specific learning/training activities (e.g., PLP and RSD/Resettlement Learning Programme, resettlement antifraud workshop).

Functional Skills 

PRRefugee Resettlement programs PRResettlement AntiFraud Policy and Procedures COCrosscultural communication (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.