SENIOR STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENT ADVISOR

Overview

Lead and manage strategic engagement initiatives for UNRWA.

You have:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) from an accredited educational institution in communications, journalism, public relations, political science, economy or other related fields of study.
• A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible and relevant professional experience in advocacy, public relations, political affairs, research, or partnerships including experience in advising or supporting senior officials within UN, NGO, public or private sector on strategic engagement and partnership development is required.
• Experience in establishing, managing, and nurturing engagement strategies and initiatives with external stakeholders, especially within the Middle East is required.
• At least two 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 unless already serving as an international staff member in the UN Common System.
• Fluency in written and spoken Arabic is required.
• Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
• Familiarity with the UN system, Middle East culture and politics including issues related to Palestine refugees is desirable.
• Excellent drafting skills and policy formulation is desirable.
• Experience in managing projects and/or special initiatives that necessitate engagement with a diverse set of stakeholders is desirable.

Contract

This is a P-5 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 10 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 150,006 USD and 187,991 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

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 to make a tangible difference for one of the most vulnerable communities in the world, UNRWA would like to hear from you.

The Senior Strategic Engagement Advisor reports to the Deputy Commissioner-General.

Responsibilities Leads the overall management and coordination of UNRWA@75 initiative, chairing, where required, internal taskforces and managing project teams, in coordination with Executive Office (EO) staff and the Director of External Relations and Communications (D/ERC).

Leads the development of comprehensive engagement strategies to advance UNRWA’s positioning with global and regional stakeholders; acts as the advisor for the Commissioner-General (CG) and Deputy Commissioner General (DCG) on political outreach and advocacy connected to UNRWA’s 75th Anniversary (UNRWA@75).

Leads sensitive political liaison work on behalf of the CG and D/CG in connection with UNRWA@75 to enhance UNRWA’s position with key regional and international stakeholders.

Establishes and maintains relationships, networks, and partnerships with key stakeholders to ensure their participation and engagement in UNRWA@75 initiatives, with a focus on relevant thought-leaders, civil society, independent think-tanks and policy and influencing advocacy groups or individuals, as well as UN agencies, funds and programmes.

Leads the implementation of UNRWA@75 initiative, provides leadership and direction to UNRWA@75 Project Team(s) as well as leads oversight of cross-functional teams set up to implement UNRWA@75 initiative. 3.6 Leads the monitoring and evaluation of UNRWA@75, including leading the team that tracks and reports on plans, activities, campaign plans and maintains a database on implementations.

Supports EO engagement strategies including development of relevant briefing papers, presentations, speeches, letters, fact sheets and other advocacy tools related to UNRWA@75 for internal and external stakeholders.

Competencies UN Core Values of Integrity, Professionalism and Respect for Diversity, and Core Competencies of Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results apply by default.

- Formulating Strategies and Concepts - Delivering Results - Relating and Networking - Creating and Maintaining Impact and Partnership - Adapting and Responding to Change - Proven ability to work tactfully in a challenging and politically sensitive environment. - Outstanding diplomatic skills and the ability to utilize tactful but firm approaches to maintaining excellent working relationships with related stakeholders. - Positive attitude and proven ability to exercise the initiative and necessary resourcefulness to solve emerging issues.

For guidance on how to prepare for competency-based interviews: https://careers.un.org/lbw/home.aspx?viewtype=AYI

Education Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) from an accredited educational institution in communications, journalism, public relations, political science, economy or other related fields of study.

Work Experience A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible and relevant professional experience in advocacy, public relations, political affairs, research, or partnerships including experience in advising or supporting senior officials within UN, NGO, public or private sector on strategic engagement and partnership development is required.

Demonstrated experience in establishing, managing, and nurturing engagement strategies and initiatives with external stakeholders, especially within the Middle East 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 two 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

Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) from an accredited educational institution in communications, journalism, public relations, political science, economy or other related fields of study is required

Familiarity with the UN system, Middle East culture and politics including issues related to Palestine refugees is desirable.

Excellent drafting skills and policy formulation is desirable.

Experience in managing projects and/or special initiatives that necessitate engagement with a diverse set of stakeholders is desirable.

Fluency in written and spoken Arabic is required.

Languages Fluency in written and spoken English and Arabic is required

Assessment Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by competency-based interview.

Special Notice Type of Contract and duration: 2 years, with the possibility of further extension.

The incumbent is required to travel frequently, particularly in the Agency’s area of operations.

Applicants have to complete the Personal History Profile (PHP) in inspira in order to be considered. The PHP should be completed with full relevant work experience as per the requirements in the Job Opening, in order to be considered.

A roster may be created from the selection exercise, and successful candidates may become eligible for an appointment to the same post or a similar post.

UNRWA welcomes applications from qualified candidates with disabilities.

Join our eco-friendly organization dedicated to environment sustainability and targeting to be plastic free by 2025.

Equivalency: A first level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree. NB: Work experience alone or formal qualifications with no relevant work experience are not considered an acceptable combination.

UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions from UN member states, regional bodies, business foundations and individual contributions. The mission of UNRWA is to help Palestine refugees achieve their full potential in human development under the difficult circumstances in which they live.

For more details on UNRWA, please visit: https://www.unrwa.org/

United Nations Considerations Staff members are subject to the authority of the Commissioner-General of UNRWA and to assignment by him or her.

UNRWA is committed to achieving gender parity at all levels of staffing under the current UN-wide gender agenda and strongly encourages applications from qualified applicants from under-represented groups.

At UNRWA, the paramount consideration in the recruitment and employment of staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity, with due regard to geographic diversity. All employment decisions are made on the basis of qualifications and organizational needs. UNRWA is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.

UNRWA Considerations UNRWA staff are expected to uphold the highest standards of efficiency, competence, neutrality, impartiality and integrity. This includes respect for and commitment to human rights, diversity and non-violent means of dealing with all kinds of conflict. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for UNRWA jobs. Candidates will not be considered for employment with UNRWA if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation, sexual abuse, or sexual harassment, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. Candidates who have committed crimes other than minor traffic offences may not be considered for employment. The Agency may disqualify applicants who have separated for reason of misconduct, who left a UN Agency while misconduct processes were pending, or who appear on the UN Sanctions List. UNRWA is a non-smoking work environment.

Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on “Manuals” hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date.

Potential interview questions