Senior Resettlement Assistant

This position is advertised open to internal and external applicants. "As reflected in paragraph 21 of the Policy and Procedures on Assignments of Locally recruited staff (PPAL), the following Job Opening is open to internal staff members based in South-Africa at all grade levels and external applicants" Senior Resettlement Assistant

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT

A Senior Resettlement Assistant position is typically located at Regional 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 Senior Resettlement Assistant provides important clerical and administrative support to resettlement operations and may as required take part in assessing cases for resettlement and conducting interviews. The incumbent maintains frequent contacts with his/her 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.

FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT

Accountability

- UNHCR's resettlement policies and standards are correctly and coherently applied.
- Persons of concern are made aware of UNHCR's resettlement procedures and have fair and transparent access to and participation in the resettlement process.
- Suspected fraud in the resettlement process is promptly reported.

Responsibility

- 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 with up-to-date 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 in-country communication on the status and follow-up on persons of concern 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 resettlement-related training activities, including organization of resettlement workshops and meetings as required.
- Maintain accurate resettlement statistics as well as up-to-date records on individual cases; assist in the preparation of reports.
- Draft / type routine correspondence to Field Offices / Regional 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.

Authority

- Recommend eligible cases for resettlement consideration.
- Provide counselling to persons of concern.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

- Education: Completion of secondary education with certificate/training in International Law, International Relations or related fields required.
- Job Experience:  4 years of job experience relevant to the functions.
- Fluency in English and working knowledge of another relevant UN language or local language.

(In offices where the working language is not English, excellent knowledge of working language of duty station and working knowledge of English.)

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES

- 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 anti-fraud workshop). Competencies as defined in Job Profile Please also note that English is essential for this Job Opening. The closing date for submission of applications is 1 October 2019.