Senior Field Assistant (UNOPS, LICA-5)

This position is open to all applicants.

Non-EU applicants can apply provided they have the required documents to work in Greece.

Interested applicants are invited to apply on-line either through MSRP self-service (candidates with MSRP access) or using the external Careers pages www.unhcr.org/careers and https://www.unhcr.org/gr-jobs/   (External candidates).

Kindly note that only electronic applications submitted through the website mentioned above will be considered. Operational Context
There are over 119,000 asylum-seekers and refugees currently hosted in Greece who arrived and remained since the 2015 ¿ 2016 humanitarian emergency. In 2020, until mid-December, 15,400 people had arrived either by sea or by land, mostly from Afghanistan and Syria. 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. UNHCR has multiple interventions in core areas of Child Protection, GBV, and other areas addressing specific needs of persons of concern. The Office also retains a readiness to respond to emergencies and new arrivals, with particular focus on immediate support to the most vulnerable.
In 2021, UNHCR is working with the Ministry of Migration and Asylum to finalize transition of the large scale ESTIA accommodation programme by Q1 and will thereafter provide training and capacity support to Government ESTIA partners on protection, reception and asylum standards. The large-scale ESTIA cash assistance programme is to be transitioned to the Greek authorities by end-June 2021. UNHCR also supports the Government¿s prevention and response to COVID-19 through CWC, technical interventions, increased coordination and protecting asylum-seekers at high-risk of COVID-19 complications.
While the situation on mainland Greece is better overall, most of the roughly 19,500 asylum-seekers at the reception and identification centres on the Greek Aegean Islands must cope with difficult living conditions and are exposed to various security risks. UNHCR has long warned of the urgent need to address the situation and conditions for asylum-seekers on the Aegean Islands. Continued support is also needed from European countries and European Union institutions in providing immediate protection to those most at-risk through sufficient resources, ensuring capacity in the country and responsibility-sharing through expedited relocations of unaccompanied children and other vulnerable people. UNHCR, along with other actors, fully supports the ongoing relocation process, led by the Greek government and supported by the European Commission, of unaccompanied children, asylum-seeking families with children with severe medical conditions and beneficiaries of international protection. As of mid-December 2020, almost 2,000 people had been relocated from Greece to ten European countries. UNHCR will continue to assist Greek authorities in responding to both short-term and long-term challenges.

Duties and Qualifications
The incumbent will report to the Head of Field Office and will perform a variety of functions related to Field and Programme activities with support and functional oversight by Programme Unit in Country Office of Athens. S/he may receive indirect guidance from other sections and units relevant to the country programme(s). S/he is expected to have contacts within the organization and outside the duty station, as well as with Implementing Partners (IPs) on routine subject matters and other stakeholders to collect information and monitor implemented activities. The incumbent will be responsible of monitoring and reporting on the implementation of activities within Programme Section in the Dodecanese region. The incumbent is expected to have a confirmed programme background, with field experience as well as experience in working closely and collaborating effectively with Implementing Partners. S/he should have strong interpersonal skills and be able to work relatively independently, with a sense of team spirit and collaboration.
The incumbent shall perform the following duties:
- Collect, register and maintain information on project activities.
- IP agreements are established in a timely manner, regularly monitored and reported on in compliance with established guidelines and procedures.
- Prepare status and progress reports, prepare tables and draft routine correspondence.
- Prepare background material for use in discussions and briefing sessions.
- UNHCR country office has sufficient administrative assistance and support in routine services and activities within Programme Section thus better able to meet the needs of persons of concern.
- Undertake proper collection, monitoring and use of baselines, standards and indicators needed to measure and analyze programme performance, trends and target interventions.
- Represent UNHCR in physical monitoring of projects.
- Review the implementation and performance of IPs agreements through appropriate physical monitoring to evaluate the projects by reviewing work plans, progress, reports, budget, financial reports and expenditures. This may include field visits for specific monitoring and evaluation issues.
- Apply UNHCR¿s corporate tools (e.g. Global Focus, Focus Client) to assess the technical soundness of the operation and generate data for evidence-based decisions at the country-level.
- Assist in ensuring compliance in issuance of audit certificates for Implementing Partners.
- In coordination with the Field Office/Field Units in the Dodecanese region contribute in the assessment, regular monitoring and provision of assistance to persons of concern to UNHCR.
- Monitor closely the filing of financial records for all cash assistance related documents and the inventory of cash cards of cheques distributed and cashed.
- Provide inputs for the country operations plan (including budgets, staffing levels and structures) as well as prepare inputs for funding submissions, appeals and reports.
- Access the relevant information and programme records, Focus/ MSRP data.
- Assist in administrative tasks as required such as preparation of reports and meeting authorized personnel and assisting them during field missions.
- Assist in monitoring the implementation of UNHCR programme including the delivery of all assistance items.
- Perform other field related duties as required.

Essential Minimum Qualifications and Professional Experience required:
- University degree in Business Administration and Marketing, Political or Social Science, International Law or related field.
- Minimum 1 year of previous job experience relevant to the function with prior exposure to UNHCR refugee operations and functions relating to office administration and programme activities; field experience will be considered as an asset.

Required Qualifications and Competencies
- Fluency in English and Greek language is required
- Excellent Computer skills (in MS office)
- Good knowledge of UNHCR financial rules, procedures and processes
- Managing Resources
- Analytical Thinking
- Planning & Organizing
- Attentive to detail and accuracy

Desirable Competencies
- Working knowledge of another relevant UN language
- Knowledge of UNHCR specific programmes (MSRP, Focus, etc.) and databases (ProGres V4)
- Completion of the UNHCR Learning programmes or specific training relevant to functions of the position The duration of the assignment is until 30 June 2021.

The closing date for submission is 28 February 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.

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.