Deputy Head of Mission

UNOPS is an operational arm of the United Nations, supporting the successful implementation of its partners’ peacebuilding, humanitarian and development projects around the world. Our mission is to help people build better lives and countries achieve sustainable development.

UNOPS areas of expertise cover infrastructure, procurement, project management, financial management and human resources.

Working with us

UNOPS offers short- and long-term work opportunities in diverse and challenging environments across the globe. We are looking for creative, results-focused professionals with skills in a range of disciplines.

Diversity

With over 4,000 UNOPS personnel and approximately 7,000 personnel recruited on behalf of UNOPS partners spread across 80 countries, our workforce represents a wide range of nationalities and cultures. We promote a balanced, diverse workforce — a strength that helps us better understand and address our partners’ needs, and continually strive to improve our gender balance through initiatives and policies that encourage recruitment of qualified female candidates.

Work life harmonization

UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands.

The mandate of the Office of the Quartet is to increase Palestinian economic and institutional development and empowerment, as a support towards achieving a two-state solution. In the event of a resumption of final status negotiations the OQ would support Quartet members in their efforts to realize a successful outcome.  The OQ works in the areas of energy, water, rule of law, movement and trade and telecommunications, to support the parties and ensure alignment with the strategic objectives of the Quartet members and donors to the Office
The Deputy Head of Mission of the Office of Quartet is a senior leadership position with a wide range of management and high-level policy responsibilities. The successful candidate will provide strategic advice to the Head of Mission (HoM) of the Office of Quartet , working closely with the Director of Finance and Operations and with the support of the Senior Coordination Officer, and will represent the Office of Quartet widely. This is a senior, demanding, full-time position based in Jerusalem, requiring excellent representational and management skills. There will be a need for regular travel within the West Bank, Gaza, Israel and abroad.  

A background in the context of the Middle East Peace Process and experience working on the ground will be needed to establish credibility with the parties and the full array of national, regional and international actors.

The Deputy Head of Mission is a position with a high level of responsibility in driving the substantive work of the office, preparing the ground politically, and representing the Office of Quartet with stakeholders and interlocutors. With the support of the Senior Coordination Officer (SCO), and reporting to the HoM the DHoM will: 

1. Provide political advice and substantive input to the HoM on all issues related to the Office of Quartet ’s work and the broader local and regional political and economic context.  This will include supporting the HoM in the leadership of the substantive, external, work of the Office, and acting as a visible and accountable leader in the management and governance of the office and its staff.  

2. Engage the parties, the international community and all other key actors regarding all aspects of the Office of Quartet ’s mission; this will include substantive and sensitive engagement with the parties to progress key OQ files as well as engagement with donors, Quartet Members and interested parties on the work of the Office of Quartet in its broader context;

3. With the HoM, guide the work of each of the five Office of Quartet teams, Rule of Law, Movement and Trade, Energy, Water and Telecommunications, with supervisory responsibilities to be agreed with the successful candidate;

4. Build and maintain regular and constructive contact with senior representatives of the  Quartet members, donors to the OQ and other member states;

5. Oversee, at a strategic level,  all administrative functions of the Office of Quartet related to budgeting, finance, human resources, and other operational functions. The work is of a highly confidential nature and the DHOM must maintain the highest standards of confidentiality;

6. With the support of the Senior Coordination Officer, Chair the Operations Management Group, consisting of the HoM, Director of Finance and Operations and the Senior Coordination Officer; 

7. Chair Team meetings in the absence of the Head of Mission; 

8. Oversee the work of the Senior Coordination Officer in the development, implementation, and deliverables of the OQ’s strategy and priority projects across all five strategic pillars; 

9. Through building strong relationships with donors, secure new and ongoing funding to ensure the long-term financial and political sustainability of the office;

10. Serve as acting Head of Mission in the absence of the HoM

• A minimum of ten (10)years (or more based on academic credentials) of progressively responsible experience in political affairs, international relations, law, economic development, development management or conflict resolution is required

• At least 5 years of relevant management experience in knowledge-based and/or politically complex organizations is required.

• Experience working on the Middle East Peace Process and/or with the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority and other key actors is required.

• An extensive record of work on political issues, economic development, diplomacy and advisory work on both the policy and operational level is required.

• Experience of working in a conflict/post-conflict country and facilitating progress between the parties in the conflict is a distinct advantage

• Proven track record of successful leadership experience in a complex context(s) is required.
  

• Excellent command of written and spoken English.

• Knowledge of Arabic and/or Hebrew is an asset

1. Contract type :Fixed-term staff contracts - 
2. Contract level D1
3. Contract duration 'One year initially, renewable subject to satisfactory performance and funding availability'

• Please note that the closing date is midnight Copenhagen time
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only those candidates that are short-listed for interviews will be notified.
• Qualified female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.
• UNOPS seeks to reasonably accommodate candidates with special needs, upon request.
• Work life harmonization - UNOPS values its people and recognizes the importance of balancing professional and personal demands. We have a progressive policy on work-life harmonization and offer several flexible working options. This policy applies to UNOPS personnel on all contract types
• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (around 4 hours) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS.
• The incumbent is responsible to abide by security policies, administrative instructions, plans and procedures of the UN Security Management System and that of UNOPS.  

It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential recruits/interns. Recruitment/internship in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.