Community Services Officer

Under the supervision of CAO, represents the Agency at the camp level and the surrounding community area, as required; liaises with government authorities at the local level, including municipalities, local Internal Security Forces, local Army forces, as applicable, local refugee community representatives and humanitarian organizations and NGOs during briefings and meetings to ensure effective control and continuity of services including those related to solid waste collection in the camps as well as other issues of interest to the Agency; supports approved delegation visits to the camp, including when requested by the Director of Communications or the field director, organizing and briefing donors, journalists and other stakeholders and may randomly act as interpreter in such visits if required;

Supports all programmes; organizes and participates in meetings with Area Programme Officers in the assigned camp on a regular basis to discuss problems and challenges and suggest plans and possible courses of action; coordinates with key staff, including but not limited to Area Programme Officers, Heads of installations in the camp and Social Workers, as well as local community representatives and NGOs to discuss issues of mutual concern, address problems and report to CAO accordingly; intervenes to find solutions for disputes among refugees including those related to solid waste collection issues; assists in and advises on the integration of programmes and support service activities; where necessary, takes corrective measures within his/her authority as outlined by her/his supervisor; may be authorized to participate in or lead committees in the community; 

Acts as Security and Safety focal point for the assigned camp and community area and identifies, analyses and timely reports to CAO and Field Security and Risk Management (FSRM) staff on risks and security incidents and issues affecting UNRWA personnel and installations; ensures that the Community Services Office has an evacuation plan and has basic safety equipment in place; consults with community leaders and other identified relevant actors and/or parties about appropriate community response(s) to security incidents involving Agency personnel, assets and/or installations, including reporting such incidents to the police on behalf of UNRWA where required and ensuring measures to prevent security incidents from re-occurring; 

Monitors the camp's environment and the surrounding community area and identifies and timely reports to CAO on neutrality violations and protection issues affecting Palestine refugees; follows up to ensure such issues are adequately addressed by Programmes and/or other relevant Departments; in consultation with the CAO, supports and works with Protection and Neutrality (P&N) teams in gathering information, reporting protection and neutrality incidents in a timely manner, setting up meetings with beneficiaries, building relationships between the P&N teams and the community regarding protection and neutrality issues, and implementing and mainstreaming the Agency’s responses regarding protection and neutrality issues, as they arise in the assigned camp/community;

Plans, directs and manages the activities of the Community Services Office and provides direct supervision to sanitation laborers and foremen at the camp level as well as guards as requested by Area Programme Officers and CAOs; ensures the implementation of Agency and Field Administrative issuances; establishes and implements monitoring and reporting mechanisms to systematically assess progress and quality of services and the achievement of results including guard force, social services; closely monitors attendance of school attendants who work inside camps and follows up on their work during school vacations;  as a member of the Area Management Team, contributes to planning, operating and controlling administrative, finance, supply, distribution, transport, personnel, and building maintenance at the Area level; 

Responsible for effective communication within the assigned camp and community area; works with UNRWA programmes and communications department to disseminate information about relevant UNRWA programming and initiatives to residents and beneficiaries with a view to developing and executing appropriate public information interventions to increase/promote awareness, image and visibility of the Agency across the camp and community area;  maintains Agency records, follows up and reports on petitions, claims and applications with beneficiaries, area office and other entities in the community area; maintains and updates lists of recipients of UNRWA services in the community; as applicable, provides eligibility and registration services to refugees living inside camp including collecting documents and issuing of registration cards and processes hospitalization transactions submitted by refugees;

Act as Emergency Preparedness and Response focal point for the assigned camp and community area, and under the direction and supervision of CAO, manages the Agency’s emergency preparedness and response activities within the assigned camp and community area; contributes to various written outputs such as plans, concept of operations, standard operating procedures and situation reports;

Performs other duties as may be assigned by the supervisor(s).