Project Manager - Scholarships

UNITED NATIONS RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY FOR PALESTINE REFUGEES IN THE NEAR EAST – UNRWA   UNRWA is the United Nations agency responsible for the protection, care and human development of a population of some 4.6 million Palestine refugees living in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and the Syrian Arab Republic. The Agency is committed to assisting Palestine refugees in maintaining a decent standard of living, acquiring appropriate knowledge and skills, enjoying the fullest possible extent of human rights, and leading a long and healthy life. UNRWA is by far the largest UN operation in the Middle East with over 29,000 staff. Most of the staff members are refugees themselves, working directly to benefit their communities – as teachers, doctors, nurses or social workers. Project Manager - Scholarships   Location Lebanon Field Office Type of Appointment Contractor Deadline for Application 04 September 2013 Vacancy Announcement Number 944/2013 Department/Division Office of the Director   MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES In accordance with established Agency policy and procedures, and under the supervision of the Deputy Director Office for UNRWA Affairs Lebanon and in cooperation with the UNRWA Education Department and CGU, the Project Manager will be responsible for the following: (A)     Effective communication with students in their final year of secondary education to ensure that students are aware of the opportunities available to them, including those students at non-UNRWA schools; (B)     Monitoring the student application process to ensure that it is handled in a way which is timely and transparent; (C)     Monitoring and guidance of scholars, to ensure that the successful applicants to our general scholarship programme are enrolled only into courses at United Nations-recognized universities and which further their employment prospects; (D)     Monitoring economic and political developments in the region, as they relate to the labour regulations governing Lebanon-registered Palestinian refugees; (E)     Developing and maintaining close relationships with selected universities within Lebanon, to ensure clarify of admissions procedures, and that students eligible for scholarships administered by UNRWA are aware of the admissions, requirements at various selected universities within Lebanon; (F)      Working with the selected universities to negotiate reduced level of tuitions fees for entrants eligible for scholarships from UNRWA; (G)     Writing progress reports, for the donors to the on the progress of the scholars. This will be done in accordance with the donor’s specific requirements, and in close cooperation with UNRWA Lebanon’s Donor Relations Unit in Beirut; (H)     Raising awareness of various contributions to the scholarship candidates and the successful scholars; (I)        Ensuring the complementary and harmony of all of the various scholarships mechanisms which UNRWA Lebanon has in place, and the ability to expand the number and scope of these programmes; (J)       In coordination with the UNRWA Finance Department in Lebanon, ensuring the sound financial management of any grants intended to be used towards scholarships grants; (K)     Any other duties as determined by the Front Office, particularly those which might be related to UNRWA’s pre-university education programme in the Lebanon Field, or to issue pertaining to the employability of Palestinian Refugees; (L)      Responsibility for the development and maintenance of the nascent comprehensive database covering essential information on individuals connected to the UNRWA scholarships programme; (M)    Overall supervision of the work of 2 staff members who will assist in the management of data on applicants and scholars and liaising with schools, universities and within the structures of UNRWA.   PERSONAL & PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES (A)   Academic and Professional        University degree in a related field of study. Applicants with advanced degree are preferred.   (B)   Experience i)      Five years of experience in a professional setting. ii)     A strong working knowledge of Project Management, preferable gained through work experience, ideally working with inter-governmental, non-profit or public institutions; iii)   A reasonable understanding of the political and socio-economic status situation of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon.   (C)   Language        An Excellent command of written and spoken English.   (D)   Skills and Competencies i)      Strong analytical skills; ii)     Strong communications and organizational skills; iii)   Strong leadership and problem solving skills; iv)    Strong team management skills.   SUPERVISION AND REPORTING The project Manager for the Scholarship Unit will report directly to the Deputy Director Office.   CONDITIONS OF SERVICE Salary: Monthly salary (full package) USD $3,000.- Contract Duration: Twelve months (Extendable according to availability of Funds).   EQUIVALENCY Candidates with an equivalent combination of relevant academic qualifications, professional training and progressive work experience may also be considered.   GENERAL INFORMATION UNRWA is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications equally from men and women. It is Agency Policy to give full consideration to qualified disabled candidates whose disability does not impact their ability to perform the duties and responsibilities of the post. Priority will be given to fully qualify registered Palestinian refugees. Prior to the commencement of services, the consultant shall confirm and acknowledge in writing, and provide proof of the existence of, self-procured adequate private insurance against medical, disability and accident for the duration of the contract. As a member of the United Nations system, UNRWA maintains a close relatives’ policy.  In this regard, if a candidate has a close relative (mother, father, brother, sister, son or daughter) who is already employed by the Agency, he/she can only be employed if the Agency is unable to find another suitable candidate.   UNRWA staff members with fixed term appointments may not be considered for any consultant/contractor position while in service. Candidates who are no longer employed by the Agency must have a minimum of 3 months break in service before they apply to any consultant/contract positions.   UNRWA is a United Nations organization whose staff are expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity, neutrality and impartiality. This includes respect for human rights, for diversity, and for non-violent means of dealing with all kinds of conflict. UNRWA staffs are expected to uphold these values at all times, both at work and outside. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for UNRWA jobs. UNRWA is a non-smoking working environment. الأونروا هي منظمة تابعة للأمم المتحدة، وهي منظمة تفترض من موظفيها الالتزام بأعلى معايير الاستقامة والحياد والنزاهة. ويشمل ذلك احترام مبادئ حقوق الإنسان واحترام التنوع وتبني الوسائل غير العنيفة في حل كافة أشكال النزاعات.  المتوقع من موظفي الأونروا أن يقوموا بدعم هذه القيم في كافة الأوقات، سواء في أماكن العمل أم خارجه. إن أولئك الأشخاص الذين يتمتعون بالالتزام الكامل وغير المشروط بهذه القيم هم فقط الذين ينبغي أن يتقدموا بطلباتهم للعمل لدى الأونروا. الأنروا هي بيئه عمل لا يسمح فيها بالتدخين.   TECHNICAL & PRACTICAL TESTS REQUIRED Short-listed candidates will sit for one test: Written technical test (100%).   The top 05 scoring candidates in the written technical test given that none have scored less than 50%; will be invited for an interview.    HOW TO APPLY If you have the skills and experience required above, and want to make an active and lasting contribution to improving the lives of Palestine refugees, then register on http://jobs.unrwa.org by creating a personal profile and completing the UNRWA Personal History Form. Only applications received through this website will be considered and the system will not allow applications after the deadline. Please note that UNRWA only accepts degrees from accredited educational institutions. Candidates may also be invited to take a technical exam in order further evaluate their qualifications for the post. Due to a high volume of applications received, only short-listed applicants will be contacted –“سيتم الإتصال فقط بالأشخاص الذين تنطبق عليهم متطلبات الوظيفة”. The United Nations does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process. The United Nations does not concern itself with information on bank accounts. For any queries please send an email to: recruitmentquestions@unrwa.org. Please apply as requested above, do not send your CV To this email address, all cvs sent to this email address will be automatically ignored. يرجى تقديم الطلبات حسب التعليمات اعلاها وعدم ارسال السيرة الذاتية الى هذا البريد الالكتروني, سيتم تجاهل السير الذاتية التي ترسل الى هذا العنوان تلقائيا. or contact the recruitment unit on 009611840490.