Chief Protection Division

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is the largest United Nations operation in the Middle East, established to provide assistance and protection to Palestine refugees. With over 30,000 staff members, UNRWA operates across five areas of operation, focusing on delivering essential services and support to one of the most vulnerable communities in the world. The agency is committed to helping Palestine refugees achieve their full potential in human development despite the challenging circumstances they face. UNRWA is funded almost entirely by voluntary contributions from UN member states, regional bodies, business foundations, and individual contributions. For more information about UNRWA, visit their official website at https://www.unrwa.org/.

Job Overview:
The Chief Protection Division is a senior leadership role within UNRWA, reporting directly to the Deputy Commissioner-General (Programmes and Partnerships). This position is responsible for planning, directing, and managing the work of the Protection Division at Headquarters. The Chief will ensure that the division adopts a rights-based approach that upholds the dignity, safety, and agency of Palestine refugees. The role involves overseeing work planning, staff supervision, and financial management in alignment with the Agency's strategic objectives. The Chief will also lead efforts to strengthen the Agency's protection function across its various programs and operations, ensuring that the Agency's approach is grounded in international human rights and law" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">humanitarian law. This position requires a commitment to creating an inclusive work environment where diverse staff feel valued and can contribute their expertise. The Chief will also be responsible for developing and supporting protection programming at the field level, addressing specific protection risks and gaps, and ensuring that adequate protection policies and procedures are in place across the Agency.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Chief Protection Division will have a comprehensive set of responsibilities, including:

• Planning, directing, and managing the work of the Protection Division, ensuring alignment with the Agency's strategic objectives.
• Overseeing staff supervision and financial management within the division.
• Leading the strengthening of the Agency's protection function across all programs and operations.
• Providing strategic leadership on disability inclusion, gender equity, and child safeguarding.
• Coordinating Agency-wide reporting and implementation under the UN Disability Inclusion Strategy and the UN System-Wide Action Plan on Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women.
• Supporting the Agency's accountability to Palestine refugees through inclusive participation and responsive community feedback mechanisms.
• Leading the Agency's protection advocacy strategy and coordinating submissions to international human rights and justice mechanisms.
• Developing and managing key partnerships with other UN agencies, NGOs, and governmental bodies to enhance service delivery and protection for vulnerable populations.
• Ensuring that protection policies, guidance, tools, and procedures reflect best practices and complement UNRWA's programs. 1
• Providing technical support and guidance to field protection teams and front offices. 1
• Strengthening the application of humanitarian principles in collaboration with the Neutrality Unit. 1
• Conducting assessments and training for staff on integrated assessments of UNRWA installations.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) from an accredited educational institution in law, social or political science, international relations, or related fields, preferably with a focus on international human rights, humanitarian law, and/or refugee law. Additionally, candidates should have at least ten years of progressively responsible and relevant experience in countrywide or regional protection operations or human rights. A minimum of five years of work experience at a senior international level in positions of significant responsibility is also required. Candidates must have at least two continuous years of relevant international experience outside UNRWA and outside their country of nationality. Experience with the United Nations Common System and field experience are desirable.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Master's or equivalent) in law, social or political science, international relations, or related fields is required. The degree should preferably focus on international human rights, humanitarian law, and/or refugee law. A first-level university degree combined with additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

Experience:
Candidates must have at least ten years of progressively responsible and relevant experience in countrywide or regional protection operations or human rights. At least five years of this experience should be at a senior international level in positions of significant responsibility. Candidates must also have at least two continuous years of relevant international experience outside UNRWA and outside their country of nationality. Experience with the United Nations Common System is desirable, as is field experience.

Languages:
English is required for this position, with a minimum proficiency level of UN Level III in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. French is also a working language of the United Nations Secretariat, but English is the primary language required for this job opening.

Additional Notes:
This is a UN Regular Budget post with a contract duration of 2 years, with the possibility of further extension. The incumbent will be required to travel frequently within, and occasionally outside, the Agency’s area of operations in the Middle East. Only applications that have been fully completed in UNRWA's online e-recruitment system, Inspira, will be considered, and late applications will not be accepted. UNRWA is committed to achieving gender parity and encourages applications from qualified candidates with disabilities. A roster may be created from the selection exercise, and successful candidates may become eligible for appointment to the same post or a similar post when the need arises. UNRWA does not charge a fee or request money from candidates at any stage of the recruitment process.