Senior Projects Officer

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 in five areas of operation, focusing on delivering education, health care, social services, and emergency assistance to some of the most vulnerable communities in the region. 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 details on UNRWA, please visit their official website at https://www.unrwa.org.

Job Overview:
The Senior Projects Officer plays a crucial role in ensuring the effective management and reporting of donor-funded projects within UNRWA. Reporting to the Head of External Relations Services Section (P4), this position involves overseeing the quality control of project documentation and compliance with UNRWA's project management manual. The Senior Projects Officer is responsible for coordinating inputs from various units to monitor organizational performance and compliance, advising on corrective actions, and providing analysis of donor-funded projects. This role requires establishing and maintaining relationships with project stakeholders, providing operational and technical guidance, and representing the External Relations and Communications Department (ERCD) in meetings and donor engagements. The Senior Projects Officer will also supervise and provide guidance to team members, ensuring that planned outcomes are achieved and that the team is well-supported in their activities.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Senior Projects Officer's duties include monitoring and ensuring high-quality control of Agency-wide reporting to donors, reviewing and finalizing project documents, and coordinating joint inputs for performance monitoring. The officer will perform high-level monitoring of project implementation, ensuring compliance with proposals and financial statements, and advising on necessary corrective actions. They will coordinate the exchange of information between Field Offices, Programme Departments, and Finance for timely submissions to donors, providing guidelines and recommendations to ensure alignment with reporting requirements. The officer will work closely with the ERCD Partnerships team, providing expert advice on technical and financial issues related to projects. Establishing relationships with stakeholders, the officer will manage project implementation issues and represent ERCD in various meetings. Additionally, the officer will provide operational guidance on project proposals and reports, supervise the PU team, and participate in recruitment processes.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess at least seven years of related professional experience in project development and management, administrative functions, and financial tracking. Knowledge of the programme management cycle and results-based management is essential. Familiarity with UNRWA Rules and Directives is desirable, as is prior experience with a UN organization, NGO, or donor government. Proficiency in using spreadsheets and database packages is also required. Candidates must demonstrate their current involvement in outside activities, including employment, consultancy, or voluntary work, as this information is necessary for assessing their application.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree from an accredited educational institution in business administration or a related discipline is required for this position. This educational background is essential for understanding the complexities of project management and financial oversight within the context of UNRWA's operations.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of seven years of relevant professional experience, particularly in the development and management of projects, administrative functions, and financial tracking. Candidates should have experience in bookkeeping and accountancy related to projects and contributions, as well as knowledge of the programme management cycle and results-based management. Experience with UNRWA or similar organizations is highly desirable, as is familiarity with financial tracking and reporting processes.

Languages:
For this position, proficiency in English and Arabic is mandatory. Candidates must demonstrate a minimum level of proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking in both languages, as per the UN Language Framework. Knowledge of French is considered an asset but is not required.

Additional Notes:
This position is a Fixed Term Appointment for one year, subject to the availability of funds and satisfactory performance. The monthly basic salary is JD 1156.60, with a special occupational allowance of 69.9% of the basic salary. Additional benefits include a monthly Provident Fund contribution, compulsory medical insurance, 30 days of annual leave, and dependency allowance if applicable. The position is open to internal candidates only, and applicants must reside in Amman and have authorization to work in Jordan. The agency will not facilitate work permits, and the appointment may be rescinded if a valid work permit is not obtained. The incumbent may be required to travel within the Agency's area of operations and work outside normal duty hours. Preference will be given to registered Palestine refugees and candidates who support gender parity. Applications must be completed in UNRWA's online e-recruitment system, and only fully completed applications will be considered.