Senior Strategic Engagement Advisor

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. 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. The agency aims to be environmentally sustainable and is targeting to be plastic-free by 202

• For more details, visit their official website at https://www.unrwa.org/.

Job Overview:
The Senior Strategic Engagement Advisor plays a crucial role in advising and assisting the Commissioner-General of UNRWA in fulfilling the agency's mandate. Reporting to the Director of the UNRWA Liaison Office in Geneva, the incumbent acts as the Head of the Secretariat of the Advisory Commission on UNRWA (AdCom). This position involves providing strategic advice to senior management on engagement with Permanent Missions, the UN ecosystem, and the media landscape in Geneva. The advisor is expected to oversee substantive preparations for AdCom meetings, maintain contacts with representatives, and ensure high-quality communication and work standards. The role also includes advancing UNRWA's strategic positioning within the UN ecosystem and fostering political and financial support through direct engagement with Member States' Permanent Missions.

Duties and Responsibilities:
As the Head of the Secretariat of the UN General Assembly Advisory Commission on UNRWA (AdCom), the incumbent will oversee the preparation for AdCom meetings, including sub-committees and working groups. They will manage staff supporting the Secretariat and ensure high-quality work. The advisor will provide strategic direction for UNRWA's engagement with the Advisory Commission, ensuring that the agency's strategic issues are included in discussions. They will monitor trends in Geneva, engage with stakeholders, and coordinate UNRWA's participation in policy discussions. Additionally, the advisor will prepare documents and talking points for engagements, oversee administrative and financial matters related to the Liaison Office, and deputize for the Director when necessary.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Masters’ or equivalent) in political science, international relations, international economics, law, public administration, or a related field. A minimum of ten years of progressively responsible professional experience in political, international relations, law, development management, or conflict resolution is required. At least five years of international experience in political outreach, analysis, and reporting while supporting senior leadership is essential. Familiarity with field duty stations, especially in conflict or post-conflict environments, is also required. Experience in coordinating interdisciplinary teams and engaging with the UN ecosystem is necessary. Candidates must have at least two continuous years of relevant international experience outside UNRWA and their country of citizenship.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree (Masters’ or equivalent) from an accredited educational institution in political science, international relations, international economics, law, public administration, or a related field is required. A first-level university degree combined with additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least ten years of progressively responsible professional experience in relevant fields, with at least five years of international experience in political outreach and analysis. Experience in supporting senior leadership and management functions is crucial, as is familiarity with field duty stations in conflict or post-conflict environments. Proven experience in coordinating interdisciplinary teams and engaging with the UN ecosystem is also required. Candidates must demonstrate a track record of relevant international experience outside their country of citizenship.

Languages:
Excellent command of written and spoken English is required. Working knowledge of written and spoken French is desirable. Candidates should indicate their current involvement in any outside activities, as this information is required for the application process.

Additional Notes:
This is a UN Regular Budget post with a contract duration of 2 years, with the possibility of further extension. Only applications completed in UNRWA's online e-recruitment system will be considered, and late applications will not be accepted. UNRWA personnel must ensure that their contract type and grade level are included in their applications. The agency is committed to achieving gender parity and encourages applications from under-represented groups. UNRWA is a non-smoking work environment and provides reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities upon request. The evaluation of applicants will be based on the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening.