Senior Resettlement Assistant - UNHCR

Functional Title: Senior Resettlement Assistant 

Duty Station: Dadaab, Kenya

Duration: Initially for one year

Category and Level: GL5

Closing Date: 27 April 2012

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall and direct supervision of the Resettlement Officer, the incumbent will perform the following functions:

• Carrying out individual interviews to assess eligibility for resettlement, scrutinizing and assessing family composition in individual cases, updating appropriate events in ProGres (database currently used for tracking resettlement process) and preparing Resettlement Registration Forms (RRF) for submission for presentations to resettlement countries, in line with UNHCR resettlement policy and criteria;
• Carrying out Child best interest determination (BID) interviews and liaising with other units on cases involving unaccompanied and separated children; acting as back-up BID focal point within the unit
• Following up on deferrals received on submitted cases requesting clarification or additional information
• Providing refugees counselling on the resettlement process and feedback on the status of their resettlement cases 
• Assess and review cases of individual refugees in need of resettlement on emergency, urgent and/or medical grounds from all regions of the world.  Prepare individual and group submissions 
• Organise and coordinate travel arrangements for refugees accepted for resettlement;
• Ensure that field offices are kept informed on the status and processing of the individual cases;
• Assist in scheduling and organisation of government interview missions to field locations;
• Oversee selected and particular resettlement cases – processed by field offices including those without direct involvement of the Resettlement Section and provide basic advice.  Share observations with the supervisor and propose appropriate follow-up action;
• Perform other duties as required.

Qualifications:

Education 

• Completion of secondary education, preferably supplemented by training or knowledge in Public or International Law.
• Possession of a university degree in relevant fields (law, social sciences, psychology, international relations, etc), is considered an asset.

Skills and competencies

• Computer skills
• Data handling skills
• Communication Skills
• Knowledge of resettlement issues
• Previous exposure to databases (ProGres in particular) is considered an asset

Experience

• Five years previous job experience and one year experience relevant to the function.

Language:

• Fluency in English and Kiswahili.  
• Working knowledge of Somali language is an added advantage.

The incumbent will also refer to UNHCR Manual and relevant policy papers and publications related to Refugee Law and UNHCR protection and resettlement issues.

Staff members who wish to be considered for this position should submit application to: The Secretary, Local APPC, Human Resources Section, Branch Office Nairobi. Please indicate Vacancy Notice No.  IVN/EVN/KEN/DDB/12/006.

FOR  EXTERNAL CANDIDATES

Candidates should also complete a Personal History form (P.11) available on the following link - http://www.unon.org/docs/P11.doc  and attach it to their written application for the position.  Applications should be addressed as stated above to P.O. Box 43801, 00100, Nairobi referring to IVN/EVN/KEN/DDB/12/006.   Candidates should also submit copies of academic certificates from the relevant institutions.

IMPORTANT: ONLY THOSE CANDIDATES WHO ARE SHORT-LISTED WILL BE CONTACTED.  CANDIDATES WILL BE SUBJECTED TO TESTING.   LATE APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.