Sr. Resettlement Assistant

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

B

Family

UNOPS LICA5

2025-01-01

November 17, 2024

Operational Context
India currently hosts some 269,000 refugees and asylum seekers. These include some 91,000 Sri Lankan refugees and 73,400 Tibetans directly assisted by the Government of India. There are as well 46,904 individuals registered under UNHCR’s mandate primarily from Afghanistan, Myanmar, and other countries. UNHCR works with the Government of India to offer protection and find solutions for registered refugees and asylum seekers. UNHCR’s main activities in India are focused on conducting registration and documentation, status determination, legal assistance, and the search for durable solutions for refugees. With refugees and asylum seekers spread across 13 different locations across the country, UNHCR relies on its 9 NGO partners for support. It funds activities that complement or facilitate access to essential services and assist the most vulnerable people with humanitarian assistance. UNHCR also works with various partners and key stakeholders to advocate for greater inclusion of refugees and asylum seekers as part of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG). UNHCR’s office is in New Delhi and has a Field Office in Chennai, Tamil Nadu State.

Expected Outcomes
The incumbent will be responsible for interviewing refugees and assessing their individual resettlement needs. He/she is expected to draft robust, concise and well-drafted RRFs for resettlement submission, producing a minimum of 5 RRFs per week. The incumbent may also have other responsibilities such as acting as Resettlement country focal point.

Desired Candidate profile

-RRF drafting experience is required. He/she should have excellent drafting skills in English.
-Experience in counselling, managing refugee expectations, and strong communication skills. He/she should have experience interviewing vulnerable persons and working with an interpreter.
-Extensive knowledge of UNHCR’s proGres v4 database, excellent computer skills are essential.
-Demonstrated experience meeting targets and deadlines
-Demonstrated planning, organizational and time management skills
-Strong analytical skill
-He/she will be working in a team environment; therefore, excellent interpersonal skills are required.
-Experience coordinating with resettlement countries on individual cases is an asset.
-Working knowledge of the refugee status determination process is an asset.
-Oral communication skills in Hindi is an asset.
-Prior UNHCR experience is desirable.

This is a UNOPS LICA position and is open only to Indian nationals.
Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on the grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity. We work with skilled professionals who are committed to put people first and make a real difference to people’s lives.
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted, and they may be required to undergo a written test and/or an interview. The selected candidate will work either from the UNHCR Office or other UNHCR partner locations in New Delhi, India.

Standard Job Description

Senior Resettlement Assistant

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
A Senior Resettlement Assistant position is typically located at Multi-Country Office, Branch Office or Field Office. Under supervision, the incumbent’s primary role is to assist the supervisor in effective resettlement delivery of a given UNHCR Office in accordance with the UNHCR Resettlement Handbook, UNHCR Manual and relevant policy papers and publications. The incumbent provides important clerical and administrative support to resettlement operations and may as required take part in assessing cases for resettlement and conducting interviews. S/he maintains frequent contacts with the supervisor, relevant colleagues within the same Office or Offices under purview to exchange information and discuss issues on resettlement cases. Some contacts and communication at a working level are required with Embassy / Immigration Officials of resettlement countries, IOM as well as with other operating partners regarding resettlement issues.

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities, in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter, UN Staff Regulations and Rules, UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core, functional, cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCR’s core values of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties
– Carry out preliminary interviews and initial assessments to process refugees for resettlement following established procedures.
– Prepare written documentation for resettlement submission; ensure that records / files of individual cases are updated in a systematic and timely manner.
– Assess and review individual resettlement cases and prepare individual / group submission for scrutiny by the supervisor.
– Provide persons of concern (PoC) with up-to-date and accurate information on UNHCR’s resettlement policies and procedures.
– Comply with UNHCR’s standard operating procedures on resettlement, ensuring timely action on cases.
– Follow up on cases from time of submission to final decision and departure; ensure effective in-country communication on the status and follow-up on PoC being considered for resettlement.
– Assist in maintaining and updating proGres or Consolidated Online Resettlement Tracking System (CORTS) database and provide technical support.
– Coordinate travel and departure arrangements for refugees accepted for resettlement.
– Organize logistical support for governments undertaking resettlement missions.
– Provide administrative support for resettlement-related training activities, including organization of resettlement workshops and meetings as required.
– Maintain accurate resettlement statistics as well as up-to-date records on individual cases; assist in the preparation of reports.
– Draft / type routine correspondence to Field Offices / Multi-Country Offices / Headquarters.
– Systematically apply an Age, Gender and Diversity perspective in all aspects of the resettlement process; comply with UNHCR policy and guidelines on HIV/AIDS.
– Assist in mitigating resettlement fraud by reporting suspected fraud.
– Recommend eligible cases for resettlement consideration.
– Provide counselling to PoC.

– Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks, issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).
– Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications
Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For G5 – 2 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 1 year relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Field(s) of Education
Not applicable

Certificates and/or Licenses
International Law;
International Relations;
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Not specified

Desirable
Good knowledge of resettlement issues and UNHCR resettlement policies and operational applications. Completion of UNHCR specific learning/training activities (e.g., PLP and RSD/Resettlement Learning Programme, resettlement anti-fraud workshop).

Functional Skills
PR-Refugee Resettlement programs
PR-Resettlement Anti-Fraud Policy and Procedures
CO-Cross-cultural communication
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements
For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.
For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.
For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively, contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe, and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment including sexual harassment, sexism, gender inequality, discrimination and abuse of power.

As individuals and as managers, all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct, support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening, shortlisting and selection of candidates.

Required Languages

,

,

Desired Languages

,

,

Additional Qualifications

Skills

CO-Cross-cultural communication, PR-Refugee Resettlement programs, PR-Resettlement Anti-Fraud Policy and Procedures

Education

Certifications

International Law – Other, International Relations – Other

Other information

This position doesn’t require a functional clearance

Home-Based

No