Position description
Org. Setting and Reporting
This position is located in the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Country office in Syria, Beirut. The incumbent represent the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and shall report to the Chief of the Asia Pacific and Middle East and North Africa Branch (APMENAB) in coordination with the Chief of the MENA Section.
Responsibilities
Under the direction of the Chief of Branch, the Senior Human Rights Officer will be responsible for the following duties:
- Leads and coordinates the work of OHCHR Syria in line with the mandate of the High Commissioner.
- Formulates human rights strategies, including from a gender equality perspective; develops a vision or direction for the work of the Syria Office and creates the conditions for implementing that vision or direction.
- Represents the High Commissioner on matters of human rights.
- Advises the High Commissioner on strategies to address human rights issues of concern.
- Proposes plans of action to appropriate United Nations bodies for immediate and long-range solutions to human rights problems in general and specific thematic areas.
- Builds and maintains relationships with the Syrian authorities, Ambassadors, Heads of UN Agencies and other intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations on human rights issues, propose human rights based solutions to issues of concern.
- Develops and maintains relations with Government officials at the highest levels and advises them on human rights issues and policies.
- Advises the UN Resident Coordinators and the UN Country Team on human rights-based strategies in relation to their various mandates and that build and strengthen national capacities and institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights.
- Exercises daily management of the office, including oversight of all logistic, financial and human resources in accordance with relevant UN Rules and Procedures.
- Designs, develops and implements activities and programs to address human rights concerns, including their gender dimensions.
- Formulates the programme of work, budget and medium-term plan of the office and participates in the overall formulation and approval of the programme of work, and administrative matters.
- Prepares human rights reports on key developments.
- Manages, coordinates, organizes and supervises human rights officers.
- Performs other related duties as required.
Competencies
- PROFESSIONALISM: Knowledge of and exposure to a range of human rights issues including approaches and techniques to address and advise on highly sensitive and complex problems in their political, ethnic, racial, gender and socio-economic dimensions; Knowledge of institutional mandates of human rights organizations, prevailing policies and procedures; Ability to evaluate and integrate information from a variety of sources and assess impact on the human rights situation in the region or country of assignment, including the political environment and legal statutes as they pertain to human rights; Ability to complete in-depth studies and reach conclusions on possible causes and solutions to human rights problems in specific societies and systems; Ability to relate and advise on human rights issues and perspectives, including their gender equality dimensions, to political, social, economic and humanitarian programmes in affected countries and areas; Shows pride in work and in achievements; Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; Is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; Is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; Shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; Remains calm in stressful situations.
- COMMUNICATION: Speaks and writes clearly and effectively; listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately; asks questions to clarify, and exhibits interest in having two-way communication; tailors language, tone, style and format to match audience; demonstrates openness in sharing information and keeping people informed.
- TEAMWORK: Works collaboratively with colleagues to achieve organizational goals; solicits input by genuinely valuing others’ ideas and expertise; is willing to learn from others; places team agenda before personal agenda; supports and acts in accordance with final group decision, even when such decisions may not entirely reflect own position; shares credit for team accomplishments and accepts joint responsibility for team shortcomings.
- LEADERSHIP: Serves as a role model that other people want to follow: empowers others to translate vision into results; is proactive in developing strategies to accomplish objectives; establishes and maintains relationships with a broad range of people to understand needs and gain support; anticipates and resolves conflicts by pursuing mutually agreeable solutions; drives for change and improvements; does not accept the status quo; shows the courage to take unpopular stands. Provides leadership and takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work; demonstrates knowledge of strategies and commitment to the goal of gender balance in staffing.
- JUDGEMENT/DECISION-MAKING: Identifies the key issues in a complex situation, and comes to the heart of the problem quickly; gathers relevant information before making a decision; considers positive and negative impacts of decisions prior to making them; takes decisions with an eye to the impact on others and on the Organization; proposes a course of action or makes a recommendation based on all available information; checks assumptions against facts; determines the actions proposed will satisfy the expressed and underlying needs for the decision; makes tough decisions when necessary.
Education
- Advanced University degree (Master’s degree or equivalent degree) in law, political science, international relations, international economics or other disciplines related to human rights. A first level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying work experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Work Experience
- A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in human rights, political affairs, international relations, law or related area is required. At least five (5) years of experience managing a team is desirable. Experience in monitoring and reporting on human rights situation is desirable. Field experience working on human rights is desirable.
Languages
- English and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For the position advertised, fluency in English is required. Fluency in Arabic is desirable.
Application instructions
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