National Humanitarian Programme Coordinator (Saudis Only)

UNOPS mission is to expand the capacity of the UN system and its partners to implement peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations that matter for people in need.  Working in some of the world’s most challenging environments, UNOPS vision is to always satisfy partners with management services that meet world-class standards of quality, speed and cost effectiveness.

The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is the United Nations programme working towards a better urban future. Its mission is to promote socially and environmentally sustainable human settlements development and the achievement of adequate shelter for all. In October 2016, at the UN Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development – Habitat III – member states signed the New Urban Agenda. This is an action-oriented document which sets global standards of achievement in sustainable urban development, rethinking the way we build, manage, and live in cities. Through drawing together cooperation with committed partners, relevant stakeholders, and urban actors, including at all levels of government as well as the private sector, UN-Habitat is applying its technical expertise, normative work and capacity development to implement the New Urban Agenda and Sustainable Development Goal 11 – to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.

UN-Habitat is an active member of the Inter Agency Standing Committee (IASC)which is the longest-standing and highest-level humanitarian coordination forum of the United Nations system and has been contributing to policy making pertaining emergency response to manmade armed conflict and natural disasters. UN-Habitat continues to advice IASC on Housing Land and Property Rights and emergency housing rehabilitation in conflict and post conflict and post natural disaster context, in line with the fourth Domain of Change of its 2020 to 2025 Strategic Plan: “Effective urban crisis prevention and response”. It has built a significant expertise at the global level to support national and local authorities to assess the impact of crises on housing and infrastructure.

The King Salman Relief (KSRELIEF) is established King Salman bin Abdulaziz in May 2015, with a primary goal to operate solely on the basis of humanitarian need and without any other motive, through close cooperation with fully-accredited international humanitarian relief organizations and other vital support partners dedicated to coordinating and providing international relief to crisis-afflicted communities, alleviating suffering and providing the essentials to allow people everywhere to live good lives.

Strategic objectives on humanitarian response and relief to:

• Deliver KSA’s external humanitarian aid and relief.

• Develop strong partnerships with leading humanitarian organizations.

• Develop an effective process to respond to humanitarian crises quickly and effectively.

• Increase the impact of KSA’s aid and its sustainability through improved commissioning, monitoring and evaluation.

The key objectives of this assignment are to:

• Strengthen the strategic partnership between UN-Habitat and the humanitarian arms of the Kingdom such as KSRelief, , AGFUND, AlWaleed Philanthropies humanitarian Saudi NGOs among others, with direct support to humanitarian affairs, and emergency response outside Saudi Arabia 

• Develop new initiatives and concepts to respond to impact of manmade and natural disasters and emergency response and negotiate with the above organisations’ collaboration and potential funding.

• Facilitate knowledge exchange, skills development, and joint collaboration between UN-Habitat and the above organisations in the areas of emergency and humanitarian response at the global level.

The vacancy is full time and located at the premises of the KSrelief in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Humanitarian Programme Coordinator will work under the direct supervision of the Director, Regional Programme Division and in coordination with the Emergency Director, the Regional Representatives of the UN-Habitat Regional Offices and the Head of KSA Country Programme as well as the head of the international relations department in KSRelief.  Within limits of delegated authority, the National Humanitarian Programme Coordinator will be responsible for the following duties:   

• Identifies areas of common interest, in accordance with UN-Habitat’s strategic plan and KSrelief and KSA humanitarian and development organisations/Funds strategic focus areas, and supports the development of proposals for potential joint initiatives/ projects.

• Serves as a focal point for coordination, follow up, and ensuring the effective implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UN-Habitat and KSrelief and other KSA humanitarian organisations and its associated workplan.

• Assists in the coordination of programme/project planning and preparation; monitors status of programme/project proposals and funding requests. 

• Serves as focal point for coordination, monitoring, and expedition of programme/project implementation activities, including extensive liaison with relevant teams at UN-Habitat and KSA organisations.

• Ensures monitoring and regular reporting on implementation of joint activities and maintains regular updates to the workplan regular in line with organisational priorities at the global level.

• Conducts research and prepares background information for programme/project formulation.

• Prepares/reviews programme-related documents, drafts standard correspondence, and develops presentations on the projects/programmes. 

• Facilitates regular communication and information exchange among relevant teams at UN-Habitat and KSrelief and other KSA humanitarian organisations through support to meetings, preparation of background documents, and developing project briefs.

• Provides administrative and substantive support to joint events, conferences, capacity development activities, etc., including proposing agenda topics, identifying and proposing speakers, preparation of background documents and presentations, handling logistics, etc.

• Maintains proper filing, both soft and hard versions for easy access and retrieval. Ensure safekeeping of confidential materials. 

• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Professionalism – Ability to apply judgment in the context of assignments given, plan own work and manage conflicting priorities. Ability to work independently in support of overall programme objectives and take responsibility in incorporating youth and gender perspectives and ensuring equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. Knowledge of Saudi Arabia socio-economic situation as pertaining to youth and women, urbanization issues and challenges 

• Planning and Organizing -  Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies. Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required. Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work. Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning. Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary Uses time efficiently . 

• Accountability -  Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments. Delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards. Operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules. Supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments

• Communication - Speak and write clearly and effectively, promote two-way communication, demonstrate openness in sharing information and keeping people informed. Listens to others, correctly interprets messages from others and responds appropriately

• High school diploma or equivalent Completion of first university degree (Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent) in international relations, political affairs, social sciences , urban development, architecture, or any other related development field. Advanced university degree would be considered an advantage. 

• A Minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsive experience in the international affairs and humanitarian programme coordination urban crises and humanitarian field is required. The minimum year of relevant experience is reduced to Five  (5) for candidates who possess a Master's degree or higher.

• A solid understanding of the urban crises context in the Arab region is desirable. 

• Experience working in the international development/humanitarian sector is an advantage, especially in the United Nations system.

• Fluency in written and oral Arabic and English are required for this assignment. Working knowledge of another UN language would be considered as an advantage

1. Contract type: ICA
2. Contract level: Local ICA Specialist - level 9
3. Contract duration: One year, with possible extension

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.

• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.

• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.

• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures,  languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 

• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.

• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

Terms and Conditions 

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 

• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. For more information on a retainer contract here.

• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.

• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.