Assistant, Economic Development

Jerusalem Office – UNOPS Project Management and Infrastructure Centre of Excellence

Since the opening of the Jerusalem Office in 2006, UNOPS has significantly strengthened its operations in Palestine. Our expert knowledge, skills and management systems contribute to the sustainable development of public infrastructure in Gaza and the West Bank, including Area C and East Jerusalem.

The Israeli – Palestinian conflict remains a protracted and complex conflict. While the only way to bring the conflict to an end is through a negotiated final status agreement, it is essential that progress be made on the ground in a manner that will create a more conducive environment for final status negotiations.

The mandate of the Office of the Quartet is to increase Palestinian economic and institutional development and empowerment, as a support towards achieving a two-state solution.  In the event of a resumption of final status negotiations the OQ would support Quartet members in their efforts to realize a successful outcome. 

In pursuing its mandate, the OQ plays a unique role in the region, maintaining strong relationships at multiple levels with both the Palestinian Authority and the Government of Israel. This allows the OQ to facilitate engagement between the parties, encouraging agreement and progress at the political level, while also drawing on its sectoral expertise to support technical-level work. Further, the OQ maintains broad relationships with the international community, including the group of direct donors to the Office. This allows the OQ to coordinate and align the advocacy work of the international community in the sectors in which we work.

The OQ is a fast paced and dynamic office operating in the areas of energy, water, rule of law, movement and trade, and telecoms. The following strategic principles guide the OQ’s work to support the parties while also ensuring alignment with the strategic objectives of the Quartet members and donors to the Office.

• Bridging between the parties and providing creative solutions that enable progress on the ground;

• Playing a catalytic role in working towards sectoral solutions in partnership with other actors, while taking on direct responsibility for specific elements of those solutions when the Office is well positioned and requested to do so;

• Focusing on policies and workstreams that have a multiplier effect – that is, an outcome that extends beyond the direct output of the policy or workstream;

• Focusing on the implementation of agreements reached and announcements made by the parties to ensure that they are translated as quickly as possible into results that have a positive impact on people’s lives;

• Maintaining the vertical depth of our work from the granular, technical level to the strategic and political level while engaging the broad array of actors required to make progress, including the parties, members of the international community and others;

• Ensuring complementarity of the OQ’s work with that of other key actors, including those which also play a convening role;

• Continuing support to Quartet members

The Assistant – Economic Development (AED) is part of the Economic Development Team, reporting to the Director of Economic Development with a second reporting line to the Unit Coordinator.

The AED will be working closely with the members of the Economic Development Team, as well as the members of the other OQ teams. S/he will be engaging with the stakeholders as described in the ToR, under the guidance of the line manager. The AED is responsible for delivering the ToR and additional tasks assigned by the line manager.

As part of the Economic Development Team, the AED is key and an integral part of implementing the Sector Strategy and Workplan, contributing towards the delivery of overall OQ Strategy.

• 5 years of relevant work experience required with secondary education, or less with Bachelors / Masters. 

• Excellent communication skills, including a demonstrated ability to both write and present high-quality written documents/presentations in English is required.

• Experience in research, analytics and publications is an asset.

• Experience and understanding of the local political & economic context is preferred.

• Experience in external stakeholder engagement is preferred. 

• Experience in working in challenging environments is preferred.

• Skilled in research and analysis: strong qualitative and analytic skills; keen attention to detail and data accuracy is highly recommended.

• Excellent communication skills: strong writing ability, skilled in creating knowledge products such as papers, guidance notes and other pieces directed at multiple audiences is highly recommended.

• Workstream management skills: Ability to develop and deliver on activities; ability to plan in a coordinated manner, manage priorities and meet deadlines; management experience (preferable delivery teams); ability to accurately monitor, evaluate and report on workstream progress; ability to manage and mitigate risks.

• Strong team player: strong interpersonal skills; ability to consistently is highly recommended demonstrate a professional manner in dealing with individuals at all levels, both internally and externally to the organisation; team player and flexible as tasks and priorities shift; ability to work independently and in teams in a small office environment.

• Excellent command of written and spoken English.

• Working knowledge of Hebrew and Arabic is an advantage.

Contract type: Full Time - Local Individual Contractor Agreement LICA
Contract level: ICS5 
Contract duration: 4 months with the intention of extension.