The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people. It has over 17,000 employees in more than 135 countries.
The European Asylum Support Office (EASO), which is based in Malta, is an EU agency which acts as a center of expertise on asylum by providing practical, technical, and operational support to member states, the Commission and in the external dimension while also contributing to the creation of a Common European Asylum System (CEAS). EASO‘s main areas of activity include providing country of origin information (COI) on key countries, providing the latest asylum trends data, developing and providing trainings, coordinating on EU relocation, developing the use of operational tools, and providing operational support to EU+ member states. EASO’s Management Board is made up of the 32 EU+ Member States (28 EU MS plus Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland), the European Commission, UNHCR and Frontex (the EU’s border guard agency). EASO is currently undergoing a rapid expansion of staff, resources and activities in preparation for eventual conversion into a fully-fledged EU Agency, the European Union Asylum Agency (EUAA).
UNHCR has a bilateral working arrangement with EASO implemented, through expertise and information sharing, as well as advocacy work led by the UNHCR Regional Representation for EU Affairs and a dedicated Liaison Office based in Valletta.
Main duties and responsibilities
- Supporting in the preparation of high level meetings (four EASO Management Board meetings per year, and a Senior Management Consultation);
- Supporting the HLO with the corrdination of UNHCR involvement with EASO operations and the external dimension;
- Compiling, consolidating and analyzing systematic updated information for relevant UNHCR reports and inputs to EASO reports and databases;
- Following developments regarding the publication of UNHCR country-specific guidance and EASO Country Guidance and COI, and attending relevant meetings and reporting on them as needed;
- Daily monitoring, researching and analyzing of EASO and EU related reports, data sources in order to identify and summarize important developments to be shared with Head of LO and concerned staff in Brussels, HQs and the field in a timely manner;
- Attending meetings and representing UNHCR at EASO on behalf of the Liaison Office as requested, and prepare notes on these meetings to keep the HLO, other ALO, Policy and Legal Support Unit and other offices informed;
- Helping to facilitate the planning process by drafting objectives, monitoring and logging activities against those objectives and reporting on end of year progress;
- Assisting in the monitoring of the ABOD and OPS budgets to ensure that spending is within the annual budgeting amount and facilitate the mid-year review process to assess LO needs and request and justify additional funds if necessary;
- Processing various entitlements related to LO staff, issuing contracts and maintening various personnel records and files;
- Assisting in surveys on local cost of living and local salaries; Processing requests for visas, identity cards, driving licences and other personnel-related documents; Preparing travel authorization and assist in the submission of travel claims;
- Attending to day-to-day matters relating to the administration of the LO.
Qualifications
Essential
- University Degree in Law, Political Science, International Relations, Public Administration or related field;
- Minimum 3 years of previous job experience relevant to the function with a keen ability to undertake to substantive legal/policy work;
- Advanced knowledge of international refugee law and human rights law;
- Good understanding of the EU policy, legal and institutional framework, including its agencies;
- Tact, diplomacy and ability to manage relations with partners in the EU context;
- Excellent research, analytical, judgment, and organizational skills;
- Good information management, communication and coordination;
- Excellent spoken and written English and highly developed drafting skills;
- Flexibility and strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills;
- Discretion in handling sensitive and confidential information;
- Ability to prioritise work and deliver under pressure;
- Results orientation and constructive thinking.
The ideal candidate will be detail-oriented, highly organized and a team player who is able to work independently.
Desirable
- Post-graduate education/training on international protection, international relations, european affairs, law, politics or a related field;
- Previous experience within an international and multicultural environment;
- Extensive knowledge of EASO, EU and the Common European Asylum system, its instruments;
- Knowledge of another UN language;
- Previous experience in planning and the programme field;
- Ability to start with the Liaison Office in Malta on short notice.
Location
The successful candidate will be based in the UNHCR Liaison Office to EASO in Valletta, Malta.
Contract period
An initial 5-month contract is offered with possibility of renewal. Start date is August 2020.
It is a full-time role, Monday to Friday (40 hours per week) with working hours starting from 9 am to 6 pm (1h lunch break).
How to apply
Interested candidates should fill in a UNHCR Personal History Form (P.11), including the Letter of Interest section, which can be obtained at www.unhcr.org/recruit/p11new.doc.
Applications must be submitted by email to belbrhr@unhcr.org by 23:59 on Tuesday 30 June 2020.
The subject line of the email should read ‘ALO Malta‘ and include the candidate’s surname.
Candidates are strongly encouraged to submit examples of previous relevant work to demonstrate their research and drafting skills.
Early applications are encouraged. No late applications will be accepted. Due to the expected volume of applications, only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
this job offer is not open for applications
