JOB DESCRIPTION

E (most hardship)

Non Family with Residential Location

Non Family with Residential LocationDanger Pay

Santo Domingo, Dominican Rep

PR4

Professional

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2025-07-23

August 8, 2025

Head of National Office

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
Head of a UNHCR National Office is a senior managerial position within a given country operation. The incumbent acts under delegated authority of the UNHCR Regional Representative (or the Deputy Regional Representative). The position reports and provides information on developments in relation to the protection (legal protection issues relating to the persons of concern to UNHCR), security (physical security in relation to the UNHCR staff and the persons of concern to UNHCR) and operational matters (programme and office management / administration) within the domain of its geographical area of responsibility to the UNHCR Regional Representative (or Deputy) on a regular and timely manner. The Head of UNHCR National Office will, on request, serve as a designated member of the UN Country Team, participating in relevant meetings including monthly UNCT meetings, engaging the involvement and advocacy of the Regional Representative as may be appropriate. S/he will also advise the UN Resident Coordinator regarding UNHCR¿s issues of concern. The Head of the UNHCR National Office will also support the UN Designated Official as a member of the Security Management Team. Concerning overall physical security concerns, HoNO will liaise directly with the competent UN security coordinator while keeping the UNHCR Regional/Deputy Regional Representative fully informed.

As the most senior UNHCR staff member within the given geographical area, the Head of National Office liaises with relevant government officials, security organs in the area, Non-Governmental Organisations (both national and international which are based in the area), local opinion makers and the local media.

As the extended field representative of UNHCR at the front line of High Commissioner’s operations, s/he remains as the effective advocate and assistant to the local authorities to ensure that the respective government authorities in the area implement their responsibilities emanating from the 1951 Convention in favour of refugees and others of concern to UNHCR.

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
– Stay abreast of the challenges posed by the local political context.
– Manage a consultative process within the country operations and with external partners.
– Develop and implement a comprehensive communications strategy that generates political and financial support for UNHCR’s operations.
– Implement a results-oriented approach for assessing, designing and delivering the country operation focused on Asylum Seekers and Refugees.
– Ensure that the protection strategy is fully integrated into the country operations plan and that necessary resources are allocated to it.
– Ensure the country operation¿s adherence to UNHCR’s policy on Age, Gender and Diversity Mainstreaming (AGDM).
– Ensure the country operation plans are consistent with the regional and global strategic priorities; manage a participatory process, with stakeholders to apply UNHCR¿s standards and indicators in assessing and measuring the performance of the country operations.
– Promote accession to the Convention and Protocol and ensure the application of protection standards in the treatment of persons of concern especially women and children.
– Ensure persons of concern, especially women and children, have access to relevant information; ensure that cases of sexual violence and abuse against girls and boys are reported and dealt with expeditiously.
– Ensure the engagement of UNHCR in the UNCT, UN common programming, planning and funding.
– Ensure that staff and financial resources are commensurate with operational objectives liaising with the Regional Representation Office.
– Exercise effective managerial oversight, direction, guidance and support and conduct regular performance appraisals and coaching.
– In close collaboration with the Designated Official (DO), UNDSS and UN country team/Security Management Team (SMT), gather and analyse information on the local security situation and play an active role in the inter-agency security and contingency planning processes.
– Ensure that appropriate security measures are in place to protect staff, and that the country operation complies with UN Minimum Operational Security Standards (MOSS)/ Minimum Operational Residential Security Standards (MORSS) staff security rules, guidelines and procedures.
– Represent UNHCR in the inter-agency fora and with national authorities.
– Develop country strategy and priorities, country operations plans, and approve the country operation’s protection strategy for validation by the Regional Representative.
– Enforce local compliance with UNHCR¿s global protection, programme, finance and human resources and security policies and standards.

– Lead risk assessments and discussions with team(s) to proactively manage risks and seize opportunities impacting objectives. Ensure that risk management principles are integrated in decision-making both at strategic and operational levels. Allocate resources for planned treatments with resource requirements in Strategic Plans. Ensure that risks are managed to acceptable levels and escalate, as needed. If a Risk Owner, designate the Risk Focal Point and certify that the annual risk review is completed and ensure that the risk register is updated during the year, as needed.
– Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P4/NOD – 9 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 8 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 7 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
Business Administration; International Relations; Law;
Political Science; Social Science; Human Resources Management;
or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses
HCR Country of Origin Inf Learning Program; HCR Management Learning Program; HCR RSD Learning Programme;
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Senior positions in a large governmental or international agency. Extensive knowledge of UNHCR operations and services.
Experience in management of broad programmes, political decision making and negotiating, as well as demonstrated tolerance to frequently changing and highly charged situations. Ability to lead formulation, oversight of implementation, monitoring and evaluation of operations. Ability to manage for results: translate strategic aims into achievable plans, with established priorities, monitor them, making periodic adjustments as required. Ability to effectively represent UNHCR at the senior level in internal and external meetings and to build strong relationships with clients.

Desirable
Not specified.

Functional Skills
*EL-Monitoring and Evaluation
*PG-Programme Management (programme cycles and reporting standards)
*MG-Country/Regional Office Representation
*MG-Political Decision Making
(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.

MCO Panama oversees 22 operations in Panama, Nicaragua, Belize, Cuba, Haiti, Dominican Republic and most Caribbean islands on the Eastern and Southern Caribbean region. With UNHCR presence in only a few locations in its AoR, MCO Panama covers countries with diverse contexts.
Reporting to the Representative, the Head of National Office Haiti will be directly responsible for ensuring operations in country, including coordination with the HNO Dominican Republic and MCO Panama technical units to ensure rapid and proper response when and where required.
The desired candidate will have:
– Prior experience of managing a team or acting as a head of the equivalent (or larger) size office as a Field Unit.
– As the candidate will represent UNHCR at the highest levels in inter-agency coordination meetings, excellent communication and negotiations skills.
– A demonstrated understanding of the mandate of other agencies, including development actors under the overall UNSDCF, and the ability to work cooperatively with others, across the spectrum of UNHCR’s partners: from NGOs to public institutions and through both implementation and strategic partnerships, to advance the mandate of UNHCR.
– Operational experience in dealing with emergency situations in challenging security environments.
– Strong UNHCR mandate and protection knowledge.
– Proven operational experience including project implementation, monitoring and reporting.
– Strong interpersonal skills and ability to multi-task.
– Strong drafting skills.
– Excellent internal coordination skills as the candidate will be required to liaise closely with the MCO.
– Openness to new ideas and flexibility to take new responsibilities as and when priorities evolve.
Language requirements: Due to operational needs within Haiti, in border areas and within the MCO Panama, proficiency in French, Spanish, and English is required for this post.

French

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Spanish

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit: https://www.cdc.gov/trave

Nature of Position:

Haiti has a population of almost 10 million and has been facing a growing multi-dimensional crisis. There is internal displacement in all of Haiti’s departments, with a concentration in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince. Gang violence had forced some 1.3 million people to flee their homes.

The situation in Haiti has led to waves of people leaving the country in the past decade, including through dangerous maritime journeys, as indicated by increased interceptions at sea. Deportations from the Dominican Republic are the most prevalent, and deportation by air and sea from other neighbouring countries in the Caribbean and the USA (with projected increases in 2025) continue.

The Haiti office has two international staff assigned to Haiti for the first time in 6 years. UNHCR aims to position UNHCR’s protection expertise in the inter-agency coordination fora related to protection for the IDP crisis in Port-au-Prince and for deportees from the Dominican Republic. UNHCR developed a documentation response with a local partner and the main government counterparts and has adapted the methodology to documentation for IDPs and deportees. With WFP, UNHCR has developed a collective feedback and complaints mechanism for humanitarian actors and is committed to growing the number of participants in 2025 and beyond.

The office in Port-au-Prince is overseen by MCO USA and is supported by MCO USA staff for admin, HR, program, and project control functions. As of 1 September 2025, MCO Panama will oversee these functions as the Haiti office will come under MCO Panama’s coverage area.

The incumbent will work under the direct supervision of the Head of National Office. The incumbent will need to liaise closely with protection staff in the Dominican Republic, in particular national staff working at the main border crossing points between Haiti and the Dominican Republic and migration detention centres, under the coordination of the head of protection based in the capital, Santo Domingo.

Living and Working Conditions:

Haiti is affected by safety and security problems, and many governments advise avoiding certain areas of the capital of Port-au-Prince altogether, such as the Bel Air, Carrefour, Cite Soleil, and the Martissant neighbourhoods. The security Level in Port-au-Prince is classified as level 4, and Programme Criticality 1 is in place (UNHCR has 2 PC1 slots). The security situation in Haiti remains alarming, characterized by a resurgence of armed clashes and violent crimes. Between January 1 and 7, 2025, several significant incidents were reported in Port-au-Prince. Despite the Multinational Security Support mission (MSS), the situation remains unstable in the capital with sporadic clashes and increased Haitian National Police patrols.

Due to the instability of the political system in Haiti, there are frequent protests, some of which run the risk of turning violent and are therefore best avoided. Port-au-Prince is a bustling and crowded city with high levels of poverty and unemployment throughout. While much of the infrastructure is somewhat lacking, and much of it is in the development process, working conditions are subject to UNDSS security rules.

Traffic accidents are the most common safety hazard to UN personnel in Haiti. The poor state of roads combined with poorly maintained vehicles and a reckless driving attitude leads to many traffic accidents. Crowds can form quickly at the scene of a traffic accident and always insist that the UN staff involved in the accident bring the victim immediately to the hospital. It is therefore important to contact the UNDSS Security Operation Center immediately, if you were involved in a traffic accident. Due to its location, Haiti is also highly vulnerable to natural hazards such as tropical storms, hurricanes, and earthquakes. During the hurricane season, from June 1st to November 30th, Haiti is exposed to heavy tropical storms, causing floods and landslides. Hurricanes and tropical storms routinely cause extensive material damage and loss of human life. Haiti is also located in a well-known zone for producing earthquakes. Even moderate earthquakes could cause severe damage and loss of life due to the poor quality of construction and limited government response capacity.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Bachelor of Arts: Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts: Human Resources Management, Bachelor of Arts: International Relations, Bachelor of Arts: Law, Bachelor of Arts: Political Science, Bachelor of Arts: Social Science

Certifications

HCR Country of Origin Information Learning Program – UNHCR, HCR Management Learning Program – UNHCR, HCR RSD Learning Program – UNHCR

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Leadership, Managing performance, Managing resource, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Political awareness, Strategic planning & visions, Teamwork & collaboration

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Compendium

Add. 2 to the Bi-Annual 2025 Compendium – Part B

Additional Information

This position doesn”t require a functional clearance