Area Relief and Social Services Officer

The Area Relief and Social Services Officer supervises and controls the implementation of social safety net and emergency assistance programmes in the assigned area, ensuring compliance with relevant criteria and operating instructions. The role involves administrative supervision, coordination with other UNRWA programmes, and representation of the Relief and Social Services Programme at the area level.

Responsibilities

• Supervise and control the implementation of the Social Safety Net (SSN) assistance, emergency assistance programmes or other social transfer programmes in the area, ensuring compliance with criteria and operating instructions.
• Approve enrolment of refugee families in the SSN programme according to Relief Services Instructions (RSI).
• Act as secretary to the SSN appeals committee as technical reference.
• Ensure preparation of priority lists of SSN families for assistance and conduct random visits to active SSN families to verify data and adherence to eligibility criteria.
• Monitor and follow-up distribution processes to ensure efficient social transfers/emergency distribution and conduct inspections on distribution sites.
• Plan, coordinate and follow-up with RSS, distribution, Finance and other concerned staff on delivery of assistance to beneficiaries.
• Provide administrative and logistical support to Area Registration teams for eligibility and registration activities.
• Promote joint multi-disciplinary social intervention activities targeting clients and ensure needs of assisted families are addressed.
• Represent RSSP and coordinate with other Field staff in emergencies requiring direct relief and maintain coordination with other UNRWA programmes.
• Coordinate pre-planned needs assessment studies and liaise with local community organizations and NGOs to improve networking and resource use.
• Plan and hold regular meetings with RSS staff for information sharing, coordination, and training needs.
• Act as focal point for refugees’ inquiries and petitions and encourage community participation in Community-Based Organizations activities.
• Maintain custodianship over RSSD premises and report contraventions and incursions.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Requirements

• A university degree from accredited institution in social work, sociology, psychology, social anthropology, guidance and counseling or other related field.
• Training on action oriented social research and participation in at least two research projects.
• At least five years' relevant experience in relief services and/or social development programmes in functions related to the job responsibilities.
• At least three years of supervisory/management level experience, preferably in a similar programme.
• Candidates must reside in West Bank or Jerusalem and have authorization to work in the duty station at the time of application.
• Willingness and capability to drive an Agency vehicle and work during irregular hours.
• English language proficiency at UN Level II in reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
• Arabic language proficiency at UN Level III in reading, writing, listening, and speaking.

Skills

• Social Work
• Sociology
• Psychology
• Applied Social Anthropology
• Guidance and Counselling
• Action Oriented Research
• Relief Services
• Social Development Programming
• Programme Supervision
• Management Experience
• Emergency Assistance Programmes
• Social Safety Net Programmes
• Programme Coordination
• Supervision of Administrative Staff
• Representation Skills
• English Language Proficiency
• Language Proficiency in Arabic
• Driving Agency Vehicle

Languages

English, Arabic