Access and Liaison Specialist

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About the Region

About the Region

The UNOPS Middle East Region (MR) provides strategic leadership, performance oversight, and support to UNOPS operations across Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and the State of Palestine. MR is responsible for positioning UNOPS as a key development partner in the region through high-level engagement with regional bodies, UN coordination mechanisms, development banks, donors, and intergovernmental organisations. By fostering strategic partnerships and promoting operational excellence, the region supports country teams in delivering sustainable solutions to complex development, peace, and humanitarian challenges

About the Project Office

About the Project Office

UNOPS supports both humanitarian response and early recovery in Gaza. Currently, UNOPS support in Gaza focuses on key humanitarian enablers, including on access, via the Security Council-mandated UN 2720 Mechanism and the Access Support Unit (ASU), humanitarian fuel and energy, and mine action. Operations are envisaged to continue in the coming period with a focus in line with the UNOPS mandate: (i) infrastructure construction and rehabilitation, (ii) procurement and (iii) project management.

Job Specific Context

Job Specific Context

The ASU - Access Lead in Gaza will work closely with the ASU team and report directly to the ASU Coordinator - Head of ASU. S/he will support the operational management and oversight of the Rafah Returnee movement with the support of the ASU team in Gaza and Jerusalem. The Access Lead will also engage with military and security actors involved in the movement corridor and facilitate communication between humanitarian actors and relevant authorities to ensure secure humanitarian access. Access Lead/Rafah Coordinator will work with OCHA, DSS, EUBAM and the DHC in the reporting and communication of the response - ensuring concrete interagency representation of Rafah returnee Movement and lead on ASU access related work in Gaza.

Role Purpose

Role Purpose

To support the access work for Gaza and at Rafah in line with ASU mandate and responsibility. To manage and coordinate the Rafah Returnee Support Mechanism to ensure safe, dignified, and efficient movement of individuals through Rafah Crossing in line with humanitarian principles. To represent ASU in Gaza level activities.

Functions / Key Results Expected

Functions / Key Results Expected

• Oversee the work of ASU in Gaza, representing ASU with relevant counterparts and partners, in close collaboration and under supervision of ASU Coordinator, Head of Unit.

• Provide assistance to the DSC/RC/HC through the ASU Coordinator on issues related to Gaza access and mission coordination, in coordination with OCHA and DSS.

• Establish and maintain working relationships with project stakeholders including UN agencies, humanitarian partners, relevant authorities, and donors.

• Provide insights to the ASU Coordinator for the purpose of further strengthening of ASU communication with relevant counterparts.

• Lead daily operational coordination of returnee movement through Rafah Crossing.

• Liaise with OCHA, UNDSS, EUBAM, and related authorities on movement arrangements.

• Monitors, analysis and reports on humanitarian access constraints, trends and initiatives, or emergency situations in Gaza to best support ASU activities.

• Ensure timely preparation and circulation of daily movement plans and operational updates.

• Oversee asset management and coordination inside Gaza in line corporate policy

• Lead on strategic document and policy development, including planning and reporting on ASU activities inside Gaza.

• In consultation with key counterparts and in line with evolving political and humanitarian situations, develop and monitor the implementation of agreed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the Rafah mechanism.

• Serve as a primary Gaza focal point on specific topics or policy-related issues; keep abreast of latest developments, liaises with other humanitarian partners.

• Oversee transport and convoy onward movement to designated hubs.

• Support negotiations with relevant authorities to resolve access constraints and procedural delays.

• Ensure protection-sensitive approaches are integrated into operational planning.

• Coordinate with medical and protection actors to ensure vulnerable individuals receive the required support.

• Identify operational bottlenecks and recommend corrective actions to ASU leadership.

• Provide daily, weekly, and monthly operational updates for management and donors.

• Maintain movement records, incident logs, and operational tracking tools.

• Represent ASU in operational coordination meetings related to the Rafah mechanism as requested.

• Facilitate and oversee ASU movement of people coordination inside Gaza including humanitarian rotation and critical movements.

• Represent ASU in AIDA and other coordination meetings with NGOs in Gaza.

• Represent ASU in Gaza level coordination forums such as OAWG, SMT, ASMT, JHOC and other relevant forums.

• Provide briefings to NGOs and UN agencies on ASU activities in Gaza and oPt.

• Promote gender-sensitive approaches in movement coordination and service delivery.

• Support continuous improvement of coordination processes through lessons learned and operational analysis.

Skills

Skills

Competencies

Competencies

Education Requirements

Education Requirements

• Master’s degree (or equivalent) prefereably in political science, international relations, humanitarian affairs, security management, project management, or other related fields.

Desired:

• A relevant Bachelor’s degree preferably in a related discipline, combined with relevant professional training and at least 2 additional years of relevant work experience, may be accepted in lieu of a Master’s degree.

• Advanced academic specialization (postgraduate or Master’s-level studies) in humanitarian affairs, international relations, security studies, project management, or a closely related field.

• Professional certifications or structured training in areas such as project management (e.g., Prince 2 or equivalent), humanitarian coordination, security risk management, or access and liaison operations.

Experience Requirements

Experience Requirements

Required

• At least 6 years of relevant experience in humanitarian coordination, access coordination and management, field operations, or emergency response.

• 1 Year of Experience in team leadership and management is required.

• Previous experience working in conflict or high-risk operational environments.

• Experience coordinating with multiple stakeholders, including UN agencies, authorities, and humanitarian organizations.

Desired

• Experience in movement coordination or civil-military liaison.

• Experience in the UN Common System or other comparable international organizations.

Language Requirements

Language Requirements

Additional Information

Additional Information

• UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
• UNOPS will at no stage of the recruitment process request candidates to make payments of any kind.
• Applications to vacancies must be received before midnight Copenhagen time (CET) on the closing date of the announcement. Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and invited to proceed to the next stage of the selection process, which may include various assessments.
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of a wide range of nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. We strive to sustain and strengthen this diversity, fostering an inclusive working environment where all personnel are treated with respect and have equal access to opportunities.
• UNOPS evaluates all applications based on the skills, qualifications and experience outlined in the vacancy announcement. We are committed to a fair and transparent selection process and welcome diverse perspectives, including those of women, indigenous and racialized communities, individuals of diverse gender identities and sexual orientations, and persons with disabilities.
• We are committed to enabling all candidates to perform at their best during the assessment process. If you are shortlisted and require support or reasonable accommodation to complete any assessment, please inform our human resources team upon receiving your invitation.
• UNOPS has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment, and other forms of abusive conduct, including discrimination, abuse of authority, and harassment. To uphold these standards, background checks are conducted for all final candidates to help ensure that individuals with a history of such conduct are not hired. By applying for a position with UNOPS, candidates acknowledge and consent to these verification processes.

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. Refreshers or new mandatory courses may be required during your contract. Please note that you will not receive any compensation for taking courses and refreshers. For more information on a retainer contract here.
• For more details about the contract types, please click 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.