Head of Evaluation Office

Reason

Standard Job Description

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The Head of Evaluation Office provides senior-level leadership, coordination, and quality oversight of the evaluation function in UNHCR. The incumbent leads in the development of the evaluation policy and supports its implementation, contributing to the continued development of the evaluation function in close collaboration with regional bureaux, divisions, and country offices.

For reasons of independence, the incumbent reports to the High Commissioner. S/he supervises staff within the Evaluation Office and engages regularly with the SET and senior management across headquarters and field operations. The role includes active participation in inter-agency evaluation fora and networks, such as the United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG) and UNHCRs strategic engagement with the UN System-Wide Evaluation Office. S/he represents the Evaluation Office externally, presenting both formally and formally to the Executive Committee on evaluation matters.

The Head of Evaluation Office provides authoritative guidance on evaluation approaches and methods, ensures quality assurance and capacity building, and oversees both centralized and decentralized evaluation activities. The position requires advanced competency in evaluation design, commissioning and management, promoting the use and uptake of evaluation findings, and maintaining oversight of evaluation quality standards.

The Evaluation Office also represents UNHCR in external evaluation and research platforms, including the Inter-Agency Humanitarian Evaluation Management and Steering Groups, ensuring UNHCR’s operational perspectives are reflected in broader evaluation discourse.

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

• Oversee the implementation of the UNHCR Evaluation Policy and Evaluation Strategy across the Organization ensuring the continued development of the evaluation function in close collaboration with regional bureaux, divisions, and country offices..
• Lead any necessary evaluation policy or strategy revisions/updates
• Coordinate the annual evaluation planning and budgeting, consulting with senior management on the selection of topics for centralized evaluations, and issue/publish bi-annual workplans.
• Ensure that technical guidance, advice and support is available to regional bureaux and divisions, as well as country and multi-country offices, towards the general development and strengthening of the decentralized evaluation function. Promote the effective use of evaluation resources and ensure timely implementation and reporting.
• Establish and maintain processes that ensure evaluations are contextually relevant and reflect the operational and protection dimensions of UNHCR’s work.
• Lead the development and adaptation of evaluation methodologies suitable for diverse operational environments.
• Ensure quality assurance for centralized and decentralized evaluations, including technical support, capacity development, and final review of evaluation reports prior to publication.
• Oversee the development of a communications and external engagement strategy for the Office, ensure its implementation and facilitate regular engagement with internal stakeholders, including senior management.
• Promote the dissemination and use of evaluation findings and lessons learned across the organization.
• Represent UNHCR in external meetings and inter-agency fora on evaluation. Maintain and strengthen cooperation and partnerships with other evaluations services and professional networks to contribute to inter-agency evaluation, learning and evaluation guidance and normative development initiatives. Contribute to UN System wide and joint efforts on evaluation and professionalization.
• Coordinate the Annual Programme Review ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and effective use of evaluation resources.
• 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.

Years of Experience / Degree Level

Field(s) of Education

Certificates and/or Licenses

(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Essential

Desirable

Functional Skills

Language Requirements

Competency Requirements

All jobs at UNHCR require six core competencies and may also require managerial competencies and/or cross-functional competencies. The six core competencies are listed below.

Core Competencies

Managerial Competencies

Cross-Functional Competencies

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.

Desired Candidate Profile

Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):

Desired languages

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations

The position is based in Geneva, Switzerland, and can accommodate the specific needs for qualified candidates.

Nature of Position

The position is part of the Evaluation Office and reports to the High Commissioner.

The incumbent will be heading the Evaluation Office.

This position is part of the Evaluation Office. The incumbent leads a team of seven staff with two positions outposted to Panama and Kenya, and a position of Resource Management Officer shared with the Inspector General’s Office.

Evaluation is a growing function in UNHCR, as reflected in the increased engagement with operations, professional staffing, budget and outputs. UNHCR conducts evaluations that are strategic, operation-specific or thematic. The position requires active engagement with the Senior Executive Team, Divisions and Bureaux as per its strategy to increase utility and coverage, improve capacity and awareness and finally strengthen linkages with change efforts to improve use of accountability, programme design and learning. It regularly inquires and finds new solutions to make Evaluations useful for the Organization. Furthermore, the position entails active participation in inter-agency evaluation fora and networks, such as the United Nations Evaluation Group (UNEG) and UNHCRs strategic engagement with the UN System-Wide Evaluation Office.

The initial appointment is for a period of five years, renewable for a further five years, subject to satisfactory performance and organizational needs.

Living and Working Conditions

The position is based in Geneva, Switzerland. The incumbent will be required to travel, sometimes on short notice. Living and working conditions in Switzerland are up to the level of a highly developed country, where easy access to quality schooling, services, medical support, and higher education is available. The position requires residence in Geneva and cannot be undertaken remotely, although some teleworking is possible, after discussions with the manager.

Additional Qualifications

Education

Work Experience

Competencies

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Additional Information

Functional clearance