Port Documentation Officer

UNITED NATIONS RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY

FOR PALESTINE REFUGEES IN THE NEAR EAST

UNRWA

UNRWA is the United Nations agency responsible for responding to the humanitarian and development requirements of a population of some 5 millionPalestinerefugees living in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank,Jordan,Lebanonand theSyrianArabRepublic.  UNRWA is committed to assisting Palestine refugees in maintaining a decent standard of living, acquiring appropriate knowledge and skills, enjoying the fullest possible extent of human rights, and leading long and healthy lives.  UNRWA is the largest UN operation in theMiddle East.   Most UNRWA staff are refugees themselves, working directly to benefit their communities - as teachers, doctors, nurses or social workers. For its international team, UNRWA seeks a qualified:

Port Documentation Officer

The Port Documentation Officer reports directly to Field Procurement and Logistics Officer. S/he supervises the port operations staff and is responsible for clearing UNRWA goods through the seaport and airport of the host country and maintains up-to-date records thereof. The PDO liaises with appointed clearing agents, the Coordinator of Social Affairs -West Bankand representatives of carriers in relation to arrivals of supplies, as well as plans and supervises the receipt of those supplies at UNRWA’s Warehouses. In accordance with the established Agency policy and procedures, the PDO will:

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

• Be responsible for effecting and controlling port payments which are reimbursable from the PA and ensure the upkeep of accurate records of all transactions made in respect of Agency’s supplies; in coordination with the GFO Stock Control Officer (Jerusalem Logistics Team), prepare the bi-annual budget for port operations in West Bank and Gaza;
• Act as the Agency point of contact and liaise directly with local authorities for port and customs clearance of all Agency supplies; ensure minimum storage period to avoid unnecessary charges and disruption to the Agency’s services;
• Ensure that goods are efficiently and safely cleared from port or transit locations; initiate necessary surveys and ensure that claims are made and the necessary documentation for claim and record purposes are completed;
• Correlate shipping information on the expected arrival of goods and maintain up-to-date records thereof; maintain the port operations’ database which contains applications for correspondence to airports, seaports, staff members and Warehouses in West Bank andGaza;
• Coordinate import, export and customs clearance activities for different Field Offices with the respective Field Port Operations Officers and the GFO Stock Control Officer (Jerusalem Logistics Team); unite efforts and eliminate double handling of the issues for the overall benefit and cost savings of the organization;
• In co-ordination with the Port Operations Officer, plan and physically supervise the checking and receipt of Agency supplies at port and their temporary storage in port area, if required;
• Ensure the correct application of the provisions of the Agency’s contracts with clearing agents and those services are discharged satisfactorily;
• Supervise the safe dispatch of supplies and equipment from port and airport to Agency supply destinations;
• Arrange and supervise the quality control inspections of supplies on receipt at port in coordination with Supply Officer-Warehousing inWest Bank;
• Prepare Note for the Records and other reports for follow-up on shipments received/dispatched and correspondence for re-routing of these shipments.

Professional Knowledge and Experience

• Completion of secondary education, or appropriate technical qualifications in a subject related to the above functions;
• Minimum of six years experience in port and customs operations and/or a commercial shipping/forwarding company including demonstrated experience with commercial port operations;
• Excellent command of spoken and written English.

Competencies

• Ability to negotiate, to work independently and to work under pressure (especially during emergencies where long working hours may be involved);
• Positive attitude and strong interpersonal and problem solving skills;
• Ability to plan and prioritize own work;
• Work well under tight deadlines and handle multiple concurrent activities;
• Ability to synthesize facts, trends, inferences and key issues in complex situations.

Desirable Qualifications

• Previous experience of similar work in the Agency’s area of operations;
• Knowledge of local government import/export customs procedures, local shipping business and commercial practices related thereto;
• Knowledge of computer applications applicable to port and customs operations;
• Knowledge of Arabic and Hebrew.

Additional Information

Must have a valid driving license in the host country.

Conditions of Service 

UNRWA offers an attractive compensation package including annual salary starting at for $52,390 net tax free with dependants or $49,056 single, plus post adjustment of 58.8% (subject to change without notice). Other benefits, subject to eligibility, include education grant, dependency allowance, home leave, pension fund, health insurance and 6 weeks annual leave. All UNRWA duty stations (with the exception ofGaza) are family duty stations. Initial contract is for one year, with the possibility of further extensions subject to the availability of funds and the continuing need for the post. 

How to Apply

To start the application process, applicants are required to register at http://jobs.unrwa.org by creating a personal profile and completing UNRWA Personal History Form. Please note that UNRWA only accepts degrees from accredited educational institutions. Only applications received through http://jobs.unrwa.org will be considered. Due to the large number of applications received for UNRWA vacancies, only applicants short-listed for interview will be contacted.

UNRWA does not charge a fee at any stage in the recruitment process.

General Information

UNRWA encourages applications from qualified and experienced women.

UNRWA welcomes applications from qualified candidates with disabilities.

UNRWA is a United Nations organization whose staff are expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity, neutrality and impartiality. This includes respect for human rights, for diversity, and for non-violent means of dealing with all kinds of conflict. UNRWA staff are expected to uphold these values at all times, both at work and outside. Only persons who fully and unconditionally commit to these values should consider applying for UNRWA jobs. UNRWA is a non-smoking work environment.