Before you Apply

Staffing principles

UNRWA invites applications from candidates who fully meet the requirements of the post stated in the vacancy announcement. Employment opportunities at UNRWA are available for international and area posts.

A. International posts
Professional

For professional category posts a university degree (preferably an advanced degree) from an accredited educational institution and several years of job-related work experience are required. Senior level posts require solid managerial experience in a large commercial, governmental or international organisation. All international professional posts follow the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC) regulations for job classification and compensation. 

Click for more details on post classification and salary conditions for international civil servants. 

General Service

UNRWA offers a limited number of international posts in the general service category. 

Click for more details on general service staff post classification and salary conditions

All international staff are subject to international staff regulations and rules (PDFs).

B. Area posts

Area staff (local) posts can range from labourers to field programme department heads. Priority consideration for area staff posts is given to applications from registered Palestine refugees.

All area staff are subject to the area staff regulations (Arabic version) and area staff rules (Arabic version) [PDFs].

Recruitment procedures

Job Openings are advertised through INSPIRA. Job Openings are also circulated in the UN system of organisations and among UNRWA's major donors and placed on the different social media, such as facebook, LinkedIn and others. 

Occasionally, job openings for higher level international posts are advertised in international press. Job openings for area/local posts are also advertised in the local press for the respective duty station location.

 

After the closing date for applications, a shortlist of qualified candidates is established. 

International posts

Shortlisted candidates for international posts normally proceed to a written test, Candidates under close consideration proceed to the next stage of the recruitment process which is a personal interview, normally through video-call.

Area posts

Shortlisted candidates for area posts are normally required to sit for a test. The next stage of candidates under close consideration are invited for a personal interview. 

Process

The recruitment process includes the following steps:

  1. Publication of job opening
  2. Screening and shortlisting of applicants
  3. Written test
  4. Interviews, panel recommendation
  5. Review and confirmation of the selection
  6. Appointment

The selection process normally takes around 120 days for international posts and 90 days for area/local posts.

Employment policy

Initial appointments for international fixed-term posts are normally for one year which is also a probation period. Depending on the performance of the incumbent and the continuing need for the post, the contract may be extended.

Initial appointments for area staff are normally for three years, with the first year being the probation period. Depending on the performance of the incumbent and the continuing need for the post, the contract may be extended.

UNRWA is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications equally from men and women.

It is Agency policy to give full consideration to candidates with disabilities whose disability does not militate against the effective performance of the duties of the post.

UNRWA is a member of the UN Dual Career and Staff Mobility and the UN Cares programmes.

Retirement

The retirement age for international staff entering or re-entering service in the UN Common System after 1 January 1990 is 62 and 65 after 1 January 2014. 

The retirement age for area staff is 60 years of age.