Job Description

Please note that this vacancy is only open to eligible staff members who have been individually notified of their eligibility to apply for positions advertised in the Accelerated Posting Compendium.

June 12, 2026

H (no hardship)

Family

PR5

Professional

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2026-06-01

Chief of Health Insurance Section

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

With strategic and operational guidance from the MIP Management Committee and in close collaboration with the UNSMIS Secretariat, the Chief of Health Insurance Section ensures the efficient, strategic, value-based and cost-effective delivery of medical and disability insurance services and safeguards the long-term sustainability of UNHCR’s health insurance plans, providing leadership, direction and supervision to the Section. The Health Insurance Section is responsible for financial and operational administration of the medical, dental and disability insurance programme of active and retired staff and their eligible family members, worldwide.

The position is in the Budapest Global Service Centre. The incumbent of this position contributes to the implementation of HR strategic priorities, and supports the evolution of the people management function into a proactive, value-adding business partner to operational and senior leadership stakeholders, through overseeing and facilitating the administration of social security provisions as outlined under Staff Rule 6.2 of the UN Staff Rules and Regulations, with a primary focus on health protection, medical insurance, and related benefits. The role involves managing the centralized MIP claims processing, and the UNSMIS Centre of Excellence at UNHCR. Accordingly, the incumbent of the post will provide strategic oversight across two funding streams and two organizational mandates, managing cross-entity accountability and consistency. The primary responsibility of the Health Insurance Section is to manage claims processing and to address queries coming from UNHCR staff, both locally and internationally employed.

The Chief of Health Insurance Section advises senior management on medical insurance policy matters, proposing approaches to meet evolving organizational needs. S/he oversees the implementation and consistent application of relevant policies, rules, regulations, instructions and standards, ensuring that all members uphold confidentiality and respect the privacy of insured members. S/he monitors and evaluates effectiveness and recommends changes, as appropriate. The incumbent is responsible for managing assigned resources, ensuring timely and effective service delivery to insured members globally while maintaining sound staff-management relations.

The incumbent manages and leads the Health Insurance Section, overseeing MIP and UNSMIS benefits teams and support functions. The role fosters a culture of customer service excellence, drives continuous business improvement, and promotes knowledge sharing and innovation.

The incumbent oversees technical and operational effectiveness – including compliance, fraud prevention and detection, information technology, information management, and reporting – and client service outcomes, system integrity, and the proper application of the organization’s benefits-related rules and procedures.

The supervisory and managerial responsibilities of this position are key, as the Chief of Health Insurance Section directly supervises International Professional Officers, National Professional Officers and General Service staff. In recognition of the need to harmonize UNHCR priorities and operational needs with Staff Rules and Regulations, the Chief is also required to represent the Section at committees and task forces that may be formed to discuss, develop & formulate policies and procedures in relation to Resource Management. Within the core functions of the Chief, it is essential for the incumbent to liaise with internal stakeholders in DPM and GSS, as well as services of other UN agencies as appropriate. Key contacts regarding compensation-related matters include counterparts at UNOG, the Medical Section, the HQ Liaison and Compensation Unit, UNSMIS, the Legal Affairs Section and the Inspector General’s Office, ensuring effective service provision and resolution of complex issues. The Chief of Health Insurance Section also liaises with various local suppliers, services, partners, national authorities, and inter-agency counterparts on routine and critical subject matters impacting the Organization.

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

Lead and define the strategic direction and overall management of the Medical Insurance function, ensuring seamless functioning and alignment with organizational objectives:

• Develop and implement comprehensive strategic plans for the Section, including functional and resource planning, IT development plans, and cost optimization to ensure uninterrupted client service and business continuity. Submit staffing and admin budget requirements, ensuring alignment with operational needs and financial constraints.

• Lead the preparation of medium- to long-term planning and organization of work and responsibilities to optimize core insurance operations while mitigating business risks and potential resource gaps.

• Lead the design and implementation of health insurance policies applicable to different employment categories in compliance with HR regulations, ensuring adequate benefits/coverage, affordable contribution rates, effective operational procedures, and high-quality customer service.

• Oversee the establishment and maintenance of procedures, standards, and tools for the Section's use and reference. Ensure proactive, client-oriented and effective delivery of services to UNHCR employees and hold accountability for the effective performance of the Section and its contribution to over-all employee wellness and duty of care.

• Establish and monitor KPIs.

• Design and conduct Outreach and Duty of Care activities to ensure staff awareness and engagement regarding health insurance benefits.

• Manage contracts and relationships with suppliers, service providers and third parties.

• Lead the development and evolution of applicable rules and regulations through experience, operational insights and feedback from the benefits teams. Review escalated complaints, requests, and legal questions.

• Drive the design and implementation of policy and operational solutions aimed at adaptability of health insurance benefits to address the most prevalent causes of health hazards while maximizing cost-effectiveness and maintenance of adequate risk mitigation mechanisms.

• Drive the development and implementation of efficient internal control mechanisms through IT solutions and functional procedures to ensure compliance and establish a robust anti-fraud framework to detect potential fraudulent cases.

• Oversee IT development projects, with special regard to applications used by the Section.

• Lead the development of communication strategies for improving the efficiency of service delivery.

• Ensure that the outputs produced by the Section maintain high-quality standards; that reports are clear, objective and based on comprehensive data.

• Create an enabling work environment through respectful and constructive communication and holding self and other team members accountable for their actions.

Safeguard the financial integrity of insurance plans:

• Establish strategies and tools for sound financial and business performance.

• Coordinate and oversee regular client satisfaction surveys and benchmarking surveys of other health insurance plans, including outsourced plans to assess competitiveness.

• Monitor cashflows, anticipate funding requirements, and oversee robust and transparent financial reporting and projection.

• Ensure that adequate reserves are maintained to meet financial commitments towards contractors and participants.

• Establish and maintain collaborative partnerships with vendors and external partners and ensure that value-for-money services are provided by contracted providers.

Medical Insurance Plan (MIP) Management Committee:

• Serve as an advisor to the Medical Insurance Management Committee. Formulate recommendations and enable informed decision making by bringing to the attention of the Committee any matter requiring consultation, guidance, or approval.

• Ensure effective functioning of the Committee, and prepare the Committee's annual report.

• Implement the decisions of the Medical Insurance Management Committee.

Represent UNHCR on topics relating to health insurance matters:

• Advance UNHCR positions in interagency dialogues while fostering interagency collaboration and harmonization of policies and procedures.

• Serve as an authority in inter-organizational and other meetings dealing with health insurance issues as well as during the annual retirement seminar(s) and induction courses.

• Lead and influence negotiations with external partners and health care providers to secure services and benefits to all insured members.

• Build and maintain strategic partnerships with the UN inter-agency Regional Area of Care Working Group.

Exercise other managerial duties entrusted to the position:

• Develop responses and provide information to the Board of Auditors, the Audit Consulting Division, the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) and other relevant bodies regarding the unit’s management and operations. Implement accepted recommendations and ensure adherence to organizational policies.

• Provide guidance and interpretation concerning policies governing medical insurance administration for disputed cases.

• Manage the performance of direct reports, providing guidance, expertise and mentoring.

• Be accountable for an equitable and inclusive workplace which incorporates all dimensions of UNHCR’s diversity and inclusion framework.

• Undertake specialized, confidential tasks within the assigned area of responsibility.

• 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

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Professional Work Experience

Years of Experience / Degree Level

For P5 - 12 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 11 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 10 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education

Public Administration; Business Administration; Personnel Administration;

Human Resources Management; Finance; Accounting;

Economics; or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses

Business Administration; Office Management; Human Resources Management;

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

Relevant Job Experience

Essential

Relevant experience in progressively responsible functions in an office that administers and manages a large number of staff, preferably within the UN. Working experience with ERP systems in an approver capacity. Experience in working with different cultural and educational backgrounds. Proven experience in dealing with multiple tasks in a courteous and service-oriented manner in demanding working conditions with short deadlines. Experience in position(s) where the ability to produce high-quality output with desirable results and to deal with time pressure is essential.

Desirable

Workday and Cloud ERP experience. Oracle Health Insurance. Experience in UNHCR field operation.

Functional Skills

CO-Cross-cultural communication

CO-Drafting and Documentation

SO-Interpersonal skills

UN-UN/UNHCR Administrative Rules, Regulations and Procedures

FI-Application of Financial Rules, Regulations and Procedures

(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements

For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English

For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language

For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English

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

Accountability

Communication

Organizational Awareness

Teamwork & Collaboration

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Client & Result Orientation

Managerial Competencies

Empowering and Building Trust

Judgement and Decision Making

Managing Resources

Managing Performance

Cross-Functional Competencies

Analytical Thinking

Technological Awareness

Planning and Organizing

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.

Essential Attributes (shortlisting criteria):

- Should possess deep technical expertise in health insurance systems, policy development and operational delivery.
- Should have proven experience managing large-scale medical insurance programmes – ideally within the UN system, humanitarian sector or a multinational organization.
- Should have previous experience at navigating complex stakeholder landscapes, influencing senior decision-making and driving policy and operational improvements that align with organizational priorities.

Desirable Attributes: The ideal candidate:

- should be able to operate effectively in a multicultural, high-pressure environment, able to balance staff wellbeing, cost control and risk management, ensuring financial sustainability while delivering client-focused, high-quality services.
- creative and innovative, with the ability to guide, inspire and empower diverse teams to deliver exceptional results and continuously improve performance.
- motivated and persistent problem-solver, they demonstrate sound judgment, accountability and strong leadership in navigating complex challenges and managing resources effectively.
- fosters collaboration, uphold high standards of integrity, and are committed to gender equality, actively promoting an inclusive and equitable work environment where all colleagues can contribute and thrive.

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Nature of Position:

The Chief of Health Insurance Section will work under the guidance and supervision of the Director of the Division of People Management (DPM). He/she will play a pivotal role in leading and directing the management and administration of social security entitlements described under regulation 6.2 of the UN Staff Rules and Regulations: the Medical Insurance Plan (MIP) for the benefits of locally recruited staff, and the UNSMIS for the benefits of international professional staff, globally. The incumbent will oversee all aspects of medical and disability administration to ensure its quality, effectiveness, and long-term sustainability. This includes ensuring compliance with the established policies, performing due diligence, and maintaining the organization's duty of care. A critical aspect of this role is striking the right balance between financial accountability and the social responsibility inherent in providing medical insurance coverage.

Living and Working Conditions:

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Bachelor of Arts: Accounting, Bachelor of Arts: Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts: Economics, Bachelor of Arts: Finance, Bachelor of Arts: Human Resources Management, Bachelor of Arts: Personnel Administration, Bachelor of Arts: Public Administration

Certifications

Business Administration - Other, Human Resources Management - Other, Office Management - Other

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Managing performance, Managing resource, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Teamwork & collaboration, Technological awareness

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Compendium

Accelerated Posting Compendium 2026 - Part B

Additional Information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance