Senior Protection Assistant

Job Posting Organization:
The organization is part of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which was established in 1950 with the mission to protect the rights and well-being of refugees. UNHCR operates in over 130 countries and has a workforce of more than 18,000 staff members dedicated to ensuring that everyone has the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another country. The organization is committed to safeguarding the rights of refugees and displaced persons, providing them with essential support and assistance, and working towards durable solutions for their plight.

Job Overview:
The Senior Protection Assistant position is crucial for monitoring and implementing protection standards and operational procedures in line with international guidelines. The role involves providing functional protection support to information management and program staff, ensuring that persons of concern (PoC) receive timely and effective assistance. The incumbent will be responsible for engaging with local authorities and partners to address protection issues, contributing to the development of a comprehensive protection strategy, and ensuring that PoC are actively involved in decision-making processes that affect their lives. The candidate is expected to have a strong understanding of community-based protection methodologies and be able to build trust with various stakeholders, including humanitarian actors and local committees. The position requires a proactive approach to identifying protection risks and implementing measures to mitigate them, particularly in the context of the southern regions of Syria, where the candidate should be familiar with the cultural and contextual sensitivities.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Senior Protection Assistant will be responsible for a wide range of duties, including but not limited to: consistently applying international and national laws and UN/UNHCR policies; providing counseling on protection issues to PoC; liaising with authorities for documentation issuance; supporting AGD-based programming; conducting preliminary information gathering and interviews; contributing to child protection and education plans; monitoring Standard Operating Procedures for protection activities; participating in individual case management for GBV and child protection; assisting in identifying durable solutions for PoC; drafting reports and updating databases; enhancing national and local protection capacities; selecting PoC for interviews; enforcing integrity in service delivery; and managing risks related to protection objectives. The role also requires the incumbent to perform other related duties as necessary.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience with a High School Diploma or 1 year of relevant work experience with a Bachelor’s degree or higher. Essential functional skills include IT literacy, knowledge of protection-related guidelines, and understanding of refugee protection principles. The candidate should demonstrate competencies in coordination, communication, team leadership, planning, analytical thinking, reporting, and time management. Female candidates are particularly encouraged to apply, reflecting the organization's commitment to gender equality.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a High School Diploma as a minimum, with a preference for candidates holding a Bachelor’s degree in relevant fields such as law" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">International Law or Political Science. Certifications in these areas are considered essential for the role, as they provide foundational knowledge necessary for effective protection work.

Experience:
The position requires candidates to have relevant experience in protection work, particularly in the context of humanitarian assistance. While specific years of experience are outlined, the emphasis is on practical knowledge and skills related to community-based protection, child protection, and gender-based violence. Experience in the southern regions of Syria is highly desirable, as it equips candidates with the necessary understanding of local dynamics and challenges.

Languages:
Proficiency in Arabic and English is mandatory, as these are the working languages of the duty station. Knowledge of additional languages relevant to the local context is considered an asset, enhancing communication with diverse communities and stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
This position is classified under the Local Entry and Mid-Level Support category and is not home-based. The target start date for the role is June 19, 2025, and the application deadline is July 6, 202

• The organization encourages qualified female candidates to apply and may require shortlisted candidates to undergo a written test or oral interview as part of the selection process. The role does not require functional clearance and is not remote.