Senior Protection Assistant

Job Posting Organization:
The job posting organization is UNHCR, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, which was established in 195

• Its mission is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees, forcibly displaced communities, and stateless people. UNHCR operates in over 130 countries and has a workforce of more than 18,000 staff members dedicated to providing protection and assistance to those in need. The organization aims to ensure that everyone has the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another country, and it works to promote durable solutions for refugees and displaced persons.

Job Overview:
The Senior Protection Assistant will be stationed at the Country Office in Damascus and will report directly to the Community-Based Protection Officer. This role is integral to the Protection Section and Community-Based Protection (CBP) team, focusing on the national-level implementation of UNHCR’s Mental Health and psychosocial-support" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) and specialized services for Persons with Specific Needs (PSN). The incumbent will provide technical guidance and operational support to UNHCR field offices located in Aleppo, Homs, Qamishli, the Coastal Area, and the South. The position requires regular field missions to support capacity building, provide technical assistance, and monitor program implementation across various governorates. Given the challenging operational context, the role demands a high level of professionalism, flexibility, sound judgment, and a strong commitment to UNHCR’s international protection mandate. The ideal candidate will have a robust academic background, technical expertise, and practical experience in psychosocial support and protection, particularly focusing on inclusive approaches for Persons with Specific Needs (PSN).

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Senior Protection Assistant will be responsible for a wide range of duties, including staying informed about political, social, economic, and cultural developments that impact the protection environment. The incumbent will apply International and National Law, as well as applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policies, standards, and codes of conduct consistently. They will provide advice and guidance on protection issues to populations of concern (PoC), liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documentation, and assist in conducting eligibility and status determination for PoC in compliance with UNHCR procedural standards and international protection principles. The role also involves contributing to measures aimed at identifying, preventing, and reducing statelessness, as well as contributing to country-level child protection and education plans as part of the protection strategy. The Senior Protection Assistant will manage individual protection cases, including those related to gender-based violence (GBV) and child protection, and will monitor and assist the supervisor with intervening in cases of refoulement, expulsion, and other protection incidents. They will also assist in identifying durable solutions for PoC through voluntary repatriation, local integration, and resettlement where appropriate. The incumbent will contribute to the design, implementation, and evaluation of protection-related programming, facilitate effective information management, and participate in initiatives to strengthen national protection-related legislation and procedures. Additionally, they will assist the supervisor in enforcing compliance with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must demonstrate a solid understanding of UNHCR’s protection mandate and show a strong commitment to the principles of dignity, inclusion, accessibility, and accountability for persons with specific needs. Proven expertise in providing MHPSS counseling at both individual and group levels is essential, as is experience in designing and delivering specialized training on advanced MHPSS interventions. The ideal candidate will have experience working collaboratively with government ministries, local authorities, and social institutions to enhance protection responses and social support mechanisms for returnees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees, and asylum seekers. Additionally, candidates should have experience in supervising and coordinating protection staff and/or partners, including providing day-to-day technical guidance, task management, and systematic follow-up on deliverables. Strong communication, coordination, and drafting skills in English are required, along with the ability to articulate complex psychosocial and protection concepts to diverse stakeholders.

Educational Background:
The position requires an advanced university degree in Psychology, Psychological Counseling, Social Work, or Sociology. This educational background is crucial to ensure a sound professional grounding in psychosocial programming, which is essential for the effective execution of the responsibilities associated with this role.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of four years of relevant experience with a High School Diploma, or two years of relevant work experience with a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent higher education. Experience in protection-related fields, particularly in the context of humanitarian assistance and refugee protection, is highly desirable.

Languages:
Knowledge of English is mandatory, and proficiency in the UN working language of the duty station is required if it is not English. For National Professional jobs, knowledge of the local language is also necessary. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset, enhancing communication with diverse populations of concern.

Additional Notes:
This position is classified under the UNOPS LICA7 category and is not remote. The target start date for the position is April 1, 202

• The role is categorized under a hardship level of E, indicating a challenging operational environment. The position is non-family, meaning that staff members are expected to work without their families in the duty station. UNHCR emphasizes a commitment to diversity and encourages qualified female applicants to apply. All candidates must adhere to the organization's standards of professionalism and integrity, contributing to a safe and respectful working environment.