Assistant Field Officer

Job Posting Organization:
The job is posted by UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), an organization established in 1950 with the mission to protect and support refugees and displaced persons worldwide. UNHCR operates in over 130 countries and employs thousands of staff members dedicated to providing humanitarian assistance and advocating for the rights of refugees. 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, including voluntary repatriation, local integration, or resettlement to a third country.

Job Overview:
The Assistant Field Officer position is crucial for the effective delivery of humanitarian assistance in complex and challenging environments. The ideal candidate will possess strong field presence and coordination skills, enabling them to work effectively in access-constrained humanitarian settings. This role requires a proactive and detail-oriented individual who can engage with a diverse range of stakeholders, including local authorities, national NGOs, community representatives, and UN partners. The Assistant Field Officer will be responsible for understanding the dynamics of humanitarian assistance delivery at the field level, particularly in areas such as non-food item (NFI) distributions, beneficiary targeting, and post-distribution monitoring. The candidate must be able to translate field observations into clear and timely reports that inform coordination and decision-making processes. Strong interpersonal and communication skills are essential, along with cultural sensitivity and discretion, to build trust with communities and partners. Flexibility, resilience, and sound judgment are critical, as the role involves identifying operational risks, flagging protection concerns, and escalating issues appropriately. Experience in volatile or rapidly changing contexts, combined with a practical, solutions-oriented mindset and a commitment to humanitarian principles and accountability to affected populations, is highly valued.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Assistant Field Officer will have a variety of responsibilities, including assessing the needs of persons of concern in the Area of Responsibility (AoR) and formulating project submissions in collaboration with district authorities and implementing partners. They will promote and monitor the implementation of assistance projects, report regularly on the rate of flow of new arrivals, and estimate expected influx based on interviews with persons of concern. The role involves coordinating with implementing partners to assist with the reception, registration, and provision of assistance to persons of concern to UNHCR. The Assistant Field Officer will keep track of cases of detention, register applicants for voluntary repatriation and family reunion, and assist in the preparation of monthly sectoral reports. They will submit recommendations for protection interventions to the designated officer and negotiate with local authority counterparts, partners, and populations of concern. Additionally, the Assistant Field Officer will support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in their area of responsibility. They will ensure decision-making is risk-based and raise any risks, issues, and concerns to a supervisor or relevant functional colleagues. Other related duties may be assigned as required.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a minimum of one year of relevant experience with an undergraduate degree, or no experience with a graduate degree, or no experience with a doctorate degree. The fields of education should include Law, Political Science, or other relevant fields. Essential qualifications include knowledge of UNHCR's programmes, stakeholder management, coordination with implementing partners, resource planning, and computer literacy. Familiarity with financial management systems such as SAP, Oracle, PeopleSoft, Workday, and others is also required. Candidates should demonstrate accountability, communication skills, decision-making abilities, and prioritization skills. Professional etiquette and the ability to build work relationships are crucial for success in this role.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a Bachelor of Arts in Law or Political Science. Candidates with relevant graduate or doctorate degrees may also be considered, particularly if they have no prior experience. Additional certifications such as the UNHCR Operations Management Learning Programme are essential for candidates seeking to enhance their qualifications for this role.

Experience:
The position requires candidates to have at least one year of relevant experience for those with an undergraduate degree. For candidates with a graduate degree or doctorate, no prior experience is necessary. Field experience is considered essential, particularly in humanitarian contexts, and knowledge of refugee law is desirable. Candidates should have a good understanding of UNHCR's programmes and demonstrate the ability to work effectively in challenging environments.

Languages:
For this position, knowledge of English is mandatory, along with the UN working language of the duty station if it is not English. For national professional jobs, knowledge of the local language is also required. Proficiency in Arabic is considered a desirable language skill, enhancing communication with local populations and stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
This position is classified under the UNOPS LICA8 category and is not remote. The target start date for the role is April 1, 202

• The position is categorized under a hardship level E, indicating a challenging working environment. The family type for this position is non-family, meaning that staff members will not be accompanied by family members. Candidates should be aware that no late applications will be accepted, and shortlisted candidates may be required to undergo a written test and/or oral interview. UNHCR does not charge any fees during the recruitment process and strongly encourages qualified female applicants to apply.