Senior Protection Assistant

Job Posting Organization:
The job is posted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), an organization established in 1950 with the mission to protect and support refugees and displaced persons worldwide. UNHCR operates in over 130 countries, employing 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 works to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees, returnees, internally displaced people, and stateless persons, striving to ensure that they can live in dignity and peace.

Job Overview:
The Senior Protection Assistant plays a crucial role in monitoring and implementing protection standards and operational procedures in line with international guidelines. This position involves providing functional protection support to information management and program staff, ensuring that persons of concern (PoC) receive timely and effective assistance. The incumbent is expected to contribute to the development of a comprehensive protection strategy, liaising with local authorities and partners to address protection issues. The role emphasizes the importance of involving PoC in decision-making processes that affect their rights and solutions to their problems. The Senior Protection Assistant must build and maintain effective relationships with communities, local authorities, and assistance partners to enhance protection methodologies and operational responses.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties of the Senior Protection Assistant include applying international and national law, providing counseling on protection issues, liaising with authorities for documentation issuance, supporting protection-related programming, conducting interviews for eligibility and status determination, contributing to child protection and education plans, monitoring Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), participating in individual protection case management, identifying durable solutions for PoC, drafting reports and updating databases, and enhancing local protection capacities. The incumbent is also responsible for enforcing integrity in service delivery, managing risks, and performing other related duties as required.

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 qualifications include knowledge of international law, political science, and protection-related guidelines. Candidates should demonstrate strong IT skills, particularly in computer literacy, and have a solid understanding of refugee protection principles and frameworks. The ability to work effectively in a team and communicate clearly is also essential.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a High School Diploma as a minimum, with a Bachelor’s degree or higher being advantageous. Relevant fields of education include International Law and Political Science. Certifications in these areas are considered essential for the role.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 2 years of relevant experience for candidates with a High School Diploma, or 1 year of relevant experience for those with a Bachelor’s degree or higher. Experience in protection-related fields, particularly within the context of refugee and asylum procedures, is highly desirable.

Languages:
Proficiency in English and the UN working language of the duty station (Italian) is mandatory. Knowledge of local languages is also beneficial. For General Service jobs, knowledge of English and/or the UN working language is required, with a minimum expected overall ability of at least B2 level in both languages.

Additional Notes:
This position is classified as a temporary assignment with a hardship level of H (no hardship). The target start date is March 16, 2026, and the target end date is December 31, 202

• The role is based in Catania, Italy, with the possibility of relocation depending on operational needs. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in Italy, and only applications completed in English will be considered. UNHCR is committed to diversity and encourages applications from qualified candidates regardless of disability, gender identity, or other statuses. The organization has a zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse, and successful candidates will undergo mandatory clearance checks.