Assistant Protection Officer

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 focuses on ensuring that everyone has the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another country, and it strives to promote durable solutions for refugees and displaced persons.

Job Overview:
The Assistant Protection Officer plays a crucial role in the protection of populations of concern (PoC) by reporting to the Protection Officer or Senior Protection Officer. This position involves providing functional protection guidance to various staff members on protection and legal matters, including issues related to statelessness, the Global Compact on Refugees, and accountability to affected populations. The incumbent is responsible for coordinating timely and effective protection responses, ensuring that operational responses in all sectors integrate protection methodologies and safeguards. The Assistant Protection Officer is also expected to engage with communities of concern, authorities, and partners to enhance protection strategies and ensure that PoC are actively involved in decisions affecting them. This role requires a comprehensive understanding of international protection principles and the ability to apply them in various contexts.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties of the Assistant Protection Officer include staying informed about political, social, economic, and cultural developments that impact the protection environment. The incumbent must consistently apply international and national law, provide legal advice to PoC, conduct eligibility and status determinations, and promote measures to prevent statelessness. Additionally, the Assistant Protection Officer will contribute to child protection and education plans, manage individual protection cases, recommend durable solutions for PoC, and facilitate effective information management. The role also involves capacity-building initiatives for communities, intervening with authorities on protection issues, and ensuring compliance with global protection policies. The Assistant Protection Officer will assist in prioritizing reception and counseling for individuals and groups, enforce compliance with protection standard operating procedures, and support risk management in the area of responsibility.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires a minimum of 1 year of relevant experience with an undergraduate degree, or no experience with a graduate degree or doctorate. Essential qualifications include knowledge of International Refugee and Human Rights Law, the ability to apply relevant legal principles, and familiarity with protection-related guidelines and standards. Desirable qualifications include experience with the Israeli judicial system and knowledge of Israeli law, as well as skills in drafting and documentation, project management, and understanding of age, gender, and diversity issues.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess a degree in Law, International Law, Political Science, or a related field. A Bachelor of Arts in International Law, Law, or Political Science is preferred. Additional certifications related to protection and human rights may be beneficial but are not specified as mandatory.

Experience:
The role requires at least 1 year of relevant experience for candidates with an undergraduate degree. For those with a graduate degree or doctorate, no prior experience is necessary. Candidates should have demonstrated experience in managing protection-focused field operations and exposure to politically sensitive contexts, particularly in relation to asylum capacity development and protection issues.

Languages:
Knowledge of English is mandatory, along with proficiency in 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. Fluency in Hebrew is particularly important for this position, given the context of the role in Israel.

Additional Notes:
This position is classified as a National Professional Officer role and is temporary, with a target start date of March 1, 2026, and an end date of May 31, 202

• The position is full-time and may involve working with a family type B hardship level. The Assistant Protection Officer will be expected to adhere to UNHCR's core values of professionalism, integrity, and respect for diversity, and contribute to a safe and empowering work environment.