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, asylum seekers, and stateless persons. UNHCR operates in over 130 countries and employs more than 18,000 staff members worldwide. The organization is dedicated to ensuring that everyone has the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another country, and it works to promote durable solutions for those who are forcibly displaced.

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 and engage with local authorities and partners on protection issues. A key aspect of the role is to ensure that PoC are actively involved in decision-making processes that affect their rights and access to solutions. The Senior Protection Assistant must build and maintain effective relationships with communities, local authorities, and partners to enhance protection methodologies and operational responses.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties of the Senior Protection Assistant include consistently applying international and national law, providing counseling on protection issues, liaising with authorities for documentation issuance, and supporting protection-related programming. The incumbent will conduct preliminary information gathering and interviews to assess eligibility and social needs, contribute to child protection and education plans, monitor Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and participate in individual protection case management. Additionally, the Senior Protection Assistant will assist in identifying durable solutions for PoC, draft reports, update databases, and contribute to enhancing national protection capacities. The role also involves enforcing integrity in service delivery and managing risks related to protection objectives.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a relevant educational background in law, political science, or a related field. They should have experience working with refugees and asylum seekers, particularly in case management. The position requires a strong understanding of international protection principles and the ability to apply them in practice. Candidates should demonstrate skills in IT and computer literacy, as well as familiarity with protection-related guidelines and standards. Knowledge of refugee protection principles and frameworks is essential for this role.

Educational Background:
The minimum educational requirement for this position is a High School Diploma with 2 years of relevant experience, or a Bachelor's degree or higher with at least 1 year of relevant work experience. Candidates with degrees in International Law or Political Science are particularly encouraged to apply, as these fields are directly relevant to the responsibilities of the Senior Protection Assistant.

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 work, particularly with refugees and asylum seekers, is highly desirable. Familiarity with case management and protection programming will be beneficial for candidates applying for this role.

Languages:
Knowledge of English is mandatory, and proficiency in the UN working language of the duty station (if not English) is also required. For National Professional jobs, knowledge of the local language is advantageous. Candidates should demonstrate strong communication skills in both written and spoken forms to effectively engage with PoC and stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
This position is classified under the UNOPS LICA5 category and is not remote. The target start date for the role is March 31, 2026, and the application deadline is April 2, 202

• The position is full-time and involves working in a family-type environment, with a hardship level classified as A (least hardship). All shortlisted candidates will be required to sit for a written test as part of the selection process.