Protection Associate

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

• The organization is dedicated to protecting the rights and well-being of refugees and displaced persons worldwide. UNHCR operates in over 130 countries and has a workforce of more than 18,000 employees. Its mission is to ensure that everyone has the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another country, and to return home voluntarily, integrate locally, or resettle in a third country. UNHCR works to safeguard the rights of refugees and other displaced persons, providing them with essential services and support to rebuild their lives. The organization is committed to promoting durable solutions for refugees and advocating for their rights in international forums.

Job Overview:
The Protection Associate position is designed for a highly motivated and field-oriented professional who will support the effective implementation of protection activities in dynamic operational settings. The ideal candidate will possess strong coordination skills and maintain a consistent presence in reception centers, ensuring timely identification and response to the needs of asylum seekers. This role requires building and maintaining constructive relationships with government authorities, partners, and service providers to facilitate access to protection and humanitarian assistance. The candidate will also be responsible for leading and developing teams, promoting a collaborative and results-oriented work environment that aligns with UNHCR values and standards. Empathy, cultural sensitivity, and professionalism are essential when working with diverse populations, particularly those in at-risk situations. The candidate must demonstrate solid case management skills, including assessing needs, referring individuals to appropriate partners, and monitoring the quality and timeliness of assistance provided. Experience in supporting vulnerable populations through targeted interventions, such as the delivery of non-cash assistance, is crucial. The candidate should be proactive in following up with stakeholders to enhance access to livelihood opportunities, demonstrating a solutions-oriented approach that promotes self-reliance and inclusion. Additionally, the candidate must be well-organized, adaptable, and capable of managing multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment while ensuring compliance with protection principles and operational standards. Strong communication, coordination, and problem-solving skills, combined with a commitment to humanitarian values and teamwork, are critical for success in this role.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Protection Associate include staying abreast of political, social, economic, and cultural developments that impact the protection environment. The incumbent must consistently apply International and National Law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy, standards, and codes of conduct. They will assist in providing comments on existing and draft legislation related to populations of concern (PoC) and provide advice on protection issues to PoC, liaising with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documentation. The Protection Associate will assist in conducting eligibility and status determination for PoC and contribute to measures to identify, prevent, and reduce statelessness. They will also contribute to a country-level child protection plan and an education plan as part of the protection strategy. Monitoring Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities is essential, as is managing individual protection cases, including those related to gender-based violence (GBV) and child protection. The incumbent will monitor and intervene in cases of refoulement, expulsion, and other protection incidents, and assist in identifying durable solutions for PoC through voluntary repatriation, local integration, and resettlement where appropriate. They will contribute to the design, implementation, and evaluation of protection-related programming with implementing and operational partners, facilitate effective information management through the provision of disaggregated data on PoC and their problems, and participate in initiatives to capacitate authorities, relevant institutions, and NGOs to strengthen national protection-related legislation and procedures. The Protection Associate will assist the supervisor in prioritizing PoC for interviews and counseling and propose protection support for individual cases. They will also enforce compliance of local implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services, submit individual payment requests for PoC for approval, and support the identification and management of risks while seeking to seize opportunities impacting objectives in their area of responsibility.

Required Qualifications:
The required qualifications for the Protection Associate position include a minimum of three years of relevant experience with a High School Diploma or two years of relevant work experience with a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent. The candidate should have a background in International Law, Political Science, or a related field. Essential functional skills include IT-Computer Literacy, knowledge of Refugee Protection Principles and Framework, and familiarity with protection-related guidelines, standards, and indicators. The candidate must demonstrate a commitment to humanitarian values and possess strong communication and coordination skills.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a High School Diploma as a minimum requirement. A Bachelor’s degree or higher in International Law, Political Science, or a related field is preferred. Relevant certifications in these areas are also beneficial and may enhance the candidate's qualifications for the role.

Experience:
The level of experience needed for the Protection Associate position is at least three years of relevant experience with a High School Diploma or two years of relevant work experience with a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent. This experience should be in protection-related fields, demonstrating the ability to manage cases and work effectively with vulnerable populations.

Languages:
The mandatory languages for this position include Spanish and English. Knowledge of the local language is also required for National Professional jobs. For General Service jobs, knowledge of English and/or the UN working language of the duty station is necessary. Proficiency in these languages is essential for effective communication and coordination in the role.

Additional Notes:
This position is classified under the UNOPS LICA6 category and is not remote. The target start date for the position is June 1, 2026, and the deadline for applications is June 4, 202

• The position is full-time and involves working in a family-type environment, with a hardship level classified as A (least hardship). All UNHCR workforce members are expected to contribute to a safe and empowering working environment, demonstrating zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment, and discrimination.