Senior Protection Associate

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 Senior Protection Associate is responsible for leading and coordinating operational activities at the location level, ensuring the timely and efficient delivery of protection interventions that align with project objectives. The role requires a highly skilled individual in planning, organizing, and monitoring activities, with a strong capacity to oversee implementation progress and adjust approaches as necessary to achieve results. The candidate must possess excellent management skills and inter-institutional coordination abilities, enabling effective collaboration with internal teams, partners, and authorities to ensure overall project success. Strong analytical and reporting skills are essential, including experience in data collection, results tracking, and producing high-quality, accurate reports that meet strict donor and organizational requirements. The candidate should be detail-oriented and accountable, capable of establishing and maintaining robust monitoring systems to ensure compliance with reporting standards. Additionally, they must excel at building trust with communities and stakeholders, demonstrating cultural sensitivity, empathy, and discretion in handling sensitive cases. Adaptability, the ability to manage competing priorities, and comfort in using data and evidence to inform decision-making are crucial. A collaborative mindset, combined with strong communication and advocacy skills, will enable the candidate to support coordination efforts while upholding protection principles, ethical standards, and safeguarding commitments.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Senior Protection Associate include staying informed about political, social, economic, and cultural developments that impact the protection environment. The incumbent must consistently apply International and National Law, as well as applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policies, 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 and guidance on protection issues to PoC, liaising with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documentation. The role involves conducting eligibility and status determination for PoC in compliance with UNHCR procedural standards and international protection principles. The Senior Protection Associate will contribute to measures aimed at identifying, preventing, and reducing statelessness, as well as contribute to country-level child protection and education plans as part of the protection strategy. They will assist the supervisor in implementing and monitoring Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection and solutions activities, manage individual protection cases, and monitor and assist the supervisor with intervening in cases of refoulement, expulsion, and other protection incidents. The incumbent will also 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, and participate in initiatives to strengthen national protection-related legislation and procedures. The Senior Protection Associate will assist the supervisor in deciding priorities for reception, interviewing, and counseling for groups or individuals, enforce compliance with global protection policies and standards, and recommend and prepare payments to individual cases. They will also support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in their area of responsibility.

Required Qualifications:
The required qualifications for the Senior Protection Associate position include a minimum of 4 years of relevant experience with a High School Diploma, or 2 years of relevant work experience with a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent or higher. The candidate should have a background in International Law, Political Science, or another relevant field. Essential functional skills include IT-Computer Literacy, knowledge of protection-related guidelines, standards, and indicators, as well as familiarity with Refugee Protection Principles and Framework. The candidate must demonstrate a commitment to the core values of professionalism, integrity, and respect for diversity.

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 a relevant field such as International Law or Political Science is preferred. Certifications in International Law or Political Science are considered essential for this role.

Experience:
The level of experience needed for the Senior Protection Associate position includes a minimum of 4 years of relevant experience with a High School Diploma or 2 years of relevant work experience with a Bachelor’s degree or higher. The candidate should have experience in protection-related work, particularly in contexts involving refugees and displaced populations.

Languages:
The mandatory languages for this position are 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 if not English. Proficiency in additional languages is considered a valuable asset.

Additional Notes:
This position is classified under the UNOPS LICA7 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 categorized under a hardship level of A, indicating the least hardship, and is suitable for family staff members or affiliates.