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, forcibly displaced communities, and stateless people. UNHCR operates in over 130 countries, employing more than 18,000 staff members. The organization is dedicated to ensuring that everyone has the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another state, and to return home voluntarily, integrate locally, or resettle in a third country. UNHCR's work is guided by the principles of law" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">international law and humanitarian action, focusing on protection, assistance, and solutions for displaced populations.

Job Overview:
The Senior Protection Assistant is a crucial role within UNHCR, primarily responsible for monitoring and ensuring the adherence to protection standards and operational procedures in line with international guidelines. This position involves providing functional protection support to both information management and program staff, ensuring that persons of concern (PoC) receive timely and effective protection assistance. The incumbent will play a vital role in designing comprehensive protection strategies and will engage with local authorities and partners to address protection issues. A significant aspect of this 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 will need to establish and maintain effective relationships with communities, local authorities, and various partners to enhance the protection response in a rapidly evolving operational environment, particularly in light of the recent mass arrivals in Ceuta.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities of the Senior Protection Assistant include consistently applying international and national law, providing counseling on protection issues to PoC, and liaising with authorities for documentation issuance. The incumbent will support protection-related programming, conduct preliminary information gathering and interviews, and contribute to measures aimed at preventing statelessness. Additionally, the Senior Protection Assistant will be involved in developing country-level child protection and education plans, monitoring Standard Operating Procedures for protection activities, and participating in individual protection case management. The role also entails drafting reports, updating databases, and compiling statistics, as well as enhancing local protection capacities and managing risks associated with protection services. The incumbent will be expected to maintain a continuous field presence in Ceuta, monitor developments affecting refugees and asylum-seekers, and support coordination with governmental and humanitarian actors.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires 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 possess strong IT skills and be familiar with refugee protection principles and frameworks. The role demands a proactive approach to safeguarding the rights of PoC and the ability to work effectively in a challenging environment.

Educational Background:
Candidates must have a High School Diploma as a minimum requirement, 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, as they provide the necessary theoretical foundation for the practical responsibilities involved in protection work.

Experience:
The Senior Protection Assistant position requires at least 2 years of relevant experience for candidates with a High School Diploma, or 1 year of experience for those with a Bachelor’s degree or higher. Experience in emergency, border, or mixed movement contexts is highly desirable, as is the ability to build effective working relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders. The role demands a high degree of flexibility, sound judgment, resilience, initiative, and discretion, particularly given the dynamic nature of the operational context in Ceuta.

Languages:
The mandatory languages for this position are Spanish and English, with an expected overall ability of at least B2 level. Knowledge of French and Arabic is considered desirable, as these languages may enhance communication with various stakeholders and communities of concern.

Additional Notes:
This position is classified as a General Service role at the GS5 grade level and is temporary, with a target start date of October 1, 2026, and an end date of December 31, 202

• The role is family-type and does not involve hardship conditions. The incumbent will report to the Protection Associate in Madrid and will work closely with the Protection Unit in Madrid, without direct supervisory responsibilities. The position is critical in response to the exceptional protection situation in Ceuta, following significant mass arrivals, and aims to ensure a sustained UNHCR presence to support the protection response.