Learning Officer

Please note that this vacancy is only open to eligible staff members who have been individually notified of their eligibility to apply for positions advertised in the Accelerated Posting Compendium.

June 12 2026

H (no hardship)

Family

PR3

Professional

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

Learning Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The role of the Learning Officer is to enable learning opportunities within doing so the incumbent contributes to building a positive UNHCR learning culture and meeting strategic workforce needs.

The incumbent is pivotal in leading designing developing and delivering agile learning solutions especially self-study materials and resources that can be used in the flow of work and peer-to-peer activities such as mentoring and coaching.

The incumbent works with various entities across UNHCR including the Division of People Management (DPM) bureaux other divisions country offices and external entities.

The incumbent may have supervisory responsibility and normally reports to a more senior officer who is responsible for leading the learning activities.

All UNHCR staff members are accountable to perform their duties as reflected in their job description. They do so within their delegated authorities in line with the regulatory framework of UNHCR which includes the UN Charter UNStaff Regulations and Rules UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability addition staff members are required to discharge their responsibilities in a manner consistent with the core functional cross-functional and managerial competencies and UNHCRs core values of professionalism integrity and respect for diversity.

Duties

• Coordinate with bureaux and divisional functional colleagues in the design of learning solutions activities.

• Analyse client needs skills gaps and lead the co-development of appropriate learning and development solutions.

• Contribute to functional learning and development strategies and work plans.

• Manage the appropriate solicitation method in liaison with focal points to identify and contract vendors.

• Manage the financial administration of activities under the area of responsibility.

• Prepare requests for proposals for goods and services including consultancy and maintain efficient administrative control mechanisms to ensure compliance with UNHCR financial administrative and staff rules and regulations.

• Support and monitor staff affiliates and external providers and partners to maintain quality and relevance of activities content and materials.

• Assist in reporting and following-up on coordination and promotion of activities preparation of regular and ad hoc reports and compiling data as required.

• Supervise staff consultants and interns.

• Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making is risk based in the functional area of work. Raise risks issues and concerns to a supervisor or to relevant functional colleague(s).

• Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Years of Experience / Degree Level

For P3/NOC - 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education

Administration; Adult Education; Business Administration;

Communication; Project Management; Human Resources;

Management; Political Science; or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses

Not specified.

Relevant Job Experience

Essential

Knowledge and experience in learning training. Knowledge and practical experience in a professional capacity in human resources in two or more of the following areas: succession planning organizational development talent and performance management recruitment and engagement.

Desirable

Knowledge of UN/UNHCR field operational realities especially in hardship duty stations. Field experience with UNHCR or with other humanitarian -depth knowledge of the UN Staff Rules and Regulations staffing and overall organisational structure in the UN system. Experience in positions where high degree of organizational and cultural awareness sensibility and the highest level of discretion tact and confidentiality are essential. Demonstrated experience in talent development learning and training.

Functional Skills

TR-Training Design and Material Preparation

TR-Design & development of learning solutions including for e-learning & distance learning

TR-Assessment of Learning Needs

TR-Evaluation of Learning Activities

TR-Facilitation - Virtual and face to face

TR-Coaching/mentoring

CO-Cross-cultural communication

CO-Drafting and Documentation

(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Language Requirements

For International Professional and Field Service jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English.

For National Professional jobs: Knowledge of English and UN working language of the duty station if not English and local language.

For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.

Competency Requirements

All jobs at UNHCR require six core competencies and may also require managerial competencies and/or cross-functional competencies. The six core competencies are listed below.

Core Competencies

Accountability

Communication

Organizational Awareness

Teamwork & Collaboration

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Client & Result Orientation

Managerial Competencies

Empowering and Building Trust

Judgement and Decision Making

Managing Performance

Managing Resources

Cross-Functional Competencies

Policy Development and Research

Stakeholder Management

Planning and Organizing

All UNHCR workforce members must individually and collectively contribute towards a working environment where each person feels safe and empowered to perform their duties. This includes by demonstrating no tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse harassment including sexual harassment sexism gender inequality discrimination and abuse of power.

As individuals and as managers all must be proactive in preventing and responding to inappropriate conduct support ongoing dialogue on these matters and speaking up and seeking guidance and support from relevant UNHCR resources when these issues arise.

This is a Standard Job Description for all UNHCR jobs with this job title and grade level. The Operational Context may contain additional essential and/or desirable qualifications relating to the specific operation and/or position. Any such requirements are incorporated by reference in this Job Description and will be considered for the screening shortlisting and selection of candidates.

This role is designed for a practitioner who thrives in change and is motivated by helping leaders lead people well in demanding fast moving environments. The successful candidate will work closely with managers and senior leaders to use skills data people insights feedback and organisational signals to diagnose leadership and people management skill gaps and translate them into practical learning and development solutions. The role strengthens how leaders make decisions communicate and support their teams under pressure.

As UNHCR continues to evolve the position focuses on building leadership capability that is agile adaptive and innovative while remaining deeply attuned to trust wellbeing and human impact. It suits someone who is comfortable working in ambiguity and who brings both energy and sound judgement to supporting leaders through uncertainty and organisational change. The role requires credibility as a thought partner to leaders including the ability to influence senior stakeholders who may be resistant or ambivalent about development interventions using credible evidence practical insight and professional judgement. The successful candidate will also operate as part of an agile team partnering with HR colleagues external vendors and subject matter experts to co design relevant fit for purpose solutions seeking partnerships where possible with industry leaders.

Essential Attributes
Demonstrated experience identifying leadership and people management skill gaps and designing and delivering targeted development solutions including hands on facilitation for managers and senior leaders on topics such as psychological safety trust feedback resilience performance and leading through change as relevant to organisational context.
Proven experience using quantitative and qualitative data including skills data people metrics staff feedback engagement results learning insights or organisational diagnostics to identify capability and skills gaps and translate them into actionable leadership and people management development interventions.
A strong track record of initiative and ownership including shaping or building leadership and skills focused development approaches in response to emerging organisational and capability needs rather than relying solely on established programmes or fixed structures.
Direct experience supporting leaders during organisational change restructuring realignment or downsizing where issues of trust psychological safety resilience fairness and skill redeployment are particularly important.
Experience in a learning-advisory role to leaders in HQ field and emergency contexts with a demonstrated understanding of the constraints realities and needs of these target groups

Desirable Attributes
Background in organisational development coaching talent advisory people consulting or HR business partnering combined with delivery of leadership people management or skills based learning.
Proven experience engaging with pro-bono partners to deliver learning and development content.
Demonstrated experience influencing senior stakeholders including those who are sceptical of resistant to or ambivalent about development interventions using credible evidence contextual insight and sound professional judgement.
Proven experience supporting leaders in high pressure and emotionally complex environments with a clear understanding of how leadership behaviours and skill application affect morale trust wellbeing team effectiveness and organisational performance.
Experience working as a trusted partner to leaders with the judgement and confidence to engage on sensitive issues such as difficult conversations performance concerns team dynamics wellbeing and decision making under pressure.
A recognised coaching qualification or certification with the ability to apply coaching approaches appropriately when working with managers and senior leaders.
Demonstrated learning agility including the ability to redesign or pivot interventions mid programme in response to participant feedback evolving skill needs or shifting organisational priorities.
Familiarity with trauma informed facilitation practices or Psychological First Aid (PFA) principles and the ability to create safe learning environments in emotionally charged or sensitive contexts.
Strong ability to translate observed leadership and people management skill gaps into practical humane tools learning interventions and performance supports that leaders can realistically apply in time pressured high stakes environments.
Familiarity with UNHCR the UN system or similarly complex mission driven organisations particularly in contexts involving workforce change leadership under pressure staff wellbeing and evolving skill requirements.
Experience working in a field or regional office setting would be considered an asset

Operational context

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station please visit this link:

of Position:

The position islocatedwithin the Skills and Leadership function in the Division of People Management (DPM). The incumbent reports to theHead ofLeadership Developmentand works closely with colleagues across DPM regionalbureaux and operations. The role engages regularly with HR stakeholders senior managers and technical counterparts across HQ and the field to support the design and delivery ofpeoplecentreddevelopment initiatives.

The function playsa central rolein strengthening leadership andpeoplemanagement capacity across theorganisation contributing to broader workforce development organisational effectiveness andchangeinitiatives. The positionoperatesin a highly collaborative and crossfunctionalenvironment requiring coordination with multiple stakeholders and alignment with evolving institutional priorities.

UNHCR is undergoing significantorganisationalevolution driven by shifting global displacement dynamics resource constraints and internal reform efforts. This includes ongoing efforts to improve agility simplify structures and enhance theorganisationsability to deliver in complex and rapidly changing operational contexts.

Within this environment managersare often required tolead teams under pressure while navigating competing prioritiesorganisationalchange and workforce challenges. The demand for practicalcontextrelevantleadership and people management support has increased particularly in areas such as team effectiveness performance staff wellbeing and managing change.

The positionoperatesin a dynamic andfastpacedsetting where priorities may shift in response to operational demands and where solutions are often developed and adapted in real time rather than throughpredefinedprogrammes.

The role supports the development and strengthening of leadership and people management practices across theorganisation with a focus on practical application in operational contexts.

The incumbent is expected to:

Leadthe design and delivery of leadership development initiatives aligned with organisational priorities;

Support the adaptation of learning approaches to reflect operational realities and emerging workforceneeds;

Engage with managers and teams to provide guidance and support on people management challenges;

Collaborate across functions to ensure coherence between leadership development talent management and broader workforce initiatives.

The position requires regular interaction with stakeholders atdifferent levelsof the organisation and may involve supporting initiatives that addressorganisationalchange workforce effectiveness and staff engagement.

The role isbothadvisory anddeliveryoriented with a focus on translatingorganisationalpriorities into practical support for managers in diverse operational contextsundersignificantfinancial constraints.

This positionis a majorcontributorto UNHCRs ability to strengthen leadership and people management across theorganisationat a time of continued transformation and operational pressure.

By supporting managers to lead effectively in complex environments the role contributes to:

Improved team effectiveness andperformance;

Stronger staff engagement andretention;

Better alignment betweenorganisationalpriorities anddaytodayleadership practices.

The position supports the implementation of DPM priorities related to people development leadership capability andorganisationaleffectiveness and plays a role in ensuring that these priorities are translated into practical and accessible support for managers across theorganisation.

Living and Working Conditions:

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Education

Bachelor of Arts: Administration Bachelor of Arts: Adult Education Bachelor of Arts: Business Administration Bachelor of Arts: Communication Bachelor of Arts: Human Resources Bachelor of Arts: Management Bachelor of Arts: Political Science Bachelor of Arts: Project Management

Certifications

Work Experience

Competencies

Accountability Client & results orientation Commitment to continuous learning Communication Empowering & building trust Judgement & decision making Managing performance Managing resource Organizational awareness Planning & organizing Policy research & development Stakeholder management Teamwork & collaboration

UNHCR Salary Calculator

Accelerated Posting Compendium 2026 - Part B

Additional Information

This position doesnt require a functional clearance