Senior Protection Assistant

H (no hardship)

FamilyFamily

GS5

General Service

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

June 22 2025

Senior Protection Assistant

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Senior Protection Assistant normally reports to a more senior Protection colleague. The incumbent monitors protection standards operational procedures and practices in protection delivery in line with international standards and provides functional protection support to information management and programme staff.

The Senior Protection Assistant provides quality timely and effective protection support to persons of concern (PoC) and identifies opportunities to mainstream protection methodologies and safeguards in operational responses. S/he contributes to designing a comprehensive protection strategy and may liaise externally with local authorities and partners on protection issues as guided by the supervisor.

The Senior Protection Assistant also ensures that PoC are involved in making decisions that affect them whether in accessing their rights or in identifying appropriate solutions to their problems. To achieve this the incumbent will need to build and maintain effective interfaces with communities of concern local authorities and protection and assistance partners.

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 UN Staff Regulations and Rules UNHCR Policies and Administrative Instructions as well as relevant accountability frameworks. In 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
- Consistently apply International and National Law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy standards and codes of conduct.
- Provide counselling on protection issues to PoC; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documentation.
- Support activities in protection related AGD based programming with implementing and operational partners.
- Conduct preliminary information gathering and interviews in support of eligibility status determination durable solutions and social needs assessment.
- Contribute to measures to identify prevent and reduce statelessness.
- Contribute to a country-level child protection plan as part of the protection strategy.
- Contribute to a country-level education plan for PoC as part of the protection strategy.
- Monitor Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities.
- Participate in individual protection case management including cases of GBV and child protection. Monitor and report on cases of refoulement expulsion and other protection incidents.
- Assist in identifying durable solutions for PoC in voluntary repatriation local integration and where appropriate resettlement.
- Contribute to the design implementation and evaluation of protection related AGD based programming with implementing and operational partners.
- Draft reports routine correspondence update relevant databases and compiling statistics within the Area of Responsibility (AoR).
- Contribute to initiatives to enhance national and local protection capacities.
- Select PoC for preliminary interviews and decide which relevant information to share.
- Enforce integrity in the delivery of protection services by local implementing partners.

- Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision making in 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
Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
G5 - 2 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 1 year relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Field(s) of Education
Not applicable

Certificates and/or Licenses
International Law;
Political Science;
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential: Not specified.
Desirable: Not specified.

Functional Skills
IT-Computer Literacy
PR-Protection-related guidelines standards and indicators
PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework
(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.

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.

Nature of Position:

Multi-Country Office (MCO) Belgium ensures the liaison with EU institutions and the oversight of operations in Belgium Ireland Luxembourg The Netherlands and Portugal.

MCO Belgium includes liaison functions with the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) performed by staff based in Warsaw (Poland). The team works in close coordination with the other units of MCO Belgium Regional Bureau for Europe and Headquarters in Geneva to ensure timely action in support of agreed policies. External contacts are developed and maintained with Frontex key stakeholders including the Fundamental Rights Office UN International agencies and NGO members of Frontex Consultative Forum on Fundamental Rights.

In line with the strategic priorities of MCO Belgium the team will work to advance UNHCRs protection priorities in border management by advising Frontex on the implementation of the provisions of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum contributing to training initiatives and promoting operational coordination with UNHCR country operations in Europe. The team will also work closely with Frontex Fundamental Rights Office and support the work of the Consultative Forum on Fundamental Rights by collaborating closely with its Secretariat in coordinating input and protection advice by the Forums members to Frontex on fundamental rights matters.

Desired Candidate Profile:

The Senior Protection Assistant is based in Warsaw and is part of the Representation for EU Affairs (REUA) in Brussels. S/he works under the supervision of the Head of LO Frontex.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:
-A solid understanding of EU legislation policies and practices in the field of migration and asylum of UNHCRs mandate and policies and of international standards relating to refugees nationality and statelessness;
- Strong teamwork and networking skills;
- Full professional proficiency in English both oral and written;
- Experience of minimum 2 years in the field of migration and asylum and in individual case management is an asset;

Desirable education
-University degrees in law notably in the fields of public international law and international human rights law or degree as a social worker.

Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

Nature of Position:

Living and Working Conditions:

Additional Qualifications

Skills

IT-Computer Literacy PR-Protection-related guidelines standards and indicators PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework

Certifications

International Law - Other Political Science - Other

Competencies

Accountability Analytical thinking Client & results orientation Commitment to continuous learning Communication Organizational awareness Political awareness Stakeholder management Teamwork & collaboration

Additional Information

Candidates must have the legal right to reside and work in Poland.

Functional clearance

This position doesnt require a functional clearance