Deputy Representative - Protection

H (no hardship)

FamilyFamily

PR4

Professional

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

July 3 2025

Deputy Representative - Protection

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Deputy Representative - Protection is the senior protection manager in a Country Office and reports to the Representative. A member of the senior management team the incumbent has direct or reviewing supervisory responsibility for protection staff who may include community services registration resettlement and education. S/he has country-wide functional supervisory responsibility for protection staff and provides protection oversight and guidance to the information and programme management functions.

The Deputy Representative - Protection transposes UNHCRs Global Strategic Priorities into a comprehensive protection strategy adapted to the country context. S/he is guardian of protection standards operational procedures and practices in protection delivery at country level and represents the UNHCR to authorities UN sister agencies partners and other stakeholders on protection policy and doctrine. UNHCR is well integrated into the UN Resident Coordinator System.

The Deputy Representative - Protection is relied upon by the Office to plan manage and guide regional and country-wide protection delivery to populations of concern and to promote and gain support for UNHCRs protection agenda externally. This includes ensuring that operational responses in sectors are shaped in a protection optic mainstream protection methodologies and integrate protection safeguards. S/he ensures that persons and communities of concern are involved with the Office in making decisions that affect them and that their interests are effectively represented to authorities protection and assistance partners and to the broad network of donors and stakeholders who can contribute to enhancing protection.

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
- Stay abreast of political social economic and security developments that have an impact on the protection environment and protection delivery capacity and advise the Representative in the overall management of UNHCRs operations.
- Manage a consultative process with government counterparts partners and persons of concern to develop and implement a comprehensive protection strategy addressing the specific protection needs of women and men children youth and older persons persons with disabilities minority groups such as sexual minorities and persons living with HIV/AIDS; and Gender Based Violence (GBV) priorities with regard to these persons.
- In operations applying the Cluster Approach ensure the response of the Protection Cluster is grounded in a strategy which covers assessed and prioritized protection needs of the affected populations.
- Ensure the protection strategy is fully integrated into the Country Operations Plans in the region the UN Development and Assistance Framework (UNDAF) and in respect of UNHCRs mandate the Humanitarian Country Teams common humanitarian action plan where applicable.
- Ensure that necessary resources are allocated to address protection gaps.
- Promote International and National Law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy standards and codes of conduct. Foster their consistent and coherent interpretation and application and ensure that sectors and /or in clusters in applicable operations fulfil their responsibilities mainstreaming protection.
- Design deliver and monitor programmes on an AGD basis to address identified protection needs.
- Oversee the provision of expert legal advice and guidance on protection issues to internal and external interlocutors and ensure that legal assistance and documentation is accessible to forcibly displaced and stateless persons.
- Oversee Eligibility and Status Determination operations ensuring compliance with UNHCR procedural standards and international protection principles.
- Oversee the implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for protection /solutions processes and systems.
- Promote and supervise the delivery of effective measures to identify prevent and reduce statelessness.
- Develop and implement country/regional-level education plans as part of the protection strategy. Ensure the provision of quality and protective education with an emphasis on learning outcomes and lifelong learning opportunities forging partnerships with the Ministry for Education UNICEF and other partners as appropriate.
- Develop and implement country/regional-level child protection plan as part of the protection strategy ensuring programmes use a child protection systems approach.
- Ensure that appropriate interventions are undertaken by the Offices in the region or intervene directly in cases of refoulement expulsion and other protection incidents through working relations with governments and other partners.
- Coordinate the design implementation and evaluation of protection related programming with implementing and operational partners.
- Ensure with governments and partners that durable solutions through voluntary repatriation local integration and where appropriate resettlement are sought and provided to the largest possible number of persons of concern.
- Oversee the development and implementation of a results-based advocacy programme in consultation with sectorial and/or cluster partners.
- Advocate with authorities and stakeholders for access to and respect for the rights of persons of concern and their access to services.
- Ensure the Protection Sector or Cluster strategy has an effective information management component to provide disaggregated data on populations of concern and their problems; and researches collects and disseminates relevant protection information and good practices to enhance protection delivery.
- Build the protection capacity of national and local government partners and civil society to assume their responsibilities vis--vis persons of concern through protection training mainstreaming and related activities.
- Coordinate capacity-building initiatives for communities and persons of concern to assert their rights.
- Advise and capacitate national authorities relevant institutions and NGOs to strengthen legislation and status determination procedures and mechanisms.
- Contribute to a communications strategy to generate external support for UNHCRs operations and the Protection Sector/Cluster.
- Provide effective supervisory and managerial oversight direction and guidance of the protection function.
- Design and establish effective protection staffing structures in Offices ensuring staffing configurations profiles and competencies are commensurate with protection challenges.
- Approve the comprehensive protection strategy for endorsement by the Representative and Regional Office or Headquarters.
- Chair strategic or operational protection meetings including Protection Cluster meetings in applicable operations and represent the protection sector/cluster in inter-agency mechanisms.
- Issue advocacy statements on behalf of UNHCR or the Protection Cluster in applicable operations. Intervene with authorities on protection issues.
- Negotiate with resettlement countries and countries of return on behalf of UNHCR.
- Clear documents and reports prepared by the Protection Unit / Section.
- Take decisions on individual cases.
- Negotiate with the Humanitarian Coordinator/Resident Coordinator the Humanitarian Country Team and partners on protection funding priorities in inter-agency funding appeals.
- Enforce compliance of staff and partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services.
- Enforce regional compliance with and integrity of protection standard operating procedures.
- Approve regional expenditures under the UNHCR protection budget and direct transparent and accountable financial and other resource allocation within the Protection Cluster in applicable operations.

- Lead risk assessments and discussions with team(s) to proactively manage risks and seize opportunities impacting objectives. Ensure that risk management principles are integrated in decision-making both at strategic and operational levels. Allocate resources for planned treatments with resource requirements in Strategic Plans. Ensure that risks are managed to acceptable levels and escalate as needed. If a Risk Owner designate the Risk Focal Point and certify that the annual risk review is completed and ensure that the risk register is updated during the year as needed.
- Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P4 - 9 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 8 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 7 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
Law; Political Science; International Relations;
or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses
HCR Learning Program; HCR Management Learning Programme;
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
- Thorough knowledge in International refugee law its applications under different circumstances; ability to analyse and advocate the application of various regional refugee instruments for the benefits of the persons of concern to UNHCR. Field experience preferably in the context of UNHCR in repatriation and resettlement of refugees.

Desirable
- Solid UNHCR experience from both the Field (including Hardship Duty stations) and Headquarters.

Functional Skills
*PR-Assessment of IDPs Status Rights Obligation
*PR-International protection concepts and principles
*PR-Managing large influx of Persons of Concern
*PR-Refugee Resettlement programs
*SO-Advocacy
FO-Operational activities in hardship duty stations
(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.

The Deputy Representative (Protection) should have strong knowledge of international refugee law and how it is applied domestically in a jurisdiction with a strong public and administrative law tradition. Experience of bilateral protection advocacy with governments is essential and the candidate should demonstrate the capacity to oversee judicial interventions and the formulation of comments and suggestions on asylum policy and draft legislation.

Strong communication skills including drafting skills are essential. As the UK is an important centre of expertise on international law and refugee law with a strong legal profession universities think-tanks and civil society partners and engaged parliamentarians and media the candidate should demonstrate the ability to articulate protection principles and UNHCR positions with authority to a range of expert and non-expert audiences in writing and in speaking engagements.

The Deputy Representative (Protection) should have strong strategic leadership and team-building skills with the demonstrated ability to assume the planning coordination role within the operation responsible for translating UNHCRs protection and solutions goals in the UK into a clearly defined results framework working closely with the Representative and leading the multifunctional team responsible for strategy development and drafting and monitoring and reporting on results. An understanding of UNHCR planning processes is essential and direct experience with UNHCR systems (COMPASS) is desirable.

Demonstrated expertise in key areas covered by the UK protection team is essential: access to asylum procedures; refugee status determination; resettlement and complementary pathways family reunification; detention/alternatives to detention. A knowledge of the route-based approach and/or European asylum law and policy is desirable. Experience of working on mixed migration in relation to a route relevant to the UK (e.g. Central Mediterranean Western Balkans) is also desirable as is UNHCR field experience across a range of regional/operational contexts.

Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

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

of Position:

The UK is an important centre of expertise on international law and refugee law with a well-established public and administrative law tradition and legislative and policy framework and strong legal profession universities think-tanks and civil society partners. Under the supervision of the Representative the Deputy Representative (Protection) steers UNHCRs bilateral engagement with the Home Office and other partners relating to asylum integration resettlement and other durable solutions. He/she acts as a source of expertise on international refugee law and practice makes demarches to the UK Government on behalf of UNHCR and oversees judicial interventions and the formulation of comments and suggestions on asylum policy and draft legislation. He/she represents UNHCR at public events including through speaking engagements on issues related to refugee law and policy.

The Deputy Representative (Protection) also acts as Planning Coordinator responsible for translating UNHCRs protection and solutions goals in the UK into a clearly-defined results framework working closely with the Representative and leading the multifunctional team responsible for strategy development and drafting and monitoring and reporting on results. He/she oversees a team composed of a Legal Officer (P3) and four national protection colleagues as well as working closely with the Representative and acting as officer in charge as needed.

The incumbent leads a on the UK s protection activities including with regard to access to asylum procedures; family reunification; mitigation of detention practices and the promotion of viable alternatives to detention; strengthening protection systems especially for those at heightened risk; promoting integration. The incumbent also provides advocacy and support in relation to resettlement (albeit that resettlement arrivals have dropped) as well as advocating for the establishment of complementary pathways to protection. The Deputy Representative (Protection) also works closely with the Senior External Relations Officer to craft protection advocacy messages and while the SERO leads on media engagement with the support of the Representative the Deputy Representative Protection may occasionally be called on to provide off the record briefings or media interviews.

Living and Working Conditions:

London is generally an expensive duty station. Salaries are stabilized in British Pounds which may be affected by currency fluctuations. London has favourable living conditions in terms of housing access to health facilities transport connectivity to cities around the world recreational activities etc. The city is generally safe however as with any large city there is a need to take precautions to avoid crime. The UNHCR country office is located in Central London co-located with WFP and UNFPA.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

FO-Operational activities in hardship duty stations PR-Assessment of IDPs Status Rights Obligation PR-International protection concepts and principles PR-Managing large influx of Persons of Concern PR-Refugee Resettlement programs SO-Advocacy

Education

Bachelor of Arts: International Relations Bachelor of Arts: Law Bachelor of Arts: Political Science

Certifications

HCR Learning Program - UNHCR HCR Management Learning Program - UNHCR

Work Experience

Competencies

Accountability Analytical thinking Client & results orientation Commitment to continuous learning Communication Empowering & building trust Judgement & decision making Leadership Managing performance Managing resource Organizational awareness Political awareness Stakeholder management Strategic planning & visions Teamwork & collaboration

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Additional Information

This position doesnt require a functional clearance