Senior Protection Associate

H (no hardship)

FamilyFamily

GS7

General Service

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

June 22 2025

Senior Protection Associate

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Senior Protection Associate reports to the Protection Officer or the Senior Protection Officer. The position may entail supervisory responsibilities for protection staff including community services registration resettlement and education depending on the structure of the Office. 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 Associate is expected to coordinate quality timely and effective protection responses to the needs of populations of concern (PoC) and identify opportunities to mainstream protection methodologies and integrate protection safeguards in operational responses in all sectors. The incumbent contributes to designing a comprehensive protection strategy and represents the Office externally on protection doctrine and policy as guided by the supervisor.

S/he 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
- Stay abreast of political social economic and cultural developments that have an impact on the protection environment.
- Consistently apply International and National Law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy standards and codes of conduct.
- Assist in providing comments on existing and draft legislation related to PoC.
- Provide advice and guidance on protection issues to PoC; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documentation.
- Assist in conducting eligibility and status determination for PoC in compliance with UNHCR procedural standards and international protection principles.
- 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 as part of the protection strategy.
- Assist the supervisor in implementing and monitoring Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities.
- Manage individual protection cases including those on GBV and child protection. Monitor and assist the supervisor with intervening in cases of refoulement expulsion and other protection incidents.
- Assist in identifying durable solutions for the largest possible number of PoC through 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.
- Contribute to and facilitate a programme of results-based advocacy with sectorial and/or cluster partners.
- Facilitate effective information management through the provision of disaggregated data on PoC and their problems.
- Participate in initiatives to capacitate authorities relevant institutions and NGOs to strengthen national protection related legislation and procedures.
- Assist the supervisor with intervening with authorities on protection issues.
- Provide assistance to the supervisor in deciding priorities for reception interviewing and counselling for groups or individuals.
- Assist the supervisor with enforcing compliance of staff and implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services.
- Assist the supervisor with enforcing compliance with and integrity of all protection standard operating procedures.
- Recommend and prepare payments to individual cases.

- 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
For G7 - 4 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Field(s) of Education
Not applicable

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

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Not specified.

Desirable
RSD-Resettlement LP and/or Protection Learning Programme

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.

Organizational Context:

The Senior Protection Associate reports to the Senior Protection Officer in UNHCR Romania. The position will be part of the protection team based in Bucharest which inter alia focuses on access to the territory and to fair and efficient asylum procedures access to temporary protection status enjoyment of rights and statelessness. The incumbent monitors protection standards operational responses and practices in protection delivery with a focus on monitoring and responses to the situation of temporary protection holders beneficiaries of international protection and stateless persons in the main locations where forcibly displaced and stateless persons reside in Romania. S/he 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 he/she will need to build and maintain effective cooperation with communities of concern central and local authorities and partners. He/she provides functional protection support to information management staff for protection monitoring activities. The Senior Protection Associate is also responsible for monitoring of the situation at the Romanian borders in line with national regional and international legal standards.

The Senior Protection Associate is expected to coordinate quality timely and effective protection responses to the needs of forcibly displaced and stateless persons and identify opportunities to mainstream protection methodologies and integrate protection safeguards in operational responses in all areas. The incumbent contributes to designing a comprehensive protection strategy and represents the Office externally with authorities at the central and local level international organizations and civil society on protection doctrine and policy. He/she actively contributes to UNHCR capacity strengthening initiatives on international protection.

The incumbent will actively participate in multi-functional team exercises jointly with other units of the operation. The staff member needs to demonstrate strong inter-personal and communication skills and possess excellent analytical and English and Romanian drafting skills. He/she is able to establish positive work relationships with a wide range of stakeholders while also being a result oriented and proactive team-worker.

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 and economic developments that have an impact on the protection environment in Romania.
-Liaise with relevant state authorities at central and local levels NGOs and other relevant stakeholders.
-Provide advice and guidance on protection issues affecting forcibly displaced and stateless persons and ensure their access to rights by liaising with competent authorities.
-Provide guidance and support in the formulation and implementation of protection strategies including but not limited to engagement with the border police ombudspersons office and other relevant stakeholders.
-Prepare analytical notes talking points and presentations on UNHCR Romanias advocacy priority areas.
-Manage individual protection cases and assist the supervisor with intervening in cases of refoulement expulsion and other protection incidents.
-Facilitate effective information management through the provision of disaggregated data on PoC and their problems.
-Organize facilitate and support initiatives to capacitate authorities relevant institutions and NGOs to strengthen national protection related legislation and procedures.
-Support the organization of and/or participate in meetings of local refugee coordination structures.
-Consistently apply international and national law and UNHCR policies and standards.
-Perform other related duties as required.


Desirable Candidate Profile:

Certificates and/or Licenses

Law Political Science Social Science or other relevant field

Relevant Job Experience

At least two years of previous protection related work experience.
Demonstrated knowledge and experience working with vulnerable persons.

Desirable

Previous experience working with UNHCR or the UN is highly desirable whereas previous work experience in other international organizations is an asset.
Previous experience working with asylum-seekers beneficiaries of international protection and/or temporary protection holders in Romania is highly desirable.
Previous experience in engaging with various stakeholders including local and/or central public authorities academia and civil society.
Experience in delivering presentations and facilitating trainings.
Completion of UNHCR learning programmes on protection or any other equivalent external courses.


Recruitment as a UNHCR staff member is subject to successful reference checks and integrity clearances.
Non-EU citizens are invited to upload any residence permits or relevant documents under the Certifications section by selecting the type Personnel Administration Other. Applications by Non-EU citizens will be considered if they are legally in the country.

For further information on how to apply please visit the UNHCR - Application and Selection page at

The recruitment process might include a written test and/or oral interview for this job opening. No late applications will be accepted.

UNHCR is committed to diversity and welcomes applications from qualified candidates regardless of disability gender identity marital or civil partnership status race colour or ethnic and national origins religion or belief or sexual orientation. UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application interview meeting processing training or any other fees).

NOTE: An individual whose mother father son daughter brother or sister is a staff member of UNHCR including a Temporary Appointment holder or a member of Affiliate Workforce is not eligible to apply.

Remuneration:
In case of appointment a competitive compensation and benefits package is offered.
G7 - Salary range: NET 10571.71 RON - NET 13396.50 RON.

Benefits:

Annual leave: UNHCR staff members holding a fixed-term appointment will accrue annual leave at the rate of 2.5 working days for each full calendar months of service (i.e. 30 working days per year).
Pension system: Staff members holding a fixed-term appointment will become participants in the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF).

Health insurance plan: locally recruited staff members will be enrolled in the Medical Insurance Plan (MIP). The coverage is optionally available for eligible family members.

English

Romanian

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 Protection - Other Political Science - Other

Competencies

Accountability Client & results orientation Commitment to continuous learning Communication Empowering & building trust Judgement & decision making Negotiation & conflict resolution Organizational awareness Political awareness Stakeholder management Teamwork & collaboration

Additional Information

This position doesnt require a functional clearance