Senior Protection Associate

B

FamilyFamily

GS7

General Service

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

June 20 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.

Operational Context:

India currently hosts more than 261000 refugees and asylum seekers. These include some 91000 Sri Lankan refugees and 73400 Tibetans directly assisted by the Government of India. There are 47881 individuals registered under UNHCRs mandate primarily from Afghanistan Myanmar and other countries. In addition around 49000 Myanmar nationals have sought refuge in the Northeast of India and live in a refugee-like situation. UNHCR works with the Government of India to offer protection and find solutions for refugees and asylum seekers.

As a result of reprioritization UNHCR India is refocusing its efforts on three core objectives: mandate-critical protection and solutions work; lifesaving and emergency activities with a focus on the most vulnerable; and essential resource mobilization and advocacy for protection and inclusion.

With refugees and asylum seekers spread across 13 different locations across the country UNHCR relies on its 8 NGO partners for support. It funds activities that complement or facilitate access to essential services and assist the most vulnerable people with humanitarian assistance. UNHCR also works with various partners and key stakeholders to advocate for greater inclusion of refugees and asylum seekers as part of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG). The office is engaged in advocacy with the government to support the development of a national framework for refugee protection and advocates on issues related to the use of alternatives to detention access to documentation amongst other key areas. UNHCRs office is in New Delhi and has a field presence in Chennai Tamil Nadu State.

Desired Candidate Profile:

The Senior Protection Associate is part of the Protection Unit and report to the Associate Protection Officer (NOB). As a senior member of the protection unit s/he is expected to work closely with his/her team other units in the office partners refugee communities and external stakeholders.

The Senior Protection Associate is responsible for the oversight of all activities related to Community Based Protection Cash Based Interventions Gender Based Violence Health Child Protection and Education and will supervise a team of 4 protection staff.

The candidate is required to have in depth knowledge of and experience in the national/state level legal and policy frameworks of relevance to the protection of refugees in India as well as demonstrated experience in policy development and advocacy. The candidate is expected to have at least two years of management experience of leading teams.

S/he should have demonstrated knowledge of UNHCRs protection principles and standards and practical experience in translating principles and standards into strategies and tools in support of effective protection delivery.

The candidate is required to have proven analytical and drafting skills as well as experience in developing protection and solutions strategies and coordinate the implementation with external interlocutors. These include topics relating to advocacy communication with communities in line with accountabilities to affected populations.

The candidate should have proven record of experience in building and maintaining government relationships at central and local level and engaging the authorities in gradually assuming responsibility for the protection of refugees. The candidate should also have recent professional experience in developing policy proposals and working with authorities to advocate for the rights of refugees and asylum seekers and their inclusion in national programs and protection schemes.

The candidate should have demonstrated experience in capacity building and training for different stakeholders including government partners and communities.

The candidate should have management experience as well as communication and interpersonal/team working skills stakeholder management including communities authorities and civil society as well competencies in political analysis and training. Excellent drafting skills and English language proficiency as well as meeting deadlines strong organizational and time management skills are required for this position.

This position is open only to Indian nationals. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted and they will be required to undergo a written test and an interview. The selected candidate will work either from the UNHCR Office or other UNHCR partner locations in New Delhi India.

Education & Professional Work Experience
Essential:

Work Political science International Relations or any other relevant studies
2.4 years of work experience relevant to the Job profile

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 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