Senior Protection Assistant (Border Procedures)

March 3 2026

Grade

GS5

General Service

Reason

Temporary > Temporary Assignment/ Appointment

H (no hardship)

Family

Standard Job Description

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 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.

OPERATIONAL CONTEXT

The UNHCR Multi-Country Office (MCO) based in Italy oversees operations in Italy the Holy See Malta and San Marinocountries situated at the crossroads of Europe North Africa and the Middle East and characterized by diverse asylum systems distinct legal frameworks and varying capacities for refugee protection.

This sub region plays a pivotal role in migration and refugee movements to Europe particularly through the Central and Eastern Mediterranean routes. Irregular arrivals by sea and land secondary movements and complex protection needs place continued pressure on national asylum and reception systems. Although the number of arrivals fluctuates the centrality of these countries in broader European migration dynamics remains constant.

Italy and Malta in particular continue to serve as primary entry points to the EU for persons seeking international protection. Their geographic proximity to North Africa positions Italy as a key actor in search and rescue (SAR) activities and in receiving persons rescued at sea.

San Marino and the Vatican City though not primary asylum destinations are engaged partners in refugee protection through political advocacy moral leadership and resettlement or complementary pathways especially under community sponsorship and humanitarian corridors supported by faith-based organizations.

UNHCR has been part of the Italian decentralized Refugee Status Determination (RSD) procedure between 2005 and 2018 as a fully-fledged member of the Territorial Commissions for the recognition of international protection. Since 2018 following UNHCRs gradual disengagement from direct decision making and the introduction of independent experts in lieu of UNHCR staff the organization has maintained its strategic supervisory role promoting its RSD guidance and strengthening State capacity through training quality monitoring and judicial engagement.

Italian legislation provides the possibility in given circumstances of assessing asylum applications through border procedures. The EU Pact on Migration and Asylum which is set to enter into application by mid-June 2026 will require Member States to implement mandatory accelerated border procedures under the circumstances defined by the Asylum Procedures Regulation (EU) 2024/1348.

In this context under the supervision of the RSD associate based in Rome the incumbent will contribute to monitoring the implementation of border procedures and to formulating targeted recommendations aimed at promoting fairness consistency and full compliance with procedural safeguards. S/he will support competent authorities with particular attention to the provision of information and the correct application of procedural guarantees while ensuring that applicants are appropriately triaged and channeled into the proper asylum procedures.

S/he will contribute to ensuring that applicants who do not fall within the scope of the accelerated border procedure (whether due to personal circumstances specific needs or the complexity of their claim) are duly exempted and referred to the ordinary close coordination with UNHCR RSD focal points and Quality experts the incumbent will support eligibility staff of competent Territorial Commissions in the RSD phase providing advice on complex substantive and procedural issues including issues specific to RSD conducted in detention and/or by remote.

To perform his/her duties the incumbent is expected to remain abreast of relevant legislation case law and policy developments related to border and asylum procedures and to ensure regular timely and accurate reporting to the UNHCR Rome Office contributing to UNHCRs broader monitoring protection and advocacy efforts. The incumbent is also expected to regularly engage in missions to locations where border procedures are implemented throughout the national territory.

DESIRED CANDIDATE PROFILE

MCO Italy is looking for a solid candidate with proven expertise on the international EU and Italian refugee and human rights law and the RSD procedure in Italy. The candidate must be proficient in Italian and English and have excellent drafting skills in both languages. The candidate should possess strong interpersonal and team-building skills s/he should have a valid driving license (type B) and be available to drive for service. Thorough knowledge of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum as well as previous experience in RSD or in other protection fields in Italy would be an asset.

The incumbent will be initially assigned to Catania Italy with a three months contract. After that the duty station may be moved to another location across Italy depending on operational needs.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in Italy.

English is the official working language of UNHCR in Italy. Only applications fully completed in English will be considered.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Assessment of short-listed candidates might comprise of both an interview and a written test.

UNHCR is committed to diversity and welcomes applications from qualified candidates regardless of disability gender identity marital or civil partnership status race color or ethnic and national origins religion or belief or sexual orientation. UNHCR has a ZERO TOLERANCE policy on sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual harassment. Successful candidates will be subject to mandatory UN Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Sexual Harassment clearance check prior to receiving an offer.

UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application interview meeting processing training or any other fees).

All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.

In case of any queries please contact the Italy HR Team at

This position doesnt require a functional clearance

Italian

English

Skills

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

Education

Certifications

International Law - Other Political Science - Other

information