Associate Operations Officer

March 9 2026

E (most hardship)

Non FamilyNon FamilyDanger Pay

PR2

Professional

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

Associate Operations Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The Associate Operations Officer normally works under the direct supervision of the (Senior) Operations Officer/Coordinator or Head of the Office. The incumbent will support liaising with Partners through sector meetings and other coordination mechanisms in the Area of responsibility (AoR) as deemed necessary and required by the senior management. S/he will also assist with management issues pertaining to the operations within the area of responsibility (AoR). The incumbent will maintain contact with NGO/Implementing partners Government officials at the Central level Donors and UN agencies based in the locations covered under AoR. The incumbent also receives indirect guidance from other sections and units relevant to the country programmes. The incumbent may supervise some support staff. Within UNHCR the incumbent has regular contact with other sections/units at Headquarters and with field offices on issues related UNHCRs programme in the countries/operations covered under the AoR.

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 UNStaff 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

• Support UNHCRs activities in the operations within the AoR if necessary through mission to the countries/operations covered.

• Keep abreast of the events that may affect the situation of forcibly displaced and stateless people in the countries/operations under AoR and provide regular reports and relevant information on developments regarding the situation of forcibly displaced and stateless people as appropriate.

• Through a wide network of external contacts and through studying field reports regularly analyse the operational context early warning signs and the protection situation of forcibly displaced and stateless people.

• Support the preparation of analytic papers and formulate recommendations for action for the country offices/operations within the AoR.

• Support the compliance of UNCHRs project implementation management and reporting with established policies guidelines procedures and standards.

• Contribute to identify potential gaps and problems and in cooperation with other relevant sections recommend appropriate solutions to ensure the continued efficient implementation of programme activities and effective coordination with other UN agencies and NGOs.

• In the bureaux respond to queries and requests for assistance and guidance from the field and follow-up where needed in close coordination with other concerned focal points of the Bureau.

• In the field prepare project proposals conduct needs assessment in various fields of assistance and monitor implementation of projects under the AoR.

• Maintain relations with UN agencies NGOs and other parties operating in the AoR in order to promote UNHCR objectives.

• Liaise with operational partners on issues relating to the protection and assistance of refugees/IDPs and other forcibly displaced and stateless people.

• Maintain a wide range of external contacts with Permanent Missions donors and civil society organization.

• Provide administrative and operational support across a range of programme activities including but not limited to processing field requests related to financial transactions procurement actions and documentation for internal review and approval processes (e.g. Committee on Contracts Budget Committee) ensuring compliance with relevant procedures and timelines.

• 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

Years of Experience / Degree Level

For P2/NOB - 3 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 2 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 1 year relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education

Public Administration; Economics; Social Science;

Business Administration; Law; or other relevant field.

(Field(s) of Education marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Certificates and/or Licenses

Programme Management;

(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience

Essential

Understanding of UNHCR mandate and operations. Minimum 3 years relevant work experience.

Desirable

Experience in field operations. Experience working with UNHCR; or other UN entities or partners preferably in refugee or humanitarian operations. Proven track record in emergency preparedness response and management.

Functional Skills

MG-Field Operations Management;

MG-Coordination;

(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.

Competency Requirements

All jobs at UNHCR require six core competencies and may also require managerial competencies and/or cross-functional competencies. The six core competencies are listed below.

Core Competencies

Accountability

Communication

Organizational Awareness

Teamwork & Collaboration

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Client & Result Orientation

Managerial Competencies

Judgement and Decision Making

Managing Resources

Empowering and Building Trust

Cross-Functional Competencies

Analytical Thinking

Planning and Organizing

Political Awareness

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.

Essential Attributes
Proven experience in coordinating programme planning implementation monitoring and reporting within humanitarian and/or development operations with strong technical proficiency in UNHCRs corporate Results-Based Management (RBM) tools systems and Business Transformation Programme (BTP) solutions.
Proven experience working closely with administration finance supply (procurement) and HR functions effectively bridging operational programmatic and administrative requirements in a compliant and practical manner.
Demonstrated experience in maintaining effective day-to-day engagement with implementing partners UN agencies and inter-agency coordination fora representing UNHCR in a professional collaborative and solutions-oriented manner.
Experience in managing funded government partnerships and coordinating closely with government counterparts at provincial and/or federal levels is a strong asset
Experience in programming for or contributing to operationalizing route-based or area-based approaches including coordination across service delivery points partners and authorities is highly desirable.

Desirable Attributes
The selected candidate may act as OIC whenever the Head of Sub Office is absent; therefore strong leadership skills are an added advantage
Experience in managing funded government partnerships and coordinating closely with government counterparts at provincial and/or federal levels is a strong asset
Experience in programming for or contributing to operationalizing route-based or area-based approaches including coordination across service delivery points partners and authorities is highly desirable.

Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

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

UNHCR Operation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Province is run by Sub-Office Peshawar (SOP) with a Field Unit in Haripur and in close coordination with the Country Office in Islamabad (COI). It is a protracted refugee situation.

The Associate Operations Officer is a newly established position in SOP consolidating core programme coordination and administrative/operational functions to strengthen integrated delivery compliance and efficiency in a constrained operating environment. The position reports directly to the Head of Sub-Office and works in close collaboration with functional units in SOP the Field Units and relevant counterparts in COI.

The incumbent supports the planning coordination implementation and monitoring of programme activities while simultaneously ensuring the effective functioning of support services including administration finance human resources ICT fleet and premises management. The role is designed to reinforce the operationsadministrative nexus ensuring that operational delivery is underpinned by sound controls timely administrative support and full compliance with UNHCR rules procedures and delegated authorities.

The Associate Operations Officer provides integrated operational support across programme implementation coordination monitoring and reporting within the Area of Responsibility (AoR). The incumbent contributes to the effective planning coordination and oversight of UNHCR-funded activities ensuring that operational responses are aligned with strategic priorities protection principles and UNHCR policies and procedures.

The Associate Operations Officer supports day-to-day liaison and coordination with
implementing partners government counterparts UN agencies and other stakeholders
through sector meetings and coordination fora. S/he assists in monitoring project
implementation identifying operational gaps risks and emerging needs and supports
the preparation of analytical inputs situation reports and recommendations for
management decision-making.

The position plays a key role in supporting compliance with UNHCRs programme management financial procurement and reporting requirements including processing operational requests coordinating inputs for internal review mechanisms (such as contracts and budget-related processes) and ensuring timely follow-up with relevant functional units at Sub-Office Field Unit and Country Office levels.

Living and Working Conditions:

Peshawar is a category E non-family high-risk duty station. The Sub-Office is situated at
the University Town- a safe and secure location approved by UNDSS. The Office and
Guest House are located within the same compound. International staff and visitors live
in the Guest house which consists of 11 self-contained rooms that are fully equipped and
furnished with various amenities. All rooms in the guest house have air conditioners hot
water and satellite TV. A gym is also available in the compound. Staff rely on dedicated
chefs for daily meals. There are level 2 and 3 government as well as private health service
providers available; however for serious medical conditions patients are referred to
Islamabad for treatment. The R&R cycle is six weeks. The electricity supply is unstable
resulting in blackouts. However UNHCR has reliable backup power generators to supply
electricity.

Known as the City on the Frontier Peshawars strategic location on the crossroads of
Central Asia and South Asia has made the major educational political and business center of KP province. Temperatures in Peshawar vary depending on the the Winter which starts from mid-November to March temperature could fall to about 4 degrees Celsius while Summer which starts from May to September could record temperatures up to 40 degrees Celsius. Staff should carry heavy warm clothing in winter months and cotton clothing is recommended where possible in summer months.

The incumbent will be posted in an urban location where outdoor air pollution is a health
concern. Exposure to air pollutants can be detrimental to one s health and contribute to
breathing problems development of chronic diseases and deterioration of health status
in individuals with chronic diseases. It has been linked to increased hospitalizations
disability and early death from respiratory diseases heart disease stroke lung cancer
and diabetes as well as communicable diseases like pneumonia. For more information
about living and working conditions in Pakistan please follow the below link:

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Bachelor of Arts: Business Administration Bachelor of Arts: Economics Bachelor of Arts: Law Bachelor of Arts: Public Administration Bachelor of Arts: Social Science

Certifications

Programme Management - Other

Competencies

Accountability Analytical thinking Client & results orientation Commitment to continuous learning Communication Empowering & building trust Judgement & decision making Managing resource Organizational awareness Planning & organizing Political awareness Teamwork & collaboration

Bi-Annual 2026 Compendium - Part B

Additional Information

This position doesnt require a functional clearance