Assistant Protection Officer

December 10, 2025

A (least hardship)

FamilyFamily

NOA

National Professional Officer

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2026-01-01

Assistant Protection Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Assistant Protection Officer reports to the Protection Officer or the Senior Protection Officer. Depending on the size and structure of the Office, the incumbent may have supervisory responsibility for protection staff including community-based protection, registration, resettlement and education. S/he provides functional protection guidance to information management and programme staff on all protection/legal matters and accountabilities. These include: statelessness (in line with the campaign to End Statelessness by 2024), Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) commitments, age, gender, diversity (AGD) and accountability to affected populations (AAP) through community-based protection, Child protection, Gender-Based Violence (GBV) prevention and response, gender equality, disability inclusion, youth empowerment, psycho-social support and PSEA, registration, asylum/refugee status determination, resettlement, local integration, voluntary repatriation, human rights standards integration, national legislation, judicial engagement, predictable and decisive engagement in situations of internal displacement and engagement in wider mixed movement and climate change/disaster-related displacement responses. S/he supervises protection standards, operational procedures and practices in protection delivery in line with international standards.

The Assistant Protection Officer is expected to coordinate quality, timely and effective protection responses to the needs of populations of concern (PoC), ensuring that operational responses in all sectors mainstream protection methodologies and integrate protection safeguards. The incumbent contributes to the design of a comprehensive protection strategy and represents the Organization externally on protection doctrine and policy as guided by the supervisor. S/he also ensures that PoC are meaningfully engaged in the decisions that affect them and support programme design and adaptations that are influenced by the concerns, priorities and capacities of them. To achieve this, the incumbent will need to build and maintain effective interfaces with communities of concern, authorities, protection and assistance partners as well as a broader network of 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 UNHCR's 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 legal advice and guidance on protection issues to PoC; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documentation.
- Conduct eligibility and status determination for PoC in compliance with UNHCR procedural standards and international protection principles.
- Promote and 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.
- Provide inputs for the development of protection policies and standards within the AoR.
- Implement and monitor Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities.
- Manage individual protection cases including those on GBV and child protection. Monitor, and intervene in cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents.
- Recommend durable solutions for the largest possible number of PoC through voluntary repatriation, local integration and where appropriate, resettlement.
- Assess resettlement needs and apply priorities for the resettlement of individuals and groups of refugees and other PoC.
- 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.
- Contribute to and facilitate effective information management through the provision of disaggregated data on populations of concern and their problems.
- Assist capacity-building initiatives for communities and individuals to assert their rights.
- Participate in initiatives to capacitate authorities, relevant institutions and NGOs to strengthen national protection related legislation and procedures.
- Intervene with authorities on protection issues.
- Assist the supervisor in deciding priorities for reception, interviewing and counselling for groups or individuals.
- Assist the supervisor in enforcing compliance of staff and implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services.
- Enforce compliance with, and integrity of, all protection standard operating procedures.

- 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 P1/NOA - 1 year relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or no experience with Graduate degree; or no experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
Law,

International Law,

Political Sciences
or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses
Not specified;

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Knowledge of International Refugee and Human Rights Law and ability to apply the relevant legal principles

Desirable
Not specified.

Functional Skills
*PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators
*PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD)
MG-Project Management
PR-Human Rights Doctrine/Standards
PR-International Humanitarian Law
PR-Assessment of IDPs Status, Rights, Obligation
PR-Climate change and disaster related displacement
CO-Drafting and Documentation
PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) 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.

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.

Recruitment as a UNHCR staff member and engagement under a UNHCR affiliate scheme or as an intern is subject to successful reference checks, and integrity clearances.

PLEASE DO NOT USE TURKISH CHARACTERS IN YOUR NAME & SURNAME INFORMATION.

Staff members should serve for a minimum of one year following assignment before being considered eligible to apply for another position within the same category. This requirement is waived in respect of staff members whose position is being changed or whose assignment/appointment through the joint staff/management review body is in a replacement capacity.

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

Only short-listed candidates will be notified. The recruitment process might include written test and/or oral interview for this job opening. No late applications will be accepted.

The primary nationality of the candidate should be Turkish. The minimum educational requirement for this position is a completed university degree.

For further information on how to apply, please visit the ‘UNHCR - Application and Selection’ page, at https://www.unhcr.org/how-to-apply.html.


UNHCR seeks a dynamic national officer who will strengthen the integrity function of the Protection Unit by preventing, detecting and responding to fraud committed by refugees, asylum-seekers and stateless persons. The ideal candidate will combine solid protection expertise with proven investigative skills and an un-compromising commitment to UNHCR’s zero-tolerance approach to fraud and corruption.


Essential qualifications & experience

• First-level university degree (law, international relations, criminology, social sciences or related).
• Minimum one year of professional experience in protection, compliance, investigations or anti-fraud work.
• Demonstrated familiarity with UN/UNHCR integrity standards and anti-fraud safeguards, including mandatory fraud-prevention and PSEA training modules.
• Sound knowledge of international refugee-protection and statelessness frameworks and the rights of forcibly displaced and stateless persons.
• Experience gathering, analysing and presenting evidence for administrative or disciplinary action.


Core competencies & technical skills

1. Integrity & Accountability – models UNHCR’s corporate duty to ensure integrity and accountability across operations; applies zero-tolerance to fraud, corruption and sexual exploitation/abuse.

2. Protection Expertise – applies refugee-law principles, understands case-management systems and can advise on RSD, registration and identity-management processes that mitigate fraud.

3. Investigative Acumen – able to plan and conduct interviews, review documentation, draft investigation reports and recommend remedial action.

4. Risk Analysis – identifies fraud patterns, assesses protection risks and proposes preventative controls.

5. Capacity-building – designs and delivers practical training for staff, partners and community focal points on fraud awareness, complaints-and-feedback mechanisms and whistle-blower protection.

6. Partnership & Community Engagement – works respectfully with refugee, asylum-seeker and stateless communities and with refugee-led organisations to promote rights-based, community-centred fraud-prevention initiatives.

7. Communication – writes clear analytical reports, briefs senior management and liaises effectively with government, law-enforcement and UN counterparts.


Personal attributes

• Unquestionable ethical standards and discretion; able to handle sensitive information securely.

• Strong analytical mind-set, attention to detail and ability to work under pressure with minimal supervision.

• Commitment to inclusion, age-gender-diversity (AGD) principles and survivor-centred approaches.

• Team-oriented, with proven ability to foster a culture of trust and accountability.

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit this link: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Nature of Position:

Türkiye continues to host the largest number of refugees worldwide, where currently the country hosts 2,395,996  registered Syrian refugees along with close to 120,018 refugees

and asylum seekers from other nationalities. Most refugees reside within local communities and the Government of Türkiye is taking the lead in the refugee response, where they

established a solid asylum legal framework and policies, to include people of concern into national services. UNHCR's support the Government of Türkiye in responding to refugees’

specific needs and maintaining protection environment.

 

The strategic directions of UNHCR in Türkiye include:

(a) People in need of international protection have access to quality, fair and efficient procedures in line with international law and the national legal framework.

(b) People in need of international protection have access to essential and social services.

(c) Refugees participate in social and economic life harmoniously with the host community.

(d) Refugees have opportunities for suitable and sustainable solutions based on their individual needs.

(e) People in need of international protection and the host community benefit from coordinated support from a wide range of actors.

 

UNHCR supports a diverse and complex range of activities to support the well-being of refugees. These include providing support to governmental institutions and NGO partners to

deliver registration and refugee status determination services at both central and provincial levels, provision of diverse protection services and referrals, livelihood activities,

Education, and cash assistance. The collaboration with the national authority responsible for the implementation of the Law on International Protection is a key aspect of UNHCR's operations. This involves supporting the delivery of registration and refugee status determination services at both central and provincial levels. Furthermore, UNHCR has 14 partners of governmental institutions and national NGOs across Türkiye to deliver the support, where UNHCR works closely with them and committed to enhancing their capacity in addition to the capacity of communitybased organizations (CBOs) by focusing on areas such as project management, procurement, and protection.

Living and Working Conditions:

Ankara is the capital city of Türkiye and has a modern developed infrastructure with sufficient availability of education, health, transportation and other public services. Various types of accommodation are on offer in the housing market. It has a continental climate with cold, snowy winters due to its elevation and inland location, and hot, dry summers. Rainfall occurs mostly during the spring and fall. The general security situation in Ankara remains calm and stable. There have been no serious security incidents recorded in Ankara since 2016. UNHCR security management is guided by the UN Common Security Management System and security advisories are shared with staff as and when required.
 

Additional Qualifications

Skills

CO-Drafting and Documentation, MG-Project Management, PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD), PR-Assessment of IDPs Status, Rights, Obligation, PR-Climate change and disaster related displacement, PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) Coordination, PR-Human Rights Doctrine/Standards, PR-International Humanitarian Law, PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators

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

Certifications

Competencies

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

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Compendium

Additional Information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance