Assistant Protection Officer

January 18, 2026

H (no hardship)

FamilyFamily

NOA

National Professional Officer

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2026-03-01

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.

- UNHCR, government or NGO experience, including in field settings, of identity management, refugee protection and durable solutions policy and processes.
- Experienced in leading and managing small functional teams with a strong focus on team development, mentoring, and empowering individuals to enhance performance and achieve collective goals.
- Demonstrated advocacy or negotiation skills in a humanitarian context.
- Preferred capability regarding operational data management, including familiarity with PRIMES tools, and compilation, analysis and reporting of statistics.
- Project management experience is beneficial, including application, implementation and reporting processes.
- Demonstrated ability to liaise effectively with government and external partners in support of UNHCR priorities and objectives.
- Demonstrated ability to provide strategic leadership by fostering cross-functional collaboration and cultivating multi-sector partnerships, engaging diverse stakeholders to align priorities, leverage resources, and deliver integrated, high-impact solutions.
- Proven ability to work flexibly and professionally under pressure, with strong adaptability to changing circumstances.
- Strong problem-solving, organizational, and time management skills, with attention to details, ability to multitask and meet deadlines.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills in English, including preparation of formal legal submissions.
- High standards of professionalism, integrity, and discretion, with respect for diversity and confidentiality.
- Must be physically based in Canberra and work in the office.

Eligibility:
Candidates must be Australian nationals or have legal working status in Australia. For dual citizens, the UN recognizes the one that has the nationality of the country where the office is located.

Remuneration:
A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. For information on UN salaries, allowances, and benefits, please visit the portal of the International Civil Service Commission at: http://icsc.un.org
No late applications will be accepted. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Shortlisted candidates may be required to sit for a written test and/or oral interview. UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing, or any other fees).
UNHCR strongly encourages qualified female applicants for this position. UNHCR seeks to ensure that male and female employees are given equal career opportunities. UNHCR is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, and culture. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.
UNHCR has a zero-tolerance policy against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA). SEA is unacceptable behavior and prohibited conduct for UNHCR personnel. It constitutes acts of serious misconduct and is therefore grounds for disciplinary measures, including dismissal. Any concerns or suspicions about a possible case of SEA should be reported immediately to the Inspector General’s Office (IGO) at inspector@unhcr.org through the online complain form at https://www.unhcr.org/php/complaints.php or by confidential fax: +41 22 739 73 80.

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

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

Nature of Position:

The Assistant Protection Officer will serve as a key member of the UNHCR’s Multi-Country Office (MCO) in Canberra. The MCO is tasked with promoting refugee protection and durable solutions across Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific region—including the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.  The Multi-Country Office (MCO) also addresses statelessness and engages a diverse range of stakeholders, including government officials, parliamentarians, NGOs, civil society, other UN agencies, humanitarian and development actors, private sector partners, donors, and refugee-led organisations.

 

The Assistant Protection Officer reports to the Senior Protection Officer and will have thematic responsibility for defined areas of the protection and solutions planning, implementation and reporting activities of the MCO.  The Assistant Protection Officer will have supervisory and managerial responsibility for one-two junior staff or affiliates supporting the relevant areas. 

 

Regarding the operation more broadly, in its 2026-2029 Multi Year Strategy, the MCO is prioritizing life-saving and life-altering protection and solutions work, along with sustainable responses including transitions to State-led protection, with a focus on outcome areas associated with law and policy, access to territory and resettlement.

 

The MCO’s area of responsibility spans a very large geographic region and a wide spectrum of development and protection contexts.  It responds to thousands of requests for assistance from persons under UNHCR’s mandate globally (the majority seeking advice on protection, solutions or family reunion in Australia or New Zealand) or within the MCO’s region (regarding issues of detention, access to territory, family separation, pressure to return, or related protection or solutions concerns).  Managing this communication supports the evidence base and insight needed by the MCO for its supervisory role and advocacy on systemic reform across the region.

 

Key issues of concern to the MCO include access to asylum, the increasing use of externalisation, addressing risks of statelessness, and reducing reliance on held detention in immigration contexts.  The MCO’s multi-year strategy continues to focus on asylum reform in Australia and New Zealand, as well as capacity development in priority locations in the Pacific.  Legal reforms of the use of detention in New Zealand remain to be fully implemented following the Casey Review, and access to territory, differentiated standards of asylum, and externalisation remain significant systemic law and policy issues in Australia.  The MCO operates in a region which is on the frontline of climate impacts, which are a risk multiplier for displacement and statelessness.  This applies equally to migrants, refugees, or internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the context of environmental degradation and loss of territory resulting from climate change.

 

Additionally, Australia and New Zealand are established resettlement States, each implementing longstanding programs to provide protection and solutions to vulnerable refugees according to global allocations.  Each is also developing the avenues available for complementary protection and family reunion.  The MCO works closely with governments in a supervisory and advisory capacity on the policy and implementation of these programs.  

 

At an operational level, the MCO supports Pacific States to respond to asylum movements, including through monitoring and assistance with identity management, refugee status determination, and outgoing resettlement in exceptional circumstances where individuals face acute protection risks.

Living and Working Conditions:

 

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