Assistant RSD Officer

April 29, 2026

A (least hardship)

Family

NOA

National Professional Officer

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2026-06-01

Assistant RSD Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The Assistant RSD Officer is a member of the Refugee Status Determination (RSD) team. S/he is responsible for conducting RSD interviews to determine eligibility for refugee status, undertaking country of origin (COI) and other research related to the claim, as required, and drafting RSD assessments. The Assistant RSD Officer provides counselling to asylum seekers and refugees on UNHCR's RSD procedures and on their status, rights and obligations in the country of asylum. S/he may review RSD assessments of less experienced members of the RSD team, seeking the advice of a more senior RSD/Protection Officer on complex cases, and may assist in developing and implementing RSD training and other measures to enhance the quality and efficiency of RSD decision-making.

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 legal, political, security and other developments which impact on the protection environment, and in particular, on protection delivery through RSD.
- Assist in the development of the RSD strategy of the operation and in the annual planning exercise.
- Conduct RSD interviews and draft RSD Assessments in accordance with applicable standards and guidelines.
- Review and endorse RSD decisions and provide appropriate feedback and guidance to RSD staff.
- Maintain accurate and up-to date records and data related to work on individual cases.
- Provide counselling to asylum seekers and refugees.
- Assist in preventing and identifying fraud in RSD through oversight, advice and guidance to UNHCR staff, partners and persons of concern.
- Assist in monitoring RSD trends and in compiling and analysing RSD statistics related to RSD case processing to identify and respond to developments or issues impacting on the efficiency or quality of RSD decision-making, and to propose remedial measures.
- Conduct research on country of origin information (COI) and legal issues related to RSD and assist in maintaining a local repository of relevant information, guidelines and standards accessible to RSD staff in the operation
- Ensure that persons of concern, Government authorities and legal partners have accurate information on the RSD procedures, including UNHCR standards, policy and practice.
- Assist in developing and maintaining processes to ensure that persons of concern, Government authorities and partners have accurate information on the RSD procedures, including UNHCR standards, policies and practice.
- Assist in initiatives to advocate with and support Government authorities and legal partners to establish and strengthen fair and efficient RSD procedures and RSD decision-making.
- Assist in evaluating and projecting RSD staffing needs using the RSD Staffing Benchmarks.
- Decide and endorse RSD decisions.

- 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 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; Political Science;
International Relations; or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses
HCR RSD Lrng Programme;
HCR Cntry of Orig Inf Lrng Prg;
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Minimum 1 year of relevant professional job experience, preferably in the area of refugee protection, human rights or international humanitarian law. Knowledge of International Refugee Law and Human Rights Law and ability to apply the relevant legal principles.
Desirable
Working experience with procedures and principles related to RSD is highly desirable. Experience as a decision-maker in UNHCR or Government RSD procedures. Experience in counselling asylum seekers or refugees. Experience in working with vulnerable or traumatized individuals.

Functional Skills
DM-Data Collection and Analysis
PR-Counselling Asylum Seekers or Refugees
CO-Drafting and Documentation
LE-Legal Research
PR-RSD - Principles and Procedures, operational arrangements/assistance
SO-Research
PR-Government Refugee Status Determination (RSD) procedures
WB-Treatment of vulnerable/traumatized individuals
(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.

The desired candidate for the Assistant RSD Officer position should meet the following criteria:

Technical Expertise: Demonstrated knowledge and practical experience in RSD procedures and standards, including the development, implementation and review of SOPs. Proven ability to ensure compliance with established policies, with particular attention to data protection, integrity and quality assurance.

Supervisory Experience: Proven ability to provide legal and procedural guidance to RSD staff, including coaching, mentoring and the design and delivery of targeted training and capacity-sharing initiatives to strengthen consistency and decision-making quality.

Integrity and Fraud Prevention: Experience in identifying, preventing and mitigating fraud and integrity risks through effective oversight, clear guidance, and engagement with UNHCR personnel, partners, refugees and asylum-seekers, in line with UNHCR’s accountability and protection principles.

Leadership and Management: Strong managerial, organizational and leadership skills with a demonstrated track record of effective team leadership, performance management, and team building. Ability to foster a collaborative and result-oriented working environment to support the implementation of UNHCR Malaysia’s Protection and Solutions Strategy.

Strategic Planning and Analysis: Ability to develop, implement, and adapt the RSD strategy and work plan in alignment with broader protection and solutions objectives. Proficiency in data collection, analysis and reporting, including use of proGres and statistical tools, to monitor decision-making trends, quality and operational efficiency.

Government Engagement: Capacity to engage constructively with national and other relevant authorities to support the development or enhancement of asylum systems, including participation in capacity-sharing initiatives, technical exchanges, and coordination initiatives.

Language and Communication: Proficiency in Bahasa Malaysia is important for effective communication and engagement with national stakeholders. Strong interpersonal and communication skills are required for coordination and collaboration with multiple stakeholders.

Additional Information:

Candidates must be Malaysian nationals.

The minimum educational requirement for NPO positions is a completed university degree. UNHCR only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/.

Shortlisted candidates may be required to sit for a test. No late applications will be accepted. UNHCR is committed to diversity and welcomes applications from qualified candidates regardless of disability, gender identity, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour or ethnic and national origins, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, training or any other fees).

Malay

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

For information on occupational safety and health considerations relevant to this duty station, please refer to the following link: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Nature of Position:

Malaysia hosts a significant population of refugees and asylum-seekers, primarily from Myanmar, as well as from over 60 other countries including Pakistan, Yemen, Afghanistan and Somalia.

Malaysia has adopted policies aimed at strengthening the national response to forced displacement, including through the introduction of the government-led refugee registration system, the Dokumen Pendaftaran Pelarian (DPP). These efforts reflect an important step towards a structured, predictable, and nationally owned approach to protecting people forced to flee their country.

UNHCR works closely with the Government of Malaysia toward establishing a national asylum framework. UNHCR remains committed to supporting the Government through technical advice, capacity sharing and cooperation, drawing on international standards and comparative practices.

Under its mandate, UNHCR Malaysia conducts Refugee Status Determination (RSD). The case processing strategy prioritizes individuals with urgent protection needs and vulnerabilities.

The Assistant RSD Officer, based in Kuala Lumpur, serves as the Head of the RSD Unit and reports to the Protection Officer. The role provides legal, operational, and strategic oversight of UNHCR’s mandate RSD activities in Malaysia. Responsibilities include quality assurance of RSD assessments, endorsement of decisions in accordance with procedural standards, and implementation of anti-fraud, integrity, and data protection measures.

The Assistant RSD Officer leads and manages the RSD Unit, by providing legal and procedural guidance, monitoring staff performance and teamwork, and analyzing decision-making trends. The role also includes delivering training and capacity-building initiatives to ensure consistency, efficiency and quality across RSD procedures.

As the Result Manager for RSD-related outcomes, the Assistant RSD Officer contributes to the development and implementation of the Multi-Year Protection and Solutions Strategy, including monitoring progress and reporting on results.

The role also supports engagement with government authorities to strengthen national asylum capacities and works closely with senior managers, RSD staff, colleagues in registration and resettlement as well as with focal points in the HQ and the Regional Bureau.

Living and Working Conditions:

Kuala Lumpur is a modern and developed urban working environment. It is a category A duty station. Infrastructure, entertainment, medical and schooling services are of a good quality and readily available, albeit schooling is very expensive (given currently inadequate education grant support).

A seasonal environmental concern is severe air pollution caused by burning palm plantations in Indonesia and Malaysia. The severity of some months has resulted in schools being closed and WHO putting out a health warning for individuals who have respiratory and related health challenges.
 

Security Considerations:
Malaysia is classified as a UNDSS Security Level 2 (low risk) duty station. While the overall security environment remains stable, several emerging and persistent risks require attention.

Terrorism remains a concern despite ongoing government efforts to combat extremism. In 2024, multiple individuals were convicted for supporting terrorist organizations such as Daesh and IS, highlighting the continued threat of radicalization and online extremist propaganda.

Crime trends show a significant rise in fraud-related offenses, particularly cybercrime and online scams. In 2024 alone, over RM1.5 billion in losses were reported due to scams, with actual figures likely higher due to underreporting. Financial fraud, identity theft, and digital scams are increasingly sophisticated, posing risks to both the general population and vulnerable communities, including refugees.

Drug-related crimes have also escalated, with Malaysia continuing to serve as a transit hub for narcotics. Authorities seized over 100 tons of drugs in 2024, and nearly 250,000 individuals were arrested for drug-related offenses.

LGBTQI+ individuals face legal and social risks. Same-sex relations are criminalized under Malaysian law, and LGBTQI+ persons may face persecution, discrimination, and harassment. This legal framework poses significant protection concerns for LGBTQI+ asylum-seekers and refugees, who may be at heightened risk of arrest, abuse, or denial of services.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

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

Certifications

HCR Country of Origin Information Learning Program - UNHCR, HCR RSD Learning Program - UNHCR

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Judgement & decision making, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Teamwork & collaboration

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

Compendium

Additional Information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance