Deadline for Applications
Hardship Level
Family Type
Residential location (if applicable)
Grade
Staff Member / Affiliate Type
Reason
Regular > Regular AssignmentTarget Start Date
Standard Job Description
Head of Field Unit
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The position is under direct supervision and guidance of the Representative/Head of Sub/Field-Office on issues concerning programme, protection, external relations, etc. Advice and operational support may also be received from other senior staff and support units at the Branch Office and from the Bureau at Headquarters.
The incumbent represents UNHCR at the field level. S/he will persuade and obtain assistance of others on matters of non-routine significance. Contacts predominantly with persons on subject matters of importance to Organization¿s programmes (e.g. counterparts in other organizations or at working level in national Governments).
While the functional responsibility of a Head of Field Unit will remain the same despite its grade level, the other parameters (therefore the depth and breadth of the competencies) such as the size of the forcibly displaced and stateless persons to UNHCR, their specific legal/security concerns, volume of assistance, number of operational / Implementing partners and the size of the Office (i.e. number of UNHCR staff and their grade levels) will determine the appropriate grade level. The operational autonomy also depends upon the same parameters/competencies. The supervisor exercises regular oversight and provides guidance, direction and support to the incumbent.
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
- Monitor and report on the implementation of refugee conventional responsibilities and international obligations of the local authorities vis-à-vis the forcibly displaced and stateless persons to UNHCR within the AOR.
- Advocate and promote UNHCR standards concerning the treatment of forcibly displaced and stateless persons .
- Ensure that the basic needs of the forcibly displaced and stateless persons are properly assessed with the participation of the beneficiaries themselves, the host governments and/or the competent Implementing partners and/or UNHCR itself.
- Subject to the needs, ensure that the planning, formulation and budgeting of identified assistance projects are done as per UNHCR programme cycle; upon approval of assistance project, ensure the timely implementation and monitoring of identified assistance activities.
- Ensure through the subordinate staff that deadlines for monitoring and reporting of UNHCR operational activities are met on a regular basis.
- Manage UNHCR resources, both human, financial/material, at an optimum level for the wellbeing of the forcibly displaced and stateless persons and the UNHCR staff.
- Ensure that security measures of UNHCR office (and residential, wherever applicable) compounds are always up to date; any security breaches and/or potential security threat should be reported immediately to competent UN security coordinator in the country.
- Ensure that staff welfare, both in terms of working and living conditions, are maintained at a satisfactory level within the constraints in the operational area.
- Guide, coach and advocate the subordinate staff to maintain highest standards of conduct and behaviour thorough one¿s own practice and deeds.
- Prepare and submit regular reports, both verbally and written, to the UNHCR Representative/HoSO/HoFO. In the event of substantial telephone conversation that leads to specific action or non-action, it should be recorded and share with the other party.
- Any other responsibilities/functions deemed necessary or as delegated by the UNHCR Representative of the country in order to meet the level of the services in the organization.
- Represent UNHCR in inter-agency fora and with local authorities in the AOR.
- Enforce compliance with UNHCR¿s global protection, programme, finance, human resources and security policies and standards.
- Submit project proposals for assistance to refugees and other forcibly displaced and stateless persons to UNHCR Representation or Sub-Office in coordination with local authorities and NGOs.
- Lead risk assessments and discussions with team(s) to proactively manage risks and seize opportunities impacting objectives. Ensure that risk management principles are integrated in decision-making both at strategic and operational levels. Allocate resources for planned treatments with resource requirements in Strategic Plans. Ensure that risks are managed to acceptable levels and escalate, as needed. If a Risk Owner, designate the Risk Focal Point and certify that the annual risk review is completed and ensure that the risk register is updated during the year, as needed.
- 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
Business Administration; Economics; International Relations;
Law; Management; Political Science;
or other relevant field.
Certificates and/or Licenses
Programme Mgmt
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Knowledge of UNHCR mandate and its Field level application. Applied knowledge of protection principles, operational arrangements/standards in relation to protection, assistance, UNHCR office management and staff administration.
Desirable
Not specified.
Functional Skills
*UN-UN/UNHCR Mandate and Global Strategic Priorities
*IT-Computer Literacy
*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.
Desired Candidate Profile
Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):
,
Ukrainian,
Desired languages
,
,
Operational context
To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel.
This position oversees the work of the Lviv Field Unit, which covers the entire western region of Ukraine. The incumbent is expected to demonstrate strong knowledge of UNHCR planning and management tools, protection standards, and cooperation with UN sister agencies and development partners.The incumbent will be accountable for all activities implemented directly or through partners within the Lviv Field Unit’s area of responsibility. A hands-on approach is therefore essential to ensure strong communication and coordination with UNHCR colleagues and partners.
Ukraine is currently designated as a non-family country location, with Dnipro and Kharkiv classified as “E” duty stations and Odesa as a “D” duty station with 4-week R&R cycle, whereas Kyiv and Lviv are classified as “D” duty station with 6-week RR Cycle and Budapest being a designated R&R location for all duty stations. English is not widely spoken, access to hard currency is possible from local banks (rents are normally paid in USD). International staff rent private apartments in the cities of their duty stations. The quality of life is of average European standard, with relatively solid infrastructure. However, the volatile security situation, which includes frequent missile and drone attacks that trigger air raid alarms, requiring immediate move to the shelters (frequently during nights) affects the living and working environment on everyday basis resulting with sleep deprivation, high levels of stress, affecting the staff welfare and wellbeing. In addition, due to massive attacks on the country’s critical infrastructure there are frequent and prolonged electricity power cuts, coupled with lack of generators in private multistorey buildings and apartments, which may also affect elevators, heating, water, and possible sewage systems, leading to an overall unpredictable and at times difficult living situation, especially in winter. Due to the state of war, there is a country wide curfew in place from 00:00-05:00 every day. Also, all airports are closed, and air-traffic is not available, resulting in travel within and in and out from/to Ukraine being done mainly by car and local trains, supported by official shuttle for Poland and Moldova border crossing. Average train ride combined with shuttle by road from Kyiv to Poland, Hungary or Moldova airports ranges from 11-17 hours with train tickets selling very quickly. Movement between different locations within and outside Ukraine is not allowed during workdays and weekends/public holidays unless there is a specific approval from the Agency Representative.
General Operational Context
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has been present in Ukraine since 1994 and substantially increased its presence and response after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The geographical presence within Ukraine has significatively expanded to deliver the emergency response. The country office is located in the capital, Kyiv, and sub- and field offices are currently located in Dnipro, Kyiv, L’viv, Odesa and Kharkiv.
The war in Ukraine has caused death and suffering on a dramatic scale. In 2025, more than 12.7 million people are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance and protection, according to the 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan. Some 3.7 million people are internally displaced, while around 6.8 million refugees from Ukraine are recorded across Europe and beyond. Some 75,000 people, including some of the most vulnerable notable older people and people with disabilities, live in collective sites spread across the country. Ukraine also hosts asylum-seekers and refugees and is home to thousands of people who are stateless or at risk of statelessness.
The massive destruction of civilian infrastructure, with the energy sector being particularly targeted has made life extremely challenging for millions of people who have lost their homes and livelihoods, and has severely disrupted access to electricity, water, heating as well as critical services, including healthcare, education and social protection services. Humanitarian access continues to be hampered, particularly in frontline areas as well as to areas under temporary occupation of the Russian Federation. Civilians remain exposed to serious risks to their physical security and integrity, particularly in eastern and southern regions of Ukraine. The risk of GBV, including sexual violence, continues to prevail, alongside family separations, loss of housing and properties, as well as identity and civil documentation. Populations displaced or otherwise affected by the war live in situations of deprivation, following the loss or damage of their housing, loss of income, and often become dependent on an overstretched social protection system.
The Government of Ukraine maintains a strong lead role in responding to the needs of its population and UNHCR supports the Government and its central and local institutions to provide protection, shelter/housing, cash and in-kind assistance to displaced and other people impacted by the war. Currently, UNHCR has MOUs with five-line ministries, the First Lady’s foundation as well as the Office of the Ombudsman, 19 regional state administrations and agreements with 14 partners to deliver assistance and support the localization of the response.
Under the leadership of the UN Humanitarian Coordinator, UNHCR operates as part of the Inter-agency humanitarian response, working in close coordination with local authorities and humanitarian partners. UNHCR is leading three clusters - Protection, Shelter and NFIs, and CCCM. The strategic orientation of UNHCR’s response is to reach people, particularly those with specific vulnerabilities, who remain in frontline and heavily affected areas with immediate relief while supporting displaced people and those who have remained in their homes, or returned, with protection advice, housing support, livelihoods advice and cash assistance to enable their recovery and attainment of durable solutions.
Protection needs to be truly at the center of this response, as the highest critical needs of the population caused by the international armed conflict are in the area of protection. Since Ukraine is a highly sophisticated country with a strong government leadership and well-established administrative, social protection and digital systems, it is essential to design and deliver UNHCR’s protection programs in a way which simultaneously addresses immediate needs and supports the further development of sustainable and inclusive national protection systems.
With the EU having voted to confirm Ukraine’s accession to the EU at the end of 2023, Ukraine will also embark on a series of substantial and long-term reforms in numerous sectors, including justice and home affairs, which presents an opportunity to contribute to strengthened and more inclusive protection, asylum and statelessness reduction systems. Working closely with government authorities, local community representatives and partners from the embassies, UN, civil society and international financial institutions, amongst others, is thus key to ensuring that UNHCR’s response is closely aligned with and complementary of national and local strategies and recovery plans.
As the war continues, new urgent humanitarian needs are created every day, alongside protracted ones and peoples’ and communities’ efforts to recover and rebuild their lives in war-torn communities. Among the IDPs and refugees from Ukraine, the majority express a hope and desire to return to their homes as soon as the security situation allows. The protection needs of the population thus need to be analyzed and addressed both from a humanitarian as well as from an early recovery and durable solutions perspective, with UNHCR playing a leading role in this work.
Security:
The international armed conflict in Ukraine is ongoing and the Russian Federation Armed Forces temporarily occupy parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions. The frontline is the primary area of kinetic military operations, particularly in the eastern, and southeastern regions, and north of Kharkiv. Cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, aero-ballistic missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been targeting vital civilian and military sites, including airports, since the start of the invasion. As a result, commercial air travel is suspended, and vehicles and trains are the only modes of transportation. Since 2023, there has been an increase in attacks targeting civilian infrastructure throughout the country.
Whilst the UN has not been targeted directly, the threat of collateral damage continues to remain in place, with cases of UNHCR IPs reporting collateral damages, and several humanitarian workers recorded as been killed and injured since the start of the full-scale invasion. The UN Security Management System (UNSMS) applies a comprehensive Security Risk Management (SRM) process to identify security threats and evaluate risk levels. The security risk levels are regularly reviewed. Currently, the most significant threats and hazards are associated with the international armed conflict, with current risk levels ranging from “high” to “Very High” or “Unacceptable” in areas with ongoing hostilities.
This has resulted in a decrease of humanitarian space, making it difficult and sometimes impossible to access people in need in frontline areas. When assessing risk levels, the security personnel and the UNHCR Representative, as part of the country’s Security Management Team, adhere to the SRM process as defined by the UNSMS. In general, the projected risk level in all three SRM areas where the UN/HCR operates is “High”.
Therefore, applicants for positions in Ukraine should be prepared to work in a highly dynamic security environment where unexpected events occur frequently. Air raids are common, and staff may be required to work from bunkers or underground car parks, metro stations, and other locations for extended periods. Power and water outages are to be expected and will make life more challenging during the winter months. Depending on the evolution of the war, disruptions to public services such as shops, banks, and restaurants may occur. Curfews are in place throughout the country, and mission travel must be authorized by the Representative or designated managers, subject to the completion of mandatory BSAFE, SSAFE, and IFAK training and security clearance procedures. Private trips within the country are prohibited for international staff.
The Field Security Unit works closely with UNDSS and other interlocutors of the UNSMS to ensure that program activities can be implemented within the acceptable level of risk by following the required measures and procedures set up and approved by the Designated Official. Due to the country's evolving operational and security environment, UNHCR needs to maintain strong security contingency preparedness supporting its mandate of providing protection and assistance to people in need.
Additional Qualifications
Skills
IT-Computer Literacy, PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework, UN-UN/UNHCR Mandate and Global Strategic PrioritiesEducation
Certifications
Programme Management - OtherWork Experience
Competencies
Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Managing performance, Managing resource, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Political awareness, Teamwork & collaborationUNHCR Salary Calculator
https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales
Additional Information
Functional clearance