Protection Associate

December 7, 2025

A (least hardship)

FamilyFamily

GS6

General Service

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2025-12-01

Protection Associate

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Protection Associate normally reports to the Protection Officer or the Senior Protection Officer. The incumbent monitors protection standards, operational procedures and practices in protection delivery in line with international standards and provides functional protection support to information management and programme staff.

The Protection Associate is expected to coordinate quality, timely and effective protection responses to the needs of populations of concern (PoC) and identify opportunities to mainstream protection methodologies and integrate protection safeguards in operational responses in all sectors. S/he contributes to designing a comprehensive protection strategy and liaises externally with authorities and partners on protection doctrine and policy as guided by the supervisor.

The Protection Associate also ensures that PoC are involved in making decisions that affect them, whether in accessing their rights or in identifying appropriate solutions to their problems. To achieve this, the incumbent will need to build and maintain effective interfaces with communities of concern, local authorities and protection and assistance partners.

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 advice on protection issues to PoC; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documentation.
- Assist in conducting eligibility and status determination for PoC.
- 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.
- 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.
- Assist in identifying durable solutions for the largest possible number of PoC through voluntary repatriation, local integration and where appropriate, resettlement.
- Contribute to the design, implementation and evaluation of protection related AGD based programming with implementing and operational partners.
- Facilitate effective information management through the provision of disaggregated data on PoC and their problems.
- Participate in initiatives to capacitate authorities, relevant institutions and NGOs to strengthen national protection related legislation and procedures.
- Assist the supervisor in prioritizing PoC for interview, counselling and propose protection support for individual cases.
- Assist the supervisor with enforcing compliance of local implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services.
- Assit the supervisor with enforcing compliance with, and integrity of, all protection standard operating procedures.
- Submit individual payments request for PoC for approval.

- 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 G6 - 3 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Field(s) of Education
Not applicable

Certificates and/or Licenses
International Law, Political Science
or other related field
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Not specified

Desirable
Protection Learning Programme

Functional Skills
IT-Computer Literacy
PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework
PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators
(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.

Nature of the Position (Operational Context):

Over recent years, Mexico has evolved from being predominantly a country of origin and transit for refugees and asylum-seekers to becoming a significant country of destination for hundreds of thousands of individuals seeking international protection from within the region and beyond. The Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance (COMAR) has registered claims from more than one hundred nationalities. The exponential growth in the number of asylum applications - reaching a record high of over 140,000 in 2023, followed by approximately 80,000 in 2024 and around 40,000 in the first half of 2025 - continues to pose major challenges to Mexico’s asylum system. Currently, an average of 250 new asylum applications are submitted daily, mostly in Tapachula, Mexico City, Monterrey and Tijuana. UNHCR’s strategy in Mexico aims to safeguard the asylum space by strengthening the institutional capacity of COMAR and ensuring efficient processing and adjudication of claims, promoting access to alternative legal pathways for individuals with specific protection needs, and supporting regularization alternatives for those not in need of international protection, thereby safeguarding the integrity of the asylum system. Durable solutions form a central component of UNHCR’s engagement, with a particular focus on socioeconomic inclusion of asylum-seekers and refugees and on alleviating pressure on host communities. Communication and awareness-raising initiatives are critical to ensure that information on asylum procedures and access to durable solutions reaches target populations effectively. Mexico is a relevant country in the regional context and is fully engaged in the MIRPS, the Chile Plan of Action, and other relevant processes. The very dynamic relations between the US and Mexico in key aspects of human mobility require continuous adaptation and flexibility. The Office in Monterrey supervises UNHCR´s intervention in the north of Mexico and oversees directly interventions in the northeast of the country. The interventions of SOMON are focusing on the identification and support of forcibly displaced people, supporting their access to rights, services and fostering their local integration, in coordination with state and local authorities, and the humanitarian actors present at local level.


Desired Candidate Profile:

The ideal candidate is a committed protection practitioner with experience supporting refugees and other populations of concern through direct case management and community engagement. They demonstrate a solid understanding of international protection principles and national legal frameworks and apply them consistently in their work.

Protection Delivery and Case Management:
The candidate is skilled in handling individual protection cases, including those involving GBV, child protection, and statelessness. They contribute to eligibility assessments, documentation support, and durable solutions, while ensuring timely and effective responses to protection risks.

Community Engagement and Coordination:
They maintain strong relationships with local authorities, partners, communities, NGOs, faith-based organizations, community-based organizations, refugee led organizations, local government, private sector, academia, to enhance network of support for protection of refugee communities, ensuring that persons of concern are actively involved in decisions affecting their rights and solutions. The candidate supports the integration of protection safeguards across sectors and contributes to national capacity-building efforts. The candidate has demonstrated professional working experience in the areas of community-based protection, social work.

Operational Support and Compliance:
The candidate monitors protection standards and SOPs, supports AGD-based programming, and facilitates data collection and analysis to inform protection strategies. They uphold UNHCR’s values and ensure compliance with protection policies and codes of conduct.

Competencies and Skills:
Strong communication, teamwork, and organizational awareness are essential. The candidate demonstrates accountability, client orientation, and sound judgment. Familiarity with protection-related tools and systems is desirable.

Languages and Other Requirements:
• Fluency in English and Spanish is essential, with demonstrated ability to draft and communicate effectively in both languages.

Living and Working Conditions

Monterrey is the capital of the north-eastern state of Nuevo León, a border state to the United States. Monterrey is an important industrial and commercial center, and the base of many international corporations. It is one of the wealthiest cities in Mexico. Being this way, it has a high-level infrastructure:

• Health: Monterrey has a highly ranked medical infrastructure with some internationally acclaimed hospitals. Due to its industrial activity, high vehicle density, and geographical location in a valley surrounded by mountains, Monterrey often experiences poor air quality, especially during spring. People with respiratory conditions should take precautions during high pollution days.
• Education: There are public and private schools. Most of the private schools are bilingual (English-Spanish), and there are American, British and French schools.
• Housing: Apartments can be rented both furnished and unfurnished. International UNHCR personnel must obtain approval by UN security for a selected residential place BEFORE signing rental contract.
• Entertainment: Monterrey is the second most populous metropolitan area in Mexico. Therefore, it has a high demand and a high offer of entertainment: popular, classical, modern, etc.
• Weather: Monterrey frequently experiences extreme weather changes. It can be very hot during summer and cold during winter. The coldest months are January and February, and the hottest, April and May, although it is not always like that. Monterrey, too, is affected by the climate change.
• Currency and exchange: Mexican Peso. Dollars, Euros and traveler's checks can be exchanged at a currency Exchange office.
• Communications: Internet is available almost everywhere, but in houses and offices, a contract has to be made in order to access to this service.
• Transportation: There are public buses, and if taxis are to be taken, it is recommended to use taxis del sitio (taxi autorizado)


Monterrey belongs to Security Risk Management area North, with the current General Threat Level 3, MODERATE, with Crime specific category at High level. There are no known direct threats to UNHCR, yet the UNHCR personnel may be affected by opportunistic crime, to include: homicide, kidnapping, carjacking, highway robbery. Organized crime is on the rise, and violence caused by Cartel activities may indirectly impact UNHCR personnel and activities. Nuevo Leon state has established presence of Drug Cartels in some parts of the metropolitan area.

The UNHCR personnel must remain security aware and vigilant at all times, apply personal security measures and avoid movement after darkness. There is no curfew in Monterrey, yet the crime incidence at night hours is high. Staff deployed to Monterrey would be required to process an official US visa (G4) at the earliest (approbation subject to United States Government). Field activities along the Northern border and particularly in Tamaulipas state must be coordinated with local authorities and UNHCR Security (FSA based in Monterrey). Security Clearance is mandatory for all official travel, and overnight road missions are restricted.


IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

• This position is advertised internally only, i.e., applications are open to:

- Internal candidates: staff members with an indefinite or fixed-term appointment in the same category as the position advertised, staff members who, at the date of the deadline for application, are serving at the grade of the position or one grade below or above, as well as any candidates serving at higher grades who fulfill the criteria as per the job advertisement.
- Former Staff (due to post abolition under special measures): Local FTA/IND contract holders whose posts were abolished due to structural changes, and who were separated as of 01 January 2025 (last working day 31 December 2024). Other types of former staff members are considered candidates with UNHCR experience for any location. Eligibility period for application: May 2025 – June 2026 vacancies.
- Candidates with UNHCR experience at the time of application: current staff members in other categories, staff members on temporary appointment, affiliate workforce and interns with at least 1 year of service, and staff loaned/seconded. Former UNHCR locally recruited staff members who held an indefinite or fixed-term appointment (within 2 years of separation for males and 5 years for females).

• Only Mexicans or candidates holding a permanent residency in México will be considered eligible. Candidates must attach proof of permanent residency in Mexico at the time of application.

• Staff members must serve for a minimum of one year following assignment before being considered eligible to apply for another position within the same category.

• Recruitment as a UNHCR staff member and engagement under a UNHCR affiliate scheme or as an intern, is subject to proof of full vaccination against COVID-19, independently of contract type and duration. The selected candidate(s) will be required to provide proof of vaccination prior to recruitment.

• Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on the grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.

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

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

• This position is offered under Fixed-Term Appointment, initially for a period of 1 year.

• Remuneration: A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. For more information on UN salaries, allowances and benefits, please visit the portal of the Office of HR Management of United Nations. UNHCR also offers comprehensive medical insurance and pension plans.

English

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Spanish

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

Nature of Position:

Living and Working Conditions:

 

Additional Qualifications

Skills

IT-Computer Literacy, PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators, PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework

Certifications

International Law - Other, Political Science - Other

Competencies

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

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

Compendium

Additional Information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance