Protection Associate

November 23, 2025

H (no hardship)

FamilyFamily

GS6

General Service

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2026-02-01

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.

The ideal candidate is required to have experience within the Polish legal framework relating to asylum, migration and human rights and prior experience working on asylum system strengthening including working on asylum cases and liaising with public institutions within Poland and/or within the European Union.

The incumbent should be familiar with UNHCR’s protection principles, child protection standards and international refugee law.

Previous experience with UNHCR, international organizations, or EU institutions is highly desirable, along with expertise in capacity-building, protection and detention monitoring, and supporting refugees with specific needs—particularly refugee and asylum-seeking children.

Strong drafting, analytical and reporting skills in both English and Polish are essential.

The candidate should have strong teamwork and collaboration skills as the candidate will be expected to work closely within a team which works on a broad range of issues including legal analysis and advocacy, access to territory and asylum, detention and border monitoring, child protection and education, as well as with other teams working on social protection and inclusion.

Prior experience in coordination and stakeholder management is desirable.

Additional Information
UNHCR’s workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages and opinions. We seek to sustain and strengthen this diversity and to ensure equal opportunities, as well as an inclusive working environment, for our entire workforce. Joining us means living, sharing and promoting these core values of inclusion, diversity and gender equality.

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.

UNHCR reserves the right to retain applications and consider external candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNHCR at the same grade or lower level and with similar job descriptions, experience, and educational requirements for the appointment of a shorter duration (Temporary Appointment).

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

Shortlisted candidates may be required to sit for a test. Only shortlisted candidates will be notified. No late applications will be accepted.

Remuneration & Benefits
A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. The monthly net salary is between PLN 9,429 and PLN 11,514 depending on relevant experience, dependency status and language proficiency. 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.

Polish

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English

,

,

,

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:

Poland’s eastern borders with Belarus, the Russian Federation, and Ukraine serve as the European Union’s external borders. The country currently hosts over one million refugees from Ukraine, in addition to a smaller number of asylum seekers and refugees from other countries. 

UNHCR has been in Poland for over 30 years (since 1992), working with national authorities on refugee-related matters. UNHCR in Poland is supporting government-led efforts through a multi-sectoral response, with a focus on ensuring access to asylum and protection (including access to legal status, documentation, and rights), assisting the most vulnerable refugees, and facilitating inclusion and solutions for refugees. UNHCR works with central and local authorities, partners, media, civil society, communities, and more. 

As the UN-mandated agency to provide international protection to refugees, UNHCR leads the refugee coordination structure in support of Polish authorities, to enhance the national response, ensure complementarity, and avoid duplication. 

 This position is based at the UNHCR Multi-Country Office in Warsaw, Poland within the Protection unit (Legal and Policy team). In alignment with UNHCR's strategic priorities, the Protection Associate will play a crucial role in liaising with authorities, including the Office for Foreigners and the Ministry of Interior. The primary focus of this role is to support relevant authorities in enhancing access to and the quality of asylum procedures for asylum seekers. 

The incumbent will be instrumental in supporting UNHCR's evidence-based advocacy for refugees through monitoring and analysis of protection risks and trends, and supporting refugees with specific needs, including asylum-seeking and refugee children.   

Key responsibilities also include legal analysis (EU, Polish and international law) and referring individual cases of asylum seekers to appropriate UNHCR legal partners. 

This position requires working within a diverse team of staff from various nationalities and ethnic backgrounds, necessitating the ability to thrive in a multicultural environment. 

Living and Working Conditions:

 

Additional Qualifications

Skills

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