Senior Policy Officer

December 22, 2025

H (no hardship)

FamilyFamily

PR4

Professional

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2025-12-08

Senior Policy Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The role of the Senior Policy Officer is to coordinate the preparation of and to share guidance, positions, strategic advice, on relevant protection and solutions policies and their application and context-specific interpretation within the region, building on comprehensive responses outlined in the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR). The incumbent may be based in the Division/Field/Regional Bureau. S/he will normally report to and be guided by the Deputy Director/Senior Policy Adviser/Chief of Section and may supervise a small team of local and international staff.

The Senior Policy Officer will provide strategic advice and draft UNHCR positions on assigned protection and solutions issues and areas, coordinating closely within the office, as well as with other HQs Services, Regional Bureaux, field offices and operations.

The incumbent will also support and assist operations in the development and review of protection and solutions and other country-specific strategies and ensure their alignment with regional/Bureau/corporate priorities.

The incumbent will have contact with a wide variety of internal and external audiences ranging from staff in the region, public-at-large, diplomats, scholars, civil society and staff from other UN and regional organizations with the overall objective of staying abreast of protection and solutions developments, drawing attention to the problem of human displacement. This will happen in the context of disseminating information, gathering support for UNHCR's activities and advocacy on asylum, displacement and statelessness issues in the region.

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
- Support the coordination and preparation of guidance, positions and strategic advice, on relevant protection and solutions and regional partnerships policies and their application and context-specific interpretation. Reflect on Major global developments influencing UNHCR's work, such as the Global Compact on Refugees and UNHCR's support to applying comprehensive responses included therein.
- Develop, evaluate, and summarise information related to protection and solutions, political, legal, social and economic development perspectives in the region, ensuring overall harmonization and coherence of the Bureau's solution strategies, policies and operations, including in line with UNHCR's contribution to reinforce comprehensive responses at national and regional levels.
- Provide prompt, principled and accurate guidance and advice on the interpretation and application of international instruments relating to forcibly displaced and stateless persons, global protection positions and policies and, as required, on the development of situation/country-specific guidance, in coordination with other relevant UNHCR operations and entities.
- Contribute to the effective representation and engagement with strategy and policy development and evaluation processes on selected cross-cutting policy issues, both within UNHCR and, as appropriate, on the inter-agency level or with relevance to government-led comprehensive responses at national or regional levels in the area of responsibility (AoR).
- Participate in the preparation of UNHCR strategies, positions and public papers on assigned thematic and geographical areas, situations or issues.
- Contribute to fostering and maintaining new partnerships with UN, whole-of-government, including local authorities as applicable, the private sector, development partners, regional organizations and other actors geared towards achieving solutions in line with the GCR and application of comprehensive responses.
- Assist in the preparations for high-level events, including regional meetings, ExCom, Standing Committee, NGO Consultations, Protection Dialogues and others, by contributing to the preparation, drafting, and editing of various protection and solutions positions and policy papers.
- Contribute to and coordinate the preparation of oral and written briefings and background notes, talking points, reports and other documents as required.
- In the regional bureaux, support and assist operations in the development and review of protection and solutions and other country-specific strategies and ensure their alignment with regional/Bureau/corporate priorities. Assist the Bureau in the review of operations plans.
- Undertake Multi-Functional protection and solutions review missions to the field as required.

- 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 P4/NOD - 9 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 8 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 7 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree.

Field(s) of Education
Public Policy; Public Administration; Law; International Relations; Political Science; Human Rights; or other relevant field.

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Experience in policy analysis and development in international context. Experience in managing a variety of internal and external relationships in a cross-cultural professional environment. Experience in drafting and editing, in particular on protection and solutions strategies, advocacy strategies, or partnership building.

Desirable
Experience in coordination of UN interventions with other actors, in a refugee or humanitarian context. Solid experience in lobbying and advocacy with Government and other institutions. Strong experience in conducting research, fact sheets, global appeals, speeches and concept papers.

Functional Skills
UN-Policy Advocacy in UNHCR
MG-Policy Development, Evaluation, Research, Publication
CO-Drafting and Documentation
(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 candidate should have operational protection experience in the field, preferable in refugee and IDP situations. The position requires excellent drafting and presentation skills, as well as the ability to explain concepts and complex ideas in simple language. External relations or communications experience will be an asset. Organizational and strong technological skills, the ability to lead a team, and engage effectively with a variety of colleagues, as well as the ability to work under pressure are key to delivering on the variety of issues that come to the Director’s office. Patience, negotiation skills, and the ability to adapt quickly and prioritize will help the candidate to manage the workload, deliver on tight deadlines, and delegate efficiently. Whilst the need for attention to detail and the ability to deal with a wide range of issues is key, it will be important for the candidate to always see the big picture and maintain a strategic overview of the work of DIPS in order to support the Director in policy work, communications and strategic engagement. In this regard, experience as part of a management team, with strong operational, program and external engagement will be advantageous.

DIPS seeks diversity in its workforce and will consider gender and geographic diversity in the composition of its teams. DIPS encourages colleagues with disabilities to apply. Knowledge of French, Spanish and/or Arabic is desirable.

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

The position is based in Geneva, Switzerland, and can accommodate the specific needs for qualified candidates. To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel.

Nature of Position:

The Division of International Protection and Solutions (DIPS) lies at the heart of UNHCR’s mandate to safeguard international protection and enable durable solutions for refugees, stateless persons, and internally displaced people. Its dual role combines normative authority with operational support. DIPS sets global standards and provides authoritative legal and policy guidance on asylum, statelessness, and internal displacement, while also driving the solutions agenda through voluntary repatriation, resettlement, complementary pathways, and local integration. The Division advises senior leadership, Regional Bureaus and field operations, ensuring coherence between global frameworks and operational realities. It also leads engagement with judicial and human rights bodies, convenes States and partners, and anchors UNHCR’s leadership in global fora on protection and solutions. Through its Policy and Law Service and the Durable Solutions and Field Protection Service, DIPS delivers technical expertise, quality assurance, and capacity-building to strengthen protection responses and advance sustainable solutions in line with the Global Compact on Refugees.

The position is based in the Division of International Protection and Solutions. The Senior Policy Officer will be part of the Director’s office and will report to the Director of DIPS. He/she will support the Director in providing guidance, policy and technical advice on cross-cutting protection issues, with special attention to internal and external communication, inter-agency coordination and UN processes focused on the centrality of protection and other issues as appropriate. He/she will support the Director on cross-divisional and cross-regional portfolios at strategic level.

 

The incumbent will analyse protection and policy information reaching the Director’s office, identify potential linkages and advise the Director on protection issues of strategic relevance, particularly within the SMC and vis-à-vis the AHC-P for strategic discussion and follow-up at the SET level. The incumbent may be asked to prepare speeches and talking points for the Director, coordinate the drafting of strategic documents and reports that span across the Division, and participate in discussions in expert fora.

The Senior Policy Officer role requires experience in protection communications as one of the important areas of focus for this position is coordination around DIPS internal communications on protection priorities and supporting the Director in external communications on protection and solutions, in particular in relation to PI, donor relations, Private Sector Partnerships, and interagency.

The Senior Policy Officer will work closely with all colleagues within DIP, the heads of protection pillars in the Regional Bureaus as well as colleagues in other HQs Divisions, particularly in DER, DEPS, SRS and GDS.

The Senior Policy Officer will supervise one GS staff, one JPO and one P3 in the Director’s Office.

Living and Working Conditions:

The position is based in Geneva, Switzerland. The incumbent will be required to travel, sometimes on short notice. Living and working conditions in Switzerland are up to the level of a highly developed country, where easy access to quality schooling, services, medical support, and higher education is available. The position requires residence in Geneva and cannot be undertaken remotely, although some teleworking is possible, after discussions with the manager.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Bachelor of Arts: Human Rights, Bachelor of Arts: International Relations, Bachelor of Arts: Law, Bachelor of Arts: Political Science, Bachelor of Arts: Public Administration, Bachelor of Arts: Public Policy

Certifications

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Leadership, Managing performance, Negotiation & conflict resolution, Organizational awareness, Policy research & development, Strategic planning & visions, Teamwork & collaboration

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

Compendium

Flash Vacancy Notice

Additional Information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance