Senior Protection Assistant

December 23, 2025

Grade

GS5

General Service

Reason

Temporary > Temporary Assignment/ Appointment

A (least hardship)

Family

2026-01-01

2026-06-30

Standard Job Description

Senior Protection Assistant

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Senior Protection Assistant normally reports to a more senior Protection colleague. 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 Senior Protection Assistant provides quality, timely and effective protection support to persons of concern (PoC) and identifies opportunities to mainstream protection methodologies and safeguards in operational responses. S/he contributes to designing a comprehensive protection strategy and may liaise externally with local authorities and partners on protection issues as guided by the supervisor.

The Senior Protection Assistant 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
- Consistently apply International and National Law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy, standards and codes of conduct.
- Provide counselling on protection issues to PoC; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documentation.
- Support activities in protection related AGD based programming with implementing and operational partners.
- Conduct preliminary information gathering and interviews in support of eligibility, status determination, durable solutions and social needs assessment.
- 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 for PoC as part of the protection strategy.
- Monitor Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities.
- Participate in individual protection case management including cases of GBV and child protection. Monitor and report on cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents.
- Assist in identifying durable solutions for PoC in 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.
- Draft reports, routine correspondence, update relevant databases and compiling statistics within the Area of Responsibility (AoR).
- Contribute to initiatives to enhance national and local protection capacities.
- Select PoC for preliminary interviews and decide which relevant information to share.
- Enforce integrity in the delivery of protection services by local implementing partners.

- 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
G5 - 2 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 1 year relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Field(s) of Education
Not applicable

Certificates and/or Licenses
International Law;
Political Science;
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential: Not specified.
Desirable: Not specified.

Functional Skills
IT-Computer Literacy
PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators
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.

The duration of this position is 6 months without expectations of renewal - from 01 January 2026 to 30 June 2026.

Operational Context:

Brazil has established a progressive and inclusive framework for protecting refugees and forcibly displaced individuals, ensuring access to rights such as freedom of movement, formal employment, education, healthcare, and social services.

As of June 2025, Brazil hosted 887,350 people in need of international protection from over 100 countries, with Venezuelans forming the largest group. Of these, 158,209 have been recognized as refugees—92% of them Venezuelan.

Brazil is a regional leader in refugee protection, applying the Cartagena Declaration’s broader refugee definition through prima facie recognition for those fleeing serious human rights violations. This includes individuals from Venezuela, Afghanistan, Syria, and others. The National Committee for Refugees (CONARE) also protects people persecuted for sexual orientation, gender identity, and women at risk of female genital mutilation. To improve efficiency, Brazil uses advanced electronic tools in refugee status determination (RSD).

Humanitarian visas and temporary residence options are available for nationals from Afghanistan, Haiti, Syria, and Ukraine. Venezuelans can also apply for temporary residence if they choose not to seek asylum.

Brazil is developing a National Policy for Migrants, Refugees, and Stateless Persons to promote integration across all government levels. This is supported by 44 local committees, 27 policies and plans, and the Network of Welcoming Cities.

Since 2018, “Operation Welcome” has supported Venezuelans with reception, documentation, shelter, and voluntary relocation. Over 148,657 have been relocated to around 1,000 cities.

Following the 2021 humanitarian visa policy for Afghans, over 13,100 visas have been issued, with more than 12,000 arrivals. In April 2025, Brazil launched a community sponsorship program for Afghan integration, with similar plans for Haitians.

UNHCR and partners have identified over 11,000 indigenous Venezuelans in Brazil, who face greater challenges in accessing services, including delays and barriers in documentation renewals, higher food insecurity, healthcare needs, and school dropout rates. Language barriers and low education levels hinder their integration.

Brazil’s response is strengthened by civil society, refugee-led groups, the private sector, and academia, with 50 universities participating in the Sérgio Vieira de Mello Academic Chair initiative.

At the 2023 Global Refugee Forum, Brazil pledged to enhance family reunification, refugee participation, resettlement, healthcare, and asylum systems, while supporting the Cartagena+40 process.

UNHCR supports CONARE in ensuring fair asylum procedures and works to expand legal guidance, monitor entry points, and advocate for protection-sensitive systems. It also prioritizes climate action, including refugee inclusion in disaster preparedness and green job opportunities, especially for indigenous communities. UNHCR aids Brazil’s response to climate emergencies, such as the 2025 floods in Rio Grande do Sul.

UNHCR Brazil operates offices in Brasília, São Paulo, Rio Grande do Sul, Boa Vista, Pacaraima, Manaus, and Belém. The Senior Protection Assistant will support the Country Office Protection Unit to ensure the implementation of the 2026 protection and solutions strategic priorities, following international standards and national, regional and global best practices. Under the supervisor of the head of unit and other senior protection staff, s/he will assist with the development of relevant research, drafting of reports and analytical documents, community engagement and capacity building activities, case management, AAP, and other duties as required.

Desired Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate is a protection-oriented professional with a robust background in law, international law, international relations, social sciences or a related discipline. S/he should demonstrate strong motivation to work on refugee protection in complex settings, and a solid understanding of the Brazilian humanitarian and solutions context.
Key qualifications and attributes include:
• In-depth knowledge of international protection principles and legal frameworks, including refugee and human rights law, GBV and child protection standards, and statelessness prevention.
• Knowledge and experience in RSD and SSD procedures, and protection frameworks for victims of trafficking in persons and smuggling of migrants.
• Proven ability to engage effectively with civil society, academia, refugee communities, government counterparts, UN agencies.
• Strong analytical skills, writing and communication skills, with the ability to monitor trends, identify risks, compile statistics, translate protection principles into practical guidance and field-level solutions.
• Proven ability to conduct trainings on refugee protection, principles of International Refugee Law, documentation and/or other relevant topics to a diverse audience.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with a strong capacity to facilitate consensus and a commitment to inclusion, neutrality, and respect for diversity.
• Adherence to UNHCR’s core values, such as Professionalism, Integrity, and Respect for Diversity, and a commitment to UNHCR’s mandate and the principles of accountability and partnership will be considered a must.
• C1 level in Portuguese and B2 level in English are mandatory. B2 in Spanish is an asset.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Eligibility:

This position is advertised to internal applicants and UNHCR experience applicants. Candidates must be legally present in Brazil at the time of application, recruitment and hire. Only Brazilian citizens or candidates legally present in Brazil will be considered eligible.

Internal candidates:

Candidates: comprises current GS staff members holding an indefinite or fixed-term appointment who, at the date of the deadline for application, are serving in the country of the vacancy 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. 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.

Candidates with UNHCR experience:

UNHCR experience candidates are current staff members in other categories (GS/FS/NPO), Junior Professional Officers, staff members on temporary appointment, affiliate workforce, interns, staff loaned/seconded from another UN organization/international organization/government entity, as well as former UNHCR staff members who held an indefinite or fixed-term appointment (within 2 years of separation for males and 5 years for females).

Remuneration:

A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. For information on UN salaries, allowances and benefits, please visit the portal of the International Civil Service Commission and please refer to the relevant category / grade level at: http://icsc.un.org

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

Applications:

All applications must be submitted online in Workday. Email applications will not be accepted. Incomplete and late applications will not be accepted. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Shortlisted candidates might be required to sit for a written test and/or oral interview.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted based on the information submitted during the application. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

UNHCR is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, sexual orientation, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. UNHCR seeks to ensure that male and female employees are given equal career opportunities. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.

UNHCR has a zero-tolerance policy against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA). SEA is unacceptable behavior and prohibited conduct for UNHCR personnel. It constitutes acts of serious misconduct and is therefore grounds for disciplinary measures, including dismissal. Any concerns or suspicions about a possible case of SEA should be reported immediately to the Inspector General’s Office (IGO) at inspector@unhcr.org or through the online complain form at https://www.unhcr.org/php/complaints.php or by confidential fax: +41 22 739 73 80.

This position doesn't require a functional clearance

Portuguese

,

English

,

,

,

Skills

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

Education

Certifications

International Law - Other, Political Science - Other

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