Snr Protection Assistant

January 30, 2026

A (least hardship)

FamilyFamily

GS5

General Service

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2026-01-15

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.

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 continues to pose major challenges to Mexico’s asylum system. Currently, an average of 250 new asylum applications are submitted daily, mostly in Tapachula and Mexico City. 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, particularly in southern Mexico. 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.

Desired Candidate Profile:

The ideal candidate is a protection professional with solid experience in providing direct protection support, individual case management, counselling to persons of concern (PoC) in humanitarian or human rights contexts, and solid experience in developing IM products such as dashboards, maps, indicators, templates and reports. S/he will provide technical guidance on methodologies, surveys, and vulnerability assessments, support assessments, planning, and monitoring processes. S/he needs to demonstrate a strong understanding of UNHCR’s mandate, international and national protection frameworks, and operational standards, ensuring quality, timely and principled protection delivery.

Protection Case Management and Counselling: The candidate must be skilled in providing counselling on protection issues to PoC and in conducting preliminary information-gathering and interviews to support eligibility and status determination, durable solutions and social needs assessments. The ideal candidate has experience in working with UNHCR ProGres software, managing individual protection cases, including those involving gender-based violence (GBV) and child protection, and in monitoring and reporting protection incidents such as refoulement and expulsion, is essential. S/he is able to identify appropriate courses of action, refer cases to relevant services, and follow up to ensure effective resolution.

Community-Based Protection and AGD-Sensitive Programming: The candidate should have experience engaging with communities of concern and promoting their meaningful participation in decisions affecting their lives, as well as prior experience supporting assessments, planning, and monitoring processes. The role also includes providing technical guidance on methodologies, surveys, and vulnerability assessments, and monitoring processes. S/he is familiar with age, gender and diversity (AGD) sensitive approaches and has supported the design and implementation of community-based protection activities. Experience contributing to child protection and education plans for PoC, and in integrating AGD considerations into protection programming with implementing and operational partners, is highly desirable.


Documentation, Statelessness and Access to Rights: The candidate can liaise with competent authorities to facilitate the issuance of personal and other relevant documentation, supporting PoC in accessing rights and essential services. Experience contributing to measures to identify, prevent and reduce statelessness, as well as strengthening national and local protection capacities, is an asset. S/he demonstrates a rights-based approach and the ability to explain procedures and entitlements clearly and respectfully to PoC.

Monitoring, Reporting and SOP Compliance: The candidate will contribute to the implementation and monitoring of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for protection and solutions activities, helping to ensure consistency, accountability and integrity in service delivery. Experience in drafting reports, preparing routine correspondence, maintaining and updating protection databases, and compiling statistics is important. Familiarity with protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators, and with basic information management tools, is desirable.

Competencies and Skills: Strong interpersonal, communication and organizational skills are essential. The candidate must demonstrate cultural sensitivity, discretion and sound judgment, and be able to build and maintain effective working relationships with PoC, colleagues, local authorities and partners. S/he is expected to work well both independently and as part of a team, manage competing priorities, and uphold the highest standards of integrity in all interactions with PoC and stakeholders.

Languages and Other Requirements: Fluency in English and Spanish is essential, with the ability to communicate effectively and draft reports in both languages. The candidate should also be able to act as an interpreter and translator when needed during missions and interviews with non-Spanish-speaking persons of concern.

Important Information for Applicants:

• Eligibility – Internal Advertisement 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 fulfil 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).
• Nationality / Right to Work Requirement: Only Mexican nationals or candidates holding permanent residency in Mexico are eligible. Applicants must attach proof of permanent residency at the time of application. Failure to do so will result in disqualification.
• Mobility and Eligibility for Application: Staff members must normally serve a minimum of one year in their current assignment before applying for another position within the same category, unless their post has been abolished.
• Selection Process: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Shortlisted candidates will be required to sit for a written test and/or oral interview. UNHCR does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process.
• Application Requirements: Applicants are responsible for ensuring that their Workday Career Profile is accurate and fully updated prior to applying. The evaluation will be based solely on the information provided in the application. Once submitted, applications cannot be modified. Candidates under serious consideration may be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided.
• Diversity and Inclusion: UNHCR is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce and strongly encourages applications from qualified candidates regardless of gender, nationality, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, or disability status. All applications are treated with the strictest confidentiality, and UNHCR is committed to providing equal career opportunities for all staff.

• Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA): UNHCR maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA). SEA constitutes serious misconduct and may result in disciplinary action, including dismissal. Concerns or suspicions can be reported confidentially to: inspector@unhcr.org or at https://www.unhcr.org/php/complaints.php or by confidential fax: +41 22 739 73 80.
• Educational Requirements: UNHCR recognizes only qualifications obtained from institutions accredited in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), maintained by the International Association of Universities (IAU) and UNESCO. The database is available at: WHED portal.at http://www.whed.net/.
•Remuneration: A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. This includes salary, allowances (where applicable), comprehensive medical insurance, and participation in the UN pension scheme. Further details are available via the UN Office of Human Resources Management.

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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, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Organizational awareness, Political awareness, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration

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

Compendium

Additional Information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance