Senior Protection Assistant

Deadline for Applications

April 30, 2026

Grade

GS5

Staff Member / Affiliate Type

General Service

Reason

Temporary > Temporary Assignment/ Appointment

Hardship Level

H (no hardship)

Family Type

• Family<p></p><p></p>
• Residential location (if applicable)

Target Start Date

2026-05-01

Target End Date

2026-12-31

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.

Desired Candidate Profile

The UNHCR Multi-Country Office (MCO) based in Italy oversees operations in Italy, the Holy See, Malta, and San Marino—countries situated at the crossroads of Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, and characterized by diverse asylum systems, distinct legal frameworks, and varying capacities for refugee protection.

This sub region plays a pivotal role in migration and refugee movements to Europe, particularly through the Central and Eastern Mediterranean routes. Irregular arrivals by sea and land, secondary movements, and complex protection needs place continued pressure on national asylum and reception systems. Although the number of arrivals fluctuates, the centrality of these countries in broader European migration dynamics remains constant.

Italy and Malta, in particular, continue to serve as primary entry points to the EU for persons seeking international protection. Their geographic proximity to North Africa positions Italy as a key actor in search and rescue (SAR) activities and in receiving persons rescued at sea.

San Marino and the Vatican City, though not primary asylum destinations, are engaged partners in refugee protection through political advocacy, moral leadership, and resettlement or complementary pathways, especially under community sponsorship and humanitarian corridors supported by faith-based organizations.

In Italy, the RSD system, from the access phase to second instance, is facing historical challenges in ensuring fairness and efficiency of the procedure, while preserving its integrity and safeguarding timely access to status recognition and inclusion for people in need of international protection. The EU Pact on Migration and Asylum will become applicable as of 12 June 2026.

In this context, the incumbent, under the supervision of the Protection Associate, will contribute to MCO Italy’s support to national authorities in the protection-sensitive implementation of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum. In particular, s/he will provide continuous and effective support to the coordination of the project aimed at the establishment and roll out of a quality and harmonized system of legal counseling, during the administrative phase of the procedure, in line with the Pact. The incumbent will contribute to the selection and recruitment process of UNHCR’s legal counselors, deployed in the field, and s/he will consistently support the Protection Associate, tasked with the management of this intervention, in their supervision and coordination, thus ensuring sound human resources management throughout the implementation of the project. In particular s/he will be responsible for planning, monitoring and supervising the workplan of the legal counselors, ensuring their presence in the project locations in the field, managing leave of absence, replacements and missions, guaranteeing effective and continuous provision of the service, up to the necessary standards of quality. S/he will ensure close, constant and effective coordination with UNHCR’s partner organization in charge of the provision of cultural mediation/interpretation services, thus ensuring swift and effective delivery of the necessary linguistic support to legal counselors. S/he will also perform all necessary administrative tasks and duties linked to the implementation of the project, falling under the responsibility of the RSD Unit, in close coordination with Programme and Admin colleagues. S/he will provide support to the Protection Associate and closely collaborate with the Senior Protection Assistant – Capacity Building and the Senior Protection Assistant – Quality Assurance, performing, upon request, any other necessary activity, in line with the objectives of this initiative.

This recruitment is subject to funding.

Desired Candidate Profile (DCP)

MCO Italy is looking for a solid candidate with a proactive and positive attitude, excellent organizational and problem-solving skills, experience in administrative/HR roles, as well as proven knowledge of the asylum system and RSD procedure in Italy. The candidate must be proficient in Italian and English and have excellent drafting skills in both languages. The candidate should possess strong interpersonal, communication and team-building skills. Previous experience in both administrative and protection activities in Italy would be an asset.

Functional Clearance

• This position doesn't require a functional clearance
• Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level)

Italian

,

English

,

Desired languages

,

,

Additional Qualifications

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

Work Experience

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