UN High Commissioner for Refugees
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Assistant Representative- Protection is the senior protection manager in a Country Office and reports to the Representative. A member of the senior management team, the incumbent has direct or reviewing supervisory responsibility for protection staff who may include community services, registration, resettlement and education. He/she has country-wide functional supervisory responsibility for protection staff and provides protection oversight and guidance to the information and programme management functions.
The Assistant Representative- Protection transposes UNHCR’s Global Strategic Priorities into a comprehensive protection strategy adapted to the country context. He/she is guardian of protection standards, operational procedures and practices in protection delivery at country level and represents the UNHCR to authorities, UN sister agencies, partners and other stakeholders on protection policy and doctrine. UNHCR is well integrated into the UN Resident Coordinator System.
The Assistant Representative- Protection is relied upon by the Office to plan, manage and guide country-wide protection delivery to populations of concern and to promote and gain support for UNHCR’s protection agenda externally. This includes ensuring that operational responses in sectors are shaped in a protection optic, mainstream protection methodologies and integrate protection safeguards. He/she ensures that persons and communities of concern are involved with the Office in making decisions that affect them and that their interests are effectively represented to authorities, protection and assistance partners and to the broad network of donors and stakeholders who can contribute to enhancing protection.
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 security developments that have an impact on the protection environment and protection delivery capacity and advise the Representative in the overall management of UNHCR’s operations.
– Manage a consultative process with government counterparts, partners and persons of concern to develop and implement a comprehensive protection strategy addressing the specific protection needs of women and men, children, youth and older persons, persons with disabilities, minority groups such as sexual minorities and persons living with HIV/AIDS; and Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) priorities with regard to these persons.
– In operations applying the Cluster Approach, ensure the response of the Protection Cluster is grounded in a strategy which covers assessed and prioritized protection needs of the affected populations.
– Ensure the protection strategy is fully integrated into the Country Operations Plan, the UN Development and Assistance Framework (UNDAF) and in respect of UNHCR’s mandate, the Humanitarian Country Team’s common humanitarian action plan where applicable.
– Ensure that necessary resources are allocated to address protection gaps.
– Promote International and National Law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy, standards and codes of conduct. Foster their consistent and coherent interpretation and application and ensure that sectors and /or in clusters in applicable operations fulfil their responsibilities mainstreaming protection.
– Design, deliver and monitor programmes on an AGD basis to address identified protection needs.
– Oversee the provision of expert legal advice and guidance on protection issues to internal and external interlocutors and ensure that legal assistance and documentation is accessible to persons of concern.
– Oversee Eligibility and Status Determination operations ensuring compliance with UNHCR procedural standards and international protection principles.
– Oversee the implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for protection /solutions processes and systems.
– Promote and supervise the delivery of effective measures to identify, prevent and reduce statelessness.
– Develop and implement a country-level education plan as part of the protection strategy. Ensure the provision of quality and protective education with an emphasis on learning outcomes and lifelong learning opportunities forging partnerships with the Ministry for Education, UNICEF and other partners as appropriate.
– Develop and implement a country-level child protection plan as part of the protection strategy ensuring programmes use a child protection systems approach.
– Ensure that appropriate interventions are undertaken by the Office, or intervene directly, in cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents through working relations with governments and other partners.
– Coordinate the design, implementation and evaluation of protection related programming with implementing and operational partners.
– Ensure with governments and partners that durable solutions through voluntary repatriation, local integration, and where appropriate, resettlement are sought and provided to the largest possible number of persons of concern.
– Oversee the development and implementation of a results-based advocacy programme in consultation with sectorial and/or cluster partners.
– Advocate with authorities and stakeholders for access to and respect for the rights of persons of concern and their access to services.
– Ensure the Protection Sector or Cluster strategy has an effective information management component to provide disaggregated data on populations of concern and their problems; and researches, collects and disseminates relevant protection information and good practices to enhance protection delivery.
– Build the protection capacity of national and local government, partners and civil society to assume their responsibilities vis-à-vis persons of concern through protection training, mainstreaming and related activities.
– Coordinate capacity-building initiatives for communities and persons of concern to assert their rights.
– Advise and capacitate national authorities, relevant institutions and NGOs to strengthen legislation and status determination procedures and mechanisms.
– Contribute to a communications strategy to generate external support for UNHCR’s operations and the Protection Sector/Cluster.
– Provide effective supervisory and managerial oversight, direction and guidance of the protection function.
– Design and establish effective protection staffing structures in Offices ensuring staffing configurations, profiles and competencies are commensurate with protection challenges.
– Approve the comprehensive protection strategy for endorsement by the Representative and Regional Office or Headquarters.
– Chair strategic or operational protection meetings, including Protection Cluster meetings in applicable operations and represent the protection sector/cluster in inter-agency mechanisms.
– Issue advocacy statements on behalf of UNHCR or the Protection Cluster in applicable operations. Intervene with authorities on protection issues.
– Negotiate with resettlement countries and countries of return on behalf of UNHCR.
– Clear documents and reports prepared by the Protection Unit / Section.
– Take decisions on individual cases.
– Negotiate with the Humanitarian Coordinator/Resident Coordinator, the Humanitarian Country Team and partners on protection funding priorities in inter-agency funding appeals.
– Enforce compliance of staff and partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services.
– Enforce compliance with, and integrity of protection standard operating procedures.
– Approve expenditures under the UNHCR protection budget and direct transparent and accountable financial and other resource allocation within the Protection Cluster in applicable operations.
– 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 P5 – 12 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 11 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 10 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree
Field(s) of Education
Humanitarian Law; International Relations; Law;
Political Science; International Refugee Law; or other relevant field.
Certificates and/or Licenses
HCR Learning Prog;
HCR Management Lrng Prg;
HCR Protection Learning Prg;
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Relevant Job Experience
Essential
– minimum 11 years of previous work experience in progressively responsible functions in an organisation or institution that administer/manage and assist a large number of asylum seekers, refugees and Displaced persons, preferably within the UN.
– Thorough knowledge in International refugee law, its applications under different circumstances; ability to analyse and advocate the application of various regional refugee instruments for the benefits of the persons of concern to UNHCR. Field experience, preferably in the context of UNHCR, in repatriation and resettlement of refugees.
Desirable
– Solid UNHCR experience from both the Field (including Hardship Duty stations) and Headquarters.
– UNHCR specific learning/training activities (i.e. Management Learning Programme, Protection Learning Programme).
Functional Skills
*PR-International Humanitarian Law
*PR-Refugee Resettlement programs
*PR-Managing large influx of Persons of Concern
*PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework
FO-Operational activities in hardship duty stations
*PR-Application of various regional refugee instruments
(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
Strong analytical skills to appreciate the geopolitical context in the region, and the resultant protection space in Jordan.
Strong sense of tact and diplomacy to effectively advocate with Government interlocutors.
Experience in coordinating several protection units headed by P4 level colleagues, and in providing strategic directions to them.
Experience in serving as member of a senior management team at country level, and in contributing to strategic discussions beyond immediate protection challenges.
Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):
,
,
Desired languages
,
,
Operational context
Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:
The Security Level for Amman and the rest of the country is assessed at Level 1 (MINIMAL), except the northeast Jordanian Syrian border area, where it is assessed at Level 3 (MODERATE). Road traffic accidents remain a pertinent risk to staff. Vehicle travel is difficult at certain times due to adverse weather conditions, low visibility and/or heavy traffic.
Nature of Position:
More than 762,000 asylum seekers and refugees are registered with UNHCR Jordan. Some 675,000 are Syrian while some 85,000 are non-Syrian, including from Iraq, Yemen, Sudan and several other nationalities. Just 19% of all Syrian refugees reside in 3 refugee camps (Zaatari, Azraq and EJC), while the rest are urban based. Refugee camps are managed by the SRAD, MOI and UNHCR. All non-Syrian refugees reside in urban setting.
UNHCR Jordan has 4 offices, BO Amman, SO Mafraq (including Zaatari camp), FO Irbid, and FO Azraq.
UNHCR provides different services to all refugees, including protection (CP, GBV), registration and documentation, education, health, cash, community-based protection, and durable solutions. UNHCR coordinates closely with the Government, UN agencies, and partners to ensure the delivery of its services under the One Refugee Approach. Close regard for the AGD, AAP, PSEA, and other UNHCR’s policy priorities is ensured.
UNHCR Jordan is a complex, dynamic, and innovative as it strives to make refugee interventions more efficient and meaningful. COVID-19 highlighted the need for continued adaptability and pointed on areas of risk (i.e., integrity and data protection) given stronger reliance on technology.
In accordance with its 2023-25 multi-year strategy, UNHCR Jordan seeks to achieve greater refugee inclusion and departure from parallel structures as it responds to the protracted Syrian refugee situation.
The Portfolio of the Assistant Representative (PRT) is an integral part of the multi-year strategy with critical reference points for relationship with the Government of Jordan.
The Assistant Representative (PRT) should possess strong experience in multiple protection capacities leading protection, RSD and registration solutions at large operations like Jordan. The position is key given close linkages with the key GoJ counterparts, the Refugee Affairs Coordination Office (RACO) and Syrian Refugee Affairs Directorate (SRAD), the Ministry of Interior. The s/m is representing the Organization with the Government and other partners and is expected to provide general and technical guidance to staff under her/his supervision and oversight. Solid legal and policy background in all focus areas is important.
Living and Working Conditions:
Amman: Jordan has a total population of 9.4 million people. Amman houses 42% of Jordan’s population, 4.008 million, making it the populous city in the country. Amman is categorized as (A) duty station.
Rent in Amman can vary depending on the size of the property itself, number of bedrooms and the area of Amman in which it is located. Renting a 3-bedroom apartment can range from 1100 – 2500 USD per month.
Amman tends to have a Mediterranean climate; summers are mildly hot, winter usually starts around the end of November and continues until mid-March, there is occasional snowfall.
The medium for teaching in international schools is English, however there are a few French language schools as well. There is a plethora of institutions for children of all ages from pre-school to high school as well universities.
The majority of international educational institutions are in Amman.
Amman is the home to many top-end hospitals and clinics. Due to Jordanian healthcare’s international appeal, nearly all doctors and many support staff speak English. Healthcare here is also very accessible and affordable.
Additional Qualifications
Skills
Education
Bachelor of Arts (BA): Humanitarian Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA): International Refugee Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA): International Relations, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Political Science
Certifications
HCR Learning Program – UNHCR, HCR Management Learning Program – UNHCR, HCR Protection Learning Program – UNHCR
Work Experience
Competencies
Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Leadership, Managing performance, Managing resource, Organizational awareness, Political awareness, Stakeholder management, Strategic planning & visions, Teamwork & collaboration
UNHCR Salary Calculator
https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales
Compendium
Bi-annual Compendium 2023 Part B – October 2023
Additional Information
Functional clearance
This position doesn’t require a functional clearance
How to apply
For a full job description and to apply, interested candidates are requested to visit
The UNHCR workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages and opinions. UNHCR seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.
Please note that UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, travelling, processing, training or any other fees).
Closing date of receipt of applications: 9 November 2023 (midnight Geneva time)