UN High Commissioner for Refugees
Senior Protection Associate (G7), Job Opening ID: 39045
The position is an opportunity to contribute to UNHCR’s legal protection function in the United Kingdom. The Senior Protection Associate will work as part of the UNHCR Quality Protection Partnership, assisting in the implementation of UNHCR’s oversight and capacity building functions within the UK Home Office.
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Senior Protection Associate reports to the Protection Officer or the Senior Protection Officer. The position may entail supervisory responsibilities for protection staff including community services, registration, resettlement and education depending on the structure of the Office. 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 Associate is expected to coordinate quality, timely and effective protection responses to the needs of populations of concern (PoC) and identify opportunities to mainstream protection methodologies and integrate protection safeguards in operational responses in all sectors. The incumbent contributes to designing a comprehensive protection strategy and represents the Office externally on protection doctrine and policy as guided by the supervisor.
S/he 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
- Stay abreast of political, social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on the protection environment.
- Consistently apply International and National Law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy, standards and codes of conduct.
- Assist in providing comments on existing and draft legislation related to PoC.
- Provide advice and guidance on protection issues to PoC; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documentation.
- Assist in conducting eligibility and status determination for PoC in compliance with UNHCR procedural standards and international protection principles.
- 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 as part of the protection strategy.
- Assist the supervisor in implementing and monitoring Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities.
- Manage individual protection cases including those on SGBV and child protection. Monitor, and assist the supervisor with intervening in cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents.
- Assist in identifying durable solutions for the largest possible number of PoC through 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.
- Contribute to and facilitate a programme of results-based advocacy with sectorial and/or cluster partners.
- Facilitate effective information management through the provision of disaggregated data on PoC and their problems.
- Participate in initiatives to capacitate authorities, relevant institutions and NGOs to strengthen national protection related legislation and procedures.
- Assist the supervisor with intervening with authorities on protection issues.
- Provide assistance to the supervisor in deciding priorities for reception, interviewing and counselling for groups or individuals.
- Assist the supervisor with enforcing compliance of staff and implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services.
- Assist the supervisor with enforcing compliance with, and integrity of, all protection standard operating procedures.
- Recommend and prepare payments to individual cases.
- Perform other related duties as required.
Operational Context
UNHCR UK and the Home Office have engaged in a quality assurance project since 2004 in which UNHCR reviews and provides advice with respect to various aspects of the UK asylum system and stateless determination procedure.
This Quality Protection Partnership (QPP), now, extended to 2024, covers a wide range of issues, including detention, decision making, and the treatment of children and others with specific needs. The position advertised will fall under this renewed framework and can be expected to contribute to a wide variety of tasks relevant to strengthening the fairness and efficiency of protection pathways.
In view of the unique relationship between UNHCR and the Home Office under the QPP and the sensitivity of the areas of work covered, it is desired for the incumbent to be familiar with government workings including the domestic asylum system. Prior experience with refugee status determination procedures is a strong asset. Successful candidates must have a respectful and collaborative communication style. Strong drafting, analytical and research skills are required.
As security clearance is mandatory, only persons who have the right to work in the UK and have been living in the UK for the three years prior to the date of application will be considered.
The position will require regular work both within the Home Offices premises in Croydon and UNHCR London’s offices near Chancery Lane.
Minimum Qualifications
Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For G7 – 4 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher
Field(s) of Education
Not applicable.
Certificates and/or Licenses
International Law; Political Science; or other relevant field.
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Not specified.
Desirable
RSD-Resettlement LP and/or Protection Learning Programme
Functional Skills
IT-Computer literacy
CL-Protection & Solutions Awareness
PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators
PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework
(Functional Skills marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Language Requirements
For General Service jobs: Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.
How to apply
Closing Date
Closing date for applications: 11PM GMT, Friday 12th August.
How to Apply
This position is a Temporary Appointment (TA) and the initial contract is for one year.
Interested internal candidates should apply through MSRP – Self-Service – Recruiting Activities – Careers (please search by JO number or by Location). Please update your personal profiles with all required information in order to be able to apply. Please consult the attached documents for further guidance on how to update the personal profile.
Interested external applicants are also invited to apply online and complete the mandatory motivation letter. External vacancies are posted on the external UNHCR website and applicants who do not have internal status must apply through the external UNHCR website. https://www.unhcr.org/careers.html – Careers – Career opportunities – Other Opportunities – Vacancies and search by Job Opening number 39045
Incomplete and late applications will not be accepted. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Shortlisted candidates will be required to sit for a written test and oral interview. UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing or any other fees).
UNHCR strongly encourages qualified female applicants to apply. UNHCR seeks to ensure that male and female employees are given equal career opportunities. UNHCR is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms gender, disability, marital or civil partnership status, race, or ethnic and national origins, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.
Salary: starting from net £41,162 (subjected to National Insurance contributions) depending on experience.
A complimentary written test will be conducted prior to interviewing.
Candidates must have the right to work in the UK prior to applying for this role. Due to the nature of the position, it is essential that candidates have uninterrupted legal residence in the United Kingdom over the last 3 years.
For any technical problems encountered during the online application, please send an email to the below email address titled ”Online VA Query-your name and surname”. Global Service Desk [email protected]
For questions about the vacancy please contact [email protected] – please note, applications sent via email will not be accepted.