Associate Management Support Officer

Deadline for ApplicationsFebruary 7, 2026

Hardship LevelB

Family TypeFamily

Family TypeFamily

Residential location (if applicable)

GradeNOB

Staff Member / Affiliate TypeNational Professional Officer

ReasonRegular > Regular Assignment

Target Start Date2026-04-01

Standard Job Description

Associate Management Support Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The Associate Management Support Officer contributes to the effective delivery of management support services across key operational areas such as human resources, finance, supply chain, and administration. The incumbent supports the coordination of cross-functional processes and ensures operational activities are aligned with relevant guidelines and procedures. Working under the supervision of a more senior staff member, s/he assists in strengthening compliance, supporting operational planning, and promoting efficient service delivery. The role involves collaboration with functional counterparts and field offices to address routine management support issues and implement improvements as guided.

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

Human Resources

Assist in workforce planning, recruitment, and onboarding processes in coordination with HR focal points.

Provide basic guidance on the application of HR policies and support contract administration.

Facilitate the implementation of performance management tools and staff learning initiatives.

Support efforts to promote diversity, inclusion, and compliance with HR procedures.

Financial Management

Participate in the preparation and monitoring of office and operational budgets.

Compile and verify financial data for reporting and compliance with donor and UNHCR requirements.

Support financial trend analysis to assist in planning and resource allocation.

Liaise with Finance colleagues to ensure timely documentation and audit readiness.

Supply Chain and Procurement

Assist in procurement planning and ensure proper documentation of procurement actions.

Monitor delivery of goods and services and support asset and inventory tracking.

Coordinate with relevant staff on the use of enterprise systems for procurement and logistics.

Administrative and Office Management

Provide support in managing administrative functions such as travel, facilities, and records management.

Assist in the rollout of IT tools that support operational processes.

Contribute to consistency of administrative practices across units.

Risk Management

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

Years of Experience / Degree Level

For P2/NOB - 3 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 2 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 1 year relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education

Business Administration Finance Human Resources

Supply Chain Management or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses

Not specified.

(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience

Essential

Relevant experience in multi-functional management support roles in international, governmental, or non-profit organizations.

Desirable

Supervisory experience is an asset. Experience with Workday ERP, Oracle Cloud across multiple modules (People Management, Finance, Procurement) in a UN or international organization context.

Functional Skills

CO-Cross-cultural communication

FI-General Financial Management

HR-Administration of Staff Contracts and Benefits

SC-Supply Planning

DM-Data management

DM-Data governance, quality assurance and preservation

(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.

Competency Requirements

All jobs at UNHCR require six core competencies and may also require managerial competencies and/or cross-functional competencies. The six core competencies are listed below.

Core Competencies

Accountability

Communication

Organizational Awareness

Teamwork & Collaboration

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Client & Result Orientation

Managerial Competencies

Empowering & Building Trust

Judgement & Decision Making

Managing Performance

Managing Resource

Cross-Functional Competencies

Technological Awareness

Analytical Thinking

Change Capability & Adaptability

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 ideal candidate for the Associate Management Support Officer role in Iran will possess a blend of strong administrative acumen, adaptability, and a proactive approach to managing operations in a complex and dynamic environment. The successful candidate will bring both a strategic mindset and practical problem-solving skills, enabling them to navigate regulatory challenges, financial fluctuations, and operational hurdles effectively.

• Financial management and budgeting expertise are essential for this role. The candidate should have a proven ability to manage budgets and financial operations in high-inflation environments, implementing inflation-adjusted budgeting and efficient local cash flow management. They should be proficient in cost management, financial forecasting, and currency exchange strategies to mitigate economic instability, with familiarity in investment strategies for fund allocation and repatriation within regulatory constraints.

• Compliance and sanctions management experience is also critical, with a background in maintaining compliance with international sanctions and managing transactions within restricted financial networks. The candidate should demonstrate a strong understanding of compliance frameworks, meticulous attention to documentation, and an ability to work with authorized financial institutions to ensure regulatory adherence.

• Logistical and office setup capabilities are vital, as this role involves identifying and establishing new office space, and have a strategic approach to site selection, office setup, and resource coordination.

• In terms of currency and exchange rate management, the candidate should be skilled in managing exchange rate volatility and implementing strategies to safeguard budget integrity. Proficiency in exchange rate forecasting and the ability to collaborate on hedging strategies and adjust cash flow models in response to currency fluctuations are also essential.

• Leadership and stakeholder engagement skills are paramount, with proven experience in cross-functional teams within multicultural settings. The candidate should be adept at building relationships with local authorities, financial institutions. They should be an effective communicator and negotiator, with an inclusive and transparent approach to engaging local partners and fostering collaboration in complex operational landscapes.

• Additional attributes include high cultural sensitivity and awareness of the Iran context, and have a proactive, problem-solving mindset, anticipating challenges and developing practical solutions to ensure operational continuity.

Skills and Qualifications Required

For such a role, the Snr Operations Officer would need:

• Relevant Experience: Particularly in Admin/Finance but wider management background within a humanitarian setting. Experience in working at the Country Office at the same or similar level and function is desired.

• Strategic and Analytical Skills: The ability to analyze complex operational needs, make data-informed decisions, and adapt strategies to evolving situations. It is important that incumbent can present evidence-based argument to the Snr Management.

• Technical Expertise: Knowledge of Admin and Financial rules and regulations. Having HR knowledge is an advantage.

• Communication Skills: it is important to have excellent communication and interpersonal skills for this position.

• Coordination Abilities: Strong interpersonal skills to lead cross-functional teams, manage resources, and collaborate with diverse stakeholders effectively.

As such, having served in similar operations at the country level as well as field/HQ/Bureau is an advantage; however, it is important to note that s/he has good interpersonal and proven communication skills as s/he directly supervises a large team of national staff, including the affiliate workforce. Incumbent is requested to balance between duty of care and work objectives which requires high integrity value.

Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):

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Desired languages

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit:

Nature of Position:

The Islamic Republic of Iran has generously hosted forcibly displaced persons for over 40 years. Despite numerous challenges, and in the absence of equitable international responsibility sharing proportionate with the number of people being hosted, the country has upheld refugee-inclusive policies, ensuring continued quality access to essential public services, in particular including healthcare and education. In 2024, some 3.8 million people are recognized as refugees and refugee-like, making Iran the largest refugee-hosting country in the world.

Following the deterioration of the security and humanitarian situation in Afghanistan in August 2021, UNHCR rapidly scaled up its operation in Iran to respond to the large number of Afghans seeking safety in the country. Despite challenges, Iran has maintained its inclusive approach, providing forcibly displaced Afghans access to healthcare and education within the national systems as well as livelihood opportunities. However, economic challenges and an increased refugee population are making it harder for the Government of Iran to sustain its support and amplified their calls for improved international solidarity and responsibility-sharing to better assist refugees.

In the absence of short to medium-term opportunities for durable solutions, the majority of Afghans in Iran will remain reliant on both external assistance and the continuation of inclusive policies extended by the Government of Iran in areas of health and education. Against this backdrop and in a domestic and wider context which is increasingly constrained and polarized, the most strategic ‘investment’ is through international responsibility-sharing with a focus on promoting social cohesion and resilience, using humanitarian-development nexus approaches. Initiatives to bolster the resilience of Afghans are particularly critical, promoting participatory and community-based empowerment approaches, which equip them with the tools to overcome challenging circumstances themselves.

The Refugee Response Plan (RRP) for the Afghanistan situation was first developed in 2021, initially as a 6-month Refugee Preparedness and Emergency Response Plan, to support a coordinated response to Afghan refugees seeking international protection in neighbouring countries (Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan). Annual RRPs have subsequently been developed for 2022 and 2023 respectively, covering the whole of the refugee response in Iran and spanning the assistance spectrum. For 2024, a multi-year RRP was developed covering the period 2024-2025. The transition to a multi-year plan better aligns with the protracted situation of Afghans in Iran, helps contribute to more sustainable/longer-term outcomes, and lightens the planning and reporting process for partner organizations. In conjunction with RRP partners, UNHCR prioritizes the adoption of humanitarian-nexus approaches to Afghans displaced in Iran, particularly those in situations of protracted displacement. UNHCR supports the Government in maintaining its inclusive policies by strengthening health and education systems and service provision in refugee hosting areas. Despite economic challenges, the Government of Iran has maintained its inclusive policies, enabling refugees and undocumented Afghans to access health and education services within the national system. UNHCR supports the Government through the provision of protection and humanitarian assistance for refugees and also contributes to enhancing national services, which benefit persons of concern and host communities in urban areas and in the 20 refugee settlements across the country.

Economic Situation in Iran has continued to decline following the 12 Day War in June 2025, while the reinstatement of the Snapback (reinstated UN sanctions) has led to further deterioration of the overall situation, further fuelling a speeding inflation hitting hard in addition to large economic enterprises also medium and small businesses, as well as most households in the country. The created situation has triggered protests during the last part of December 2025 in Tehran and multiple locations in Iran, further growing to massive anti- government protests across all provinces in early January 2026, posing significant security challenges and burdening the operational environment.

The Associate Management Support Officer will play a crucial role in enhancing the operational effectiveness of the operation, where navigating complex economic conditions is essential for smooth administration, compliance, and resource management. This role involves managing day-to-day operations, ensuring that the team remains compliant with local regulations and organizational policies, and supporting the efficient allocation of resources across functions.

The Associate Management Support Officer will work closely with department leads to streamline workflows, manage procurement, and oversee office logistics, building a seamless operational framework that allows the team to focus on programmatic priorities. A