Protection Associate

Deadline for ApplicationsFebruary 8, 2026

Hardship LevelU (unclassified)

Family TypeNo designation

Family TypeNo designation

Residential location (if applicable)

GradeGS6

Staff Member / Affiliate TypeGeneral Service

ReasonRegular > Regular Assignment

Target Start Date2026-04-01

Standard Job Description

Protection Associate

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The Protection Associate normally reports to the Protection Officer or the Senior Protection Officer. 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 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. S/he contributes to designing a comprehensive protection strategy and liaises externally with authorities and partners on protection doctrine and policy as guided by the supervisor.

The Protection Associate 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 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.

- 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.

- Monitor Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities.

- Manage individual protection cases including those on GBV and child protection. Monitor, and intervene 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.

- 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 in prioritizing PoC for interview, counselling and propose protection support for individual cases.

- Assist the supervisor with enforcing compliance of local implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services.

- Assit the supervisor with enforcing compliance with, and integrity of, all protection standard operating procedures.

- Submit individual payments request for PoC for approval.

- 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

For G6 - 3 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 related field

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

Relevant Job Experience

Essential

Not specified

Desirable

Protection Learning Programme

Functional Skills

IT-Computer Literacy

PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework

PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators

(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 incumbent must have experience in the area of refugee protection, human rights and international humanitarian law at field level, including experience in working directly with Government bodies and partners.

- Proven managerial experience supervising multi-functional and diverse teams is an additional asset

- Experience in supervising operations in a border area is highly needed.

- Strong skills in guiding and accompanying field staff in the delivery of community-based activities, ensuring that refugees, asylum seekers and migrants as well as host community needs and rights are considered are essential.

- Experience in providing technical guidance and support in the coordination of the implementation and evaluation of protection-related programming to local partners is required.

- Strong teamwork, communications, and interpersonal skills, as well as political awareness are essential.

- Fluency in Spanish is essential and a good level of English (minimum B2) is required

This position is based in Tacna, Peru.

Please note that this is a local recruitment. All candidates must provide a proof of permanent residency at the time of application.

This vacancy is open to internal candidates (i.e., staff members with an indefinite or fixed-term appointment in the same category as the position advertised) and candidates with UNHCR experience at the time of application (i.e., current staff members in other categories, JPOs, staff members on temporary appointment, affiliate workforce, interns, and staff loaned/seconded), only those will be considered for regular appointments and assignments.

Please note that this position is offered under an initial one-year Fixed-term appointment. Extension is subject to operational needs, budget, and performance.

Only short-listed candidates will be notified and might be requested to sit a test. No late applications will be accepted.

Recruitment as a UNHCR staff member is subject to proof of vaccination against Covid-19.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted based on the information submitted during the application. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, training, or any other fees).

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, color, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity. All applications willl be treated with the strictest confidentiality.

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

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,

Desired languagesSpanish

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

Nature of Position:

Living and Working Conditions:

Additional Qualifications

SkillsIT-Computer Literacy, PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators, PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework

Education

CertificationsInternational Law - Other, Political Science - Other

Work Experience

CompetenciesAccountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Judgement & decision making, Negotiation & conflict resolution, Organizational awareness, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration

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Compendium

Additional Information

Functional clearanceThis position doesn't require a functional clearance

JR2663444