Representative

Deadline for ApplicationsMarch 9, 2026

Hardship LevelB

Family TypeFamily

Family TypeFamily

Residential location (if applicable)

GradeDI1

Staff Member / Affiliate TypeProfessional

ReasonRegular > Regular Assignment

Target Start Date2026-02-06

Standard Job Description

Representative

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

As the High Commissioner's senior representative in the country, the Representative provides managerial leadership and oversight to ensure UNHCR's effective performance in the country of her/his assignment. The incumbent usually manages a budget of USD 6 million and above.

Reporting to the Director of the Bureau, the Representative is responsible and accountable for translating organizational and Bureau-wide objectives and policies into effective programmes. Through a continuous process of situational analysis, the Representative works with his/her team to identify strategic objectives and develop coherent, consistent and effective responses to the challenges faced. He/she is responsible for ensuring the adequate provision of technical support and guidance to the office to enable them to fulfil their accountabilities, including those outlined in the Terms of Reference of UNHCR offices as well as the Age, Gender and Diversity Accountability Framework.

The Representative works to ensure that UNHCR is widely perceived as an effective and trusted partner. S/he is responsible for creating effective networks, relationships, partnerships, and synergies with governments, NGOs, relevant regional political and other fora, civil society, forcibly displaced and stateless persons and other key strategic partners and actors. He/she lends visibility to important strategic issues, promotes concerted action and the commitment of sufficient resources and expertise to address important matters of concern to UNHCR. UNHCR is well integrated into the UN Resident Coordinator System.

In a complex and demanding political and operational environment, the Representative strives to build a dynamic and sufficiently capacitated team. S/he devolves appropriate authorities, facilitates the sharing of expertise and best practice and creates a climate of collaboration, which aims to empower and motivate colleagues to approach challenges with insight and innovation and to work toward achieving measurable and effective results. The Representative is responsible to ensure a vibrant Multi-Functional Team approach is established and employed at different stages of the operations management cycle, including in programme monitoring, and engaging the participation of relevant functions within the operation. S/he has a responsibility to inform the Bureau and other relevant parties at Headquarters of key political and operational developments in a timely manner.

The comports and actions of the Representative must always reflect the core values and principles embodied in UNHCR's mandate. A failure on the part of the Representative to adhere to these standards would have negative implications for UNHCR's credibility, operations and, ultimately, the protection and well-being of forcibly displaced and stateless persons to the Office.

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

Strategic Direction

- Stay abreast of the challenges posed by the local political context.

- Manage a consultative process within the country operations and with external partners.

- Develop and implement a comprehensive communications strategy that generates political and financial support for UNHCR's operations. Mobilize financial support for UNHCR corporate priorities as well for country specific projects.

Operations

- Implement a results-oriented approach, engaging a robust Multi-Functional Team, for assessing, designing, delivering and monitoring the country operation.

- Ensure that the protection strategy is fully integrated into the country operations plan and that necessary resources are allocated to it.

- Ensure the country operation's adherence to UNHCR's policy on Age, Gender and Diversity Mainstreaming (AGDM).

- Ensure the country operation plans are consistent with the regional and global strategic priorities; manage a participatory process, with stakeholders, to apply UNHCR's standards and indicators in assessing and measuring the performance of the country operations.

- Promote accession to the Convention and Protocol and ensure the application of protection standards in the treatment of forcibly displaced and stateless persons, especially women and children.

- Ensure forcibly displaced and stateless persons, especially women and children, have access to relevant information; ensure that cases of sexual violence and abuse against girls and boys are reported and dealt with expeditiously.

- Ensure the engagement of UNHCR in the UNCT, UN common programming, planning and funding activities and to actively contribute in the establishment of the CCA/UNDAF and the consequent joint implementation activities.

- Participate in the Cluster approach, ensure UNHCR's Cluster Lead role and implement other IASC and inter-agency/UN policies.

- Ensure that risks to the operation's objectives are regularly assessed, priority risks are identified and risk treatments for the priority risks form an integral part of the operations plans.

Resource Management

- Ensure that staff and financial resources are commensurate with operational objectives.

- Ensure effective and efficient management of resources within the rules and procedures of UNHCR.

- Establish and manage local administrative mechanisms such as a Local Contracts (or Purchasing) Committee, Local Asset Management Board and APPC.

- Ensure local compliance with UNHCR's human resources (HR) policies including on gender, disabilities, diversity, ethics and HIV/AIDS.

- Manage a process of recruitment, assignment and reassignment of local staff for the country operation, in accordance UN/UNHCR rules and procedures.

- Where necessary, identify the most appropriate affiliate workforce and optimize its use.

- In coordination with the Global Learning Centre, ensure that the learning needs of UNHCR's workforce in the country are identified, assessed and addressed.

- Exercise effective managerial oversight, direction, guidance and support and conduct regular performance appraisals and coaching.

Security

- In close collaboration with the Designated Official (DO), UNDSS and UN country team/Security Management Team (SMT), gather and analyse information on the local security situation and play an active role in the inter-agency security and contingency planning processes.

- Ensure that appropriate security measures are in place to protect staff, and that the country operation complies with UN MOSS/MORSS staff security rules, guidelines and procedures.

- Represent UNHCR in the UNCT/Humanitarian Country Team and other inter-agency fora.

- Decide on the country strategy and priorities, country operations plans, and approve the country operation's protection strategy.

- Enforce local compliance with UNHCR s global protection, programme, finance and human resources and security policies and standards.

- Negotiate and sign local agreements with implementing and operational partners.

- Authorize payments as per the organization's Delegation of Authority Plan (DOAP) and in accordance with UN/UNHCR rules and procedures.

- Modify operational projects and reallocate funds, within the approved budgets and in respect of donor earmarking.

- 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 D1 - 17 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 16 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 15 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education

Business Administration; International Relations; Law;

Political Science; Social Science; or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses

HCR Learning Prog; HCR Managing Operatns Lrng Prg;

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

Relevant Job Experience

Essential

- Extensive knowledge of UNHCR operations and services. Extensive knowledge of UNHCR operations and services.

- A high level of skill in management of broad programmes, political decision making and negotiating, as well as demonstrated tolerance to frequently changing and highly charged situations.

- Ability to lead strategic planning, change processes, results-based management and reporting.

- Ability to lead formulation, oversight of implementation, monitoring and evaluation of operations.

- Ability to manage for results: translates strategic aims into achievable plans, with established priorities, monitors them, making periodic adjustments as required.

- Ability to effectively represent UNHCR at the senior level in internal and external meetings and to build strong relationships with clients.

Desirable

- Knowledge of geo-political realities and their socio-cultural implications.

Functional Skills

MG-Client Relationship Management

MG-Change Management

PG-Programme Management (project formulation, programme cycles and reporting standards)

PG-Results-Based Management

UN-UN/UNHCR Inter-agency Policies, Standards, Programmes, and Partnerships

UN-UN/UNHCR Mandate and Global Strategic Priorities

MG-Field Operations Management

MG-Political Decision Making

MG-Country/Regional Office Representation

UN-Analysis of geo-political realities and their socio-cultural implications

(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 Essential Attributes:

The incumbent candidate should be a well-seasoned professional with solid operations management experience having preformed representational functions, supported by a broad range of experience of having directly supervised team across a number of functions such as protection, programme, project control, supply, risk management, and Inter-agency / external relations, in HQ/regional settings, and in mid to large size refugee complex operations.

The candidate must have excellent negotiation skills, be patient and flexible, an excellent time manager, a team-builder and be able to represent UNHCR in a number of forums with other UN agencies, embassies, INGOs, Government and other stakeholders.

The incumbent will need to possess proven managerial skills to provide support to the Operation. Strong interpersonal skills, strategic thinking and flexibility in undertaking diverse functions and competing tasks are therefore essential.

Desirable Attributes:

In addition, representational experience and knowledge of the region is considered an advantage.

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 this link:

Nature of Position:

Pakistan is one of the largest refugee hosting countries globally, despite the fact that almost 1 million Afghans returned from Pakistan in 2025 in adverse circumstances. Pakistan has hosted a significant Afghan population for over 40 years, but beginning in late 2023 the Government announced its Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Programme (IFRP), resulting in the forced return of Afghan nationals, including documented refugees. Despite extremely challenging forced return policies and ongoing advocacy for the establishment of a protection mechanism as a milestone towards a national asylum system, UNHCR works to provide protection and assistance to the millions of Afghans who still remain, in an effort to mitigate further displacement – Afghans lodged by far the most applications in the EU+ in September 2025.

Being a protracted but emergency prone operation, the Representative is required to support its constantly changing needs and adapt/respond to its demanding challenges due to the complex geo-political context while developing a longer-term vision for protection and solutions after the forced returns and the decision of the Government of Pakistan to “denotify” 54 Refugee Villages (RVs) across the country, followed by the gradual suspension of services in the RVs. S/he will therefore have to be actively engaged in pursuing systematic partnership and dialogue with the Government, other stakeholders and interlocutors, including with members of the Support Platform for the Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees (SSAR).

The Representative will manage the country Operation. S/he will promote UNHCR 's objectives and priorities through formal and informal contacts with relevant government bodies, UN agencies, development actors, diplomatic missions, I/NGOs, media and other interested parties to mobilize support for the work of UNHCR. The Representative will also play a critical role in developing and supervising the implementation of the Multi-Year Strategy, and ensure effective and efficient management of protection, operations, Programme, financial and material resources within the rules and procedures of UNHCR.

Living and Working Conditions:

Islamabad is a category B family duty station, and is a low risk security area. In spite of this, the situation is fluid with demonstrations and regional tensions occurring sporadically resulting in