Associate Field Security Officer

Please note that this vacancy is only open to eligible staff members who have been individually notified of their eligibility to apply for positions advertised in the Accelerated Posting Compendium.

Deadline for ApplicationsJuly 20, 2026

Hardship LevelD

Family TypeFamily

Residential location (if applicable)

GradePR2

Staff Member / Affiliate TypeProfessional

ReasonRegular > Regular Assignment

Target Start Date2026-07-02

Standard Job Description

Associate Field Security Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The Associate Field Security Officer coordinates and supports all activities pertaining to workforce security and security for forcibly displaced and stateless people. The duty of the incumbent is to support, develop plans and monitor the management of security issues.

The incumbent is supervised by a senior officer who defines the work objectives and provides general guidance. The incumbent contacts are predominantly with other UN agencies, implementing partners and government departments on relevant subject matters at the working level.

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

Advise and support the Representative or the Head of Office in managing the safety and security of UNHCR personnel, partners, operations, premises, and forcibly displaced and stateless people.

Undertake and advise on Security Risk Management (SRM) and support in compliance with security measures and identify areas needing improvement.

Support the development of security plans for evacuation/relocation, medical evacuation, and other security contingencies.

In cooperation with UNHCR senior personnel, assist in ensuring that security measures are fully integrated into operational planning, including budgetary provisions, at the earliest stages of development.

As a member of a multi-functional team, contribute to efforts to ensure the physical protection and security of forcibly displaced and stateless people.

Establish and build relationships with security-related actors on behalf of UNHCR, including host government law enforcement authorities, the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS), and partner agencies.

Support UNHCR management as members of the country Security Management Team (SMT) or Area Security Management Team (ASMT), and Area Security Coordinators (ASC).

Represent UNHCR at the Security Cell as required.

Provide country-relevant security advice and training to UNHCR personnel and, where appropriate, to personnel of NGOs and operational partners.

Conduct rehearsals and practical exercises to ensure that personnel are familiar with security contingency plans and can implement them confidently in an emergency.

Establish communication mechanisms in support of security plans, providing training to personnel, including wardens.

Prepare periodic reports on security issues in accordance with UNSMS and UNHCR standard operating procedures, sharing with managers in the country of assignment and, as appropriate, regional security coordinators and the Field Security Service.

Maintain linkages with the Psychosocial Wellbeing Section, and the Medical Service, referring cases as required.

Ensure a person-centered approach to all aspects of UNHCR security risk management, including the diverse personal profiles of personnel and the development of appropriate support and measures.

Undertake other security-related functions or responsibilities as necessitated by the operational context.

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

Security Management; Risk Management; Political Science;

International Relations; or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses

Security Management Learning Program; First Aid Training;

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

Relevant Job Experience

Essential

Not specified.

Desirable

Relevant trainings (first aid, etc.). Experience in having established working networks with law enforcement and other security actors.

Functional Skills

FS-Security Risk Management

FS-Security Analysis

FS-National Security Forces

FS-National Law Enforcement Agency

FS-Security Planning

CO-Drafting and Documentation

IT-Computer Literacy

(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

Judgement and Decision Making

Managing Resources

Cross-Functional Competencies

Analytical Thinking

Political Awareness

Stakeholder Management

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

- Demonstrated experience in conducting security risk and contextual analysis, including assessment of security, political, and socio-economic developments affecting operations.

- Proven knowledge of the United Nations Security Management System (UNSMS), including application of security policies and participation in inter-agency security coordination mechanisms.

- Experience contributing to Security Risk Management (SRM) processes and preparing security-related documents, including SOPs, contingency plans, LCSS, and security advisories.

- Experience in advising on and implementing security risk mitigation measures (evacuation, relocation, …) in high-risk or rapidly evolving operational environments.

- Demonstrated ability to produce analytical reports, security assessments, and operational recommendations to support decision-making.

DESIRABLE ATTRIBUTES

- Experience supporting security emergency preparedness and response activities, including evacuation and relocation procedures.

- Familiarity with the security, political, and operational context of Iran and the broader region.

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

,

,

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:

The Islamic Republic of Iran has hosted refugees and other forcibly displaced populations for more than four decades and remains one of the largest refugee-hosting countries globally. In partnership with UNHCR, the Government has maintained a refugee-inclusive approach, providing access to national health and education systems and other essential services for refugees and refugee-like populations, predominantly from Afghanistan. Following developments in Afghanistan since August 2021, Iran continued to receive significant numbers of Afghans seeking safety, further increasing demands on national resources, public services and humanitarian assistance.

Despite economic pressures and competing national priorities, the Government has continued to support inclusive policies for refugees and displaced Afghans. UNHCR works closely with government counterparts and humanitarian partners to strengthen protection and assistance programmes, support access to education and healthcare, promote social cohesion and community resilience, and advance humanitarian-development nexus approaches benefiting both displaced and host communities. The operation covers urban refugee populations as well as refugees residing in settlements across the country.

The operational environment in Iran remains complex and dynamic. The country continues to experience the effects of the June 2025 conflict and the subsequent large-scale military confrontation involving Iran, Israel and the United States between February and April 2026. Although hostilities have ceased and a Memorandum of Understanding was signed in June 2026 to support de-escalation and negotiations, regional tensions remain elevated and require continuous monitoring.

In addition to the general uncertainty where we need to be attentive on changing operational environment on daily basis, demonstration in early January and severe crack down have resulted further scrutiny and limitation of communication, linking to the office and staff security. Furthermore, since UNHCR is only UN entities in Iran where we have field locations (5 in addition to Tehran country office), our area of coverage is incomparable to other UN entities which require substantial work with the DSS.

The security environment is further influenced by economic challenges, including the impact of international sanctions, inflation, currency depreciation and reduced purchasing power. These factors have contributed to socioeconomic pressures, periodic demonstrations, localized unrest and heightened security measures in parts of the country. Transportation disruptions, communication outages and movement restrictions may occur with limited notice and require effective contingency planning and security risk management.

Associate Security Officer will report directly to the Country Representative and will be working with and will be directly supervising a Field security Associate (G6). While based in Tehran, the incumbent will have responsibilities throughout UNHCR operation in Iran, which includes in addition to the Country Office in Tehran also Sub offices in Shiraz, Mashhad and Kerman, as well as Field units in Esfahan and Dogharoun.

UN Iran operates with the UN Country Team, under the leadership of Resident Coordinator (RC) who is a Designated Official (DO). DO chairs the Security Management Team (SMT), while Security Cell is comprised of Agency Security Focal Points. The incumbent will also provide support, capacitate and work closely with UNHCR Security Focal Points in all UNHCR locations in the field. The role of the Assc. Security Officer is to also take a lead in discussions related to the updating of the Business Continuity Plan in coordination with Focal Points in the offices/ units, as well as in ensuring the compatibility of the UNHCR Programme Criticality designations with the programme Criticality framework of UN in Iran.

Living and Working Conditions:

UNHCR is present in Iran through its Country Representation in Tehran, three Sub-Offices (Mashhad, Kerman, Shiraz), a Field Office in Tehran, and two Field Units (Esfahan and Dogharoun).

Tehran is a B-category duty station (Family duty station – currently there is temporary suspension of family to be in DS provisionally until end June 2026 see below).

Certain aspects of working/living conditions in Iran could be affected by the ongoing sanctions and security situation.

Issuance of entry visa and residence permit for international staff and their dependents/family members is subject to the approval of the Government, for which the process can take 2-3 months. International staff and their family members residing in Iran are required to follow the cultural practices in Iran, which include the donning of culturally appropriate dress, particularly for women.

Iranian schools only teach subjects in Farsi. There are a few privately owned schools offering curriculums in English in Tehran. There are also some Embassy schools such as French Embassy School, and Italian Embassy offering courses in their native language. German Embassy School, in its international section, provides classes in English up to grade 8, which is open for any nationals. This school is a candidate school for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programs KG1 to 5, but as of October 2022, no international schools in Iran offer IB curriculum.

Similarly, the Pakistan Embassy School and Indian Embassy School also offer courses in English, which however are open only to nationals of the respective countries. There can be changes regarding international schools in Iran and international staff members are constantly updated on the most recent developments.

In Tehran, pharmacies, shops, shopping malls, markets, cafes/restaurants, etc. are available. Staff can purchase basic commodities, groceries, household items, and clothing, while some foreign products / international food items may be less easily available or available with higher costs. Living costs in Tehran are on the rise with some 40% inflation rates annually. Iranian banks are available and accessible to foreign nationals through a required process. There are several hospitals and clinics offering medical services to Iranians and foreign nationals alike, although, at times the language can be a barrier for international staff who do not speak Farsi. Staff live in private accommodation – different options are available with varying rental prices.

There is one international airport and one domestic airport in Tehran and several cities around Iran. For in-country travel, there are multiple domestic flights and trains connecting Tehran to cities/towns across the country, including where UNHCR has offices. When required, the office also use road missions. Direct international flights are connected to a number of countries with several airlines.

The current security environment in Iran remains influenced by the aftermath of the 2025–2026 armed conflict involving the U.S. and Israel. Although the current ceasefire has reduced the likelihood of sustained conflict, the associated risk is assessed as medium according to the