Assistant Government Liaison Officer

September 21, 2025

Grade

NOA

National Professional Officer

Reason

Temporary > Temporary Assignment/ Appointment

H (no hardship)

Family

2025-10-01

2026-03-31

Standard Job Description

Assistant Government Liaison Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Assistant Government Liaison Officer is usually located in country operations. S/he plays a crucial support role in ensuring UNHCR's approach to the Government is consistent, strategic and coherent. UNHCR assists the Government on coordination, response delivery and protection issues. Typically, this involves joint coordination arrangements, partnership with various government departments in service delivery, and regular dialogue at all levels on refugee protection issues. The main aim is to assist senior management to ensure that UNHCR can fulfil its role to support the Government to lead the refugee response ensuring the protection of refugees and - in line with the GCR - promote the inclusion of refugees into national systems by coordinating with other actors - including development actors at the early stages of a refugee response and in mixed situations supporting the Government to prevent, respond to and resolve internal displacement while complementing and reinforcing national response efforts. This should be done in line with UNHCR's Mandate, the Global Compact for Refugees, the IDP policy, and agreed inter-agency commitments. More specifically, s/he advises the senior management on issues and processes concerning the relationship with the Government and related positioning, coordination, advocacy, information, resource allocation, fundraising, reporting, and communication with other UN agencies, NGOs, civil society actors, private sector, media and other relevant actors through strong engagement in humanitarian inter-agency processes, but also with a focus on development processes as they impact on UNHCR. The overall goal of the position is to support the effectiveness of UNHCR's leadership roles and responses to situations affecting people of concern to UNHCR (refugees, asylum-seekers, IDPs, stateless persons, returnees, host communities) through an open and transparent partnership approach with the Government.

The Assistant Government Liaison Officer ensures that support is provided for strategic planning, assessment, monitoring and analysis concerning the relationship with the Government. The Assistant Government Liaison Officer will support all planning and reporting activities. The incumbent will support the supervisor in maintaining a constant dialogue with the Government on the overall protection context. A key tool in this regard will be the facilitation and support of periodic meetings with the Government, as well as to support the broadening of mutual information through meeting reports, situation updates and newsletters.


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
- Assist in the establishment of close working relations with Government Officials and/or other external parties.
- Provide suggestions for promoting UNHCR's policies and liaising with Government authorities on issues related to latest humanitarian and development processes.
- Support coordination meetings as required, including by preparing meetings and background information, drafting minutes and follow-up documentation.
- Manage the flow of information to/from the supervisor and other senior staff; identifies priority matters that need to be urgently addressed by the supervisor.
- Draft correspondence, documents and reports, and prepares tables and ensures follow-up.
- Assist in ensuring appropriate links with the Government through establishment/maintenance of appropriate coordination and information exchange.
- Act on behalf of the supervisor to convey, clarify and explain UNHCR's positions to Government or other external parties as applicable.
- Inform the supervisor on a continuing basis of relevant information on the outcome of discussions with external parties.
- Act as interpreter during meetings held by the supervisor with senior officials or other external parties.
- Accompany the supervisor and Headquarters visitors to camps, border missions and provincial cities.
- May be required to coordinate the work of lower level staff.

- 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 P1/NOA - 1 year relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or no experience with Graduate degree; or no experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
Law/International Law;
Political Science;
Social Science;
Business Administration;
or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses
Not specified.

Relevant Job Experience
Essential:
Not specified.
Desirable:
Not specified.

Functional Skills
CO-Drafting and Documentation
CL-Multi-stakeholder Communications with Partners, Government & Community
SO-Networking
(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.

Please note that this a Temporary Assignment in a replacement capacity for a period of 6 months and without foreseeable possibility of extension.

Desired Candidate Profile

Given the complexity of the regional and political context and ongoing legal reform, the office requires an experienced Assistant Government Liaison Officer who must demonstrate a strong understanding for the national context, including the political, central and local levels, and a solid knowledge of EU asylum law and national law, as well as the ability to engage constructively with a wide range of stakeholders, in particular the government. The ability to analyse the context, identify the most important developments for UNHCR’s work, as well as the main gaps and propose strategic responses is essential. Strong analytical and drafting skills are essential, and strategic thinking skills are desirable. Given the unpredictable context resulting from the conflict in Ukraine, the incumbent must be flexible and adaptable, ready to take on a wide range of tasks that may evolve depending on the needs of the UNHCR Office in Slovakia. Desirable qualifications and skills include:

• previous experience working in the Slovak national system, legal framework and public or human rights institutions, while previous experience working with the government bodies would be considered an advantage;
• understanding of international, EU and national laws, UN/UNHCR and IASC policies, standards, and codes of conduct;
• strong analytical, writing and reporting skills in both English and Slovak;
• negotiation skills to maintain operational space with government counterparts and other stakeholders would be an advantage;
• strong communication and problem-solving skills due to the need to work with various government interlocutors.

Language Requirements

Knowledge of English as the UN working language of the duty station and knowledge of Slovak language is required.

Eligibility

This position is open to applications from internal and external candidates, provided that requirements regarding professional experience, academic qualifications, language, etc. are fulfilled. A break of minimum 31 days is required before a staff member who currently holds a Fixed Term or Indefinite Appointment may be rehired on a Temporary Appointment. This requirement is waived if the staff member is selected for a Temporary Appointment in another duty station.

Candidates must be primarily nationals of Slovakia and be locally recruited within the country of their employment. The minimum educational requirement for this position is a university degree.

TO THE ATTENTION OF EXTERNAL CANDIDATES:
External Candidates must meet the essential minimum requirements of the position and must have either Slovak citizenship or the legal status necessary to work in Slovakia.

Your application will NOT be considered if;
- The residence/work permit is not submitted (for non-Slovak candidates)

TO THE ATTENTION OF ALL CANDIDATES:
Your application will NOT be considered if the application form is not duly filled.

Additional Information

UNHCR’s workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages and opinions. We seek to sustain and strengthen this diversity and to ensure equal opportunities, as well as an inclusive working environment, for our entire workforce. Joining us means living, sharing and promoting these core values of inclusion, diversity and gender equality.

Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on the grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.
UNHCR reserves the right to retain applications and consider external candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNHCR at the same grade or lower level and with similar job descriptions, experience, and educational requirements for the appointment of a shorter duration (Temporary Appointment).

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

Shortlisted candidates may be required to sit for a test. Only shortlisted candidates will be notified. No late applications will be accepted.

Remuneration & Benefits

A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. The monthly gross salary is between EUR 3,157 and EUR 3,816, depending on relevant experience, dependency status and language proficiency. The net amount may vary depending on entitlements and deductions applicable. The deductions include a mandatory Medical Insurance Plan deduction and contribution to the UN Joint Staff Pension Fund, while the entitlements may include dependency allowance. For more information on UN salaries, allowances and benefits, please visit the portal of the Office of HR Management of United Nations.

UNHCR also offers comprehensive medical insurance and pension plans.

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:
To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit this link:

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Operational Context:
Slovakia continues to receive individuals crossing its borders to flee ongoing hostilities. Since the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022, more than 170,000 refugees have applied for temporary protection (TP) in Slovakia, predominantly women and children. As of 24 August 2025, close to 135,000 individuals hold valid TP status granted by the Slovak government. Women and children constitute nearly 80 percent of the total displaced population, including the elderly, people with disabilities, and those with urgent health needs.

Slovakia’s strategic geographical position and EU membership will continue to place it at the crossroads of regional displacement and migration dynamics, including as a potential transit or destination country. Given these dynamics, the country remains central to the regional humanitarian architecture and requires sustained engagement by international actors. The EU Pact on Migration and Asylum establishes a comprehensive approach to make migration management in Europe more efficient and sustainable.

The Pact is due to be implemented by mid-2026, and Slovakia will be one of the first countries to be reviewed by the EUAA in January 2027. In this context, UNHCR will continue to reinforce its role as a technical and strategic partner to national authorities, supporting the translation of international commitments into national practice, including those under the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum. This will include providing national authorities with specialized expertise on reforming legal, regulatory, organizational and operational frameworks to meet the new legal obligations under the Pact, policy guidance and capacity-building support to ensure that protection-sensitive responses remain at the core of the framework for managing human mobility.

The extension of the Temporary Protection Directive (TPD) until 4 March 2027, together with the European Commission’s proposed coordinated measures for the transition from temporary protection, marks a key moment in the EU’s response to displacement from Ukraine. Within this evolving framework, UNHCR plays a key role in monitoring the implementation of the TPD, advising on legal safeguards, advocating for simplified, harmonized, and rights-based procedures, strengthening access to legal counselling, providing technical guidance to national authorities and supporting pathways to durable solutions.

With the protracted nature of displacement, the needs of refugees from Ukraine in Slovakia have also shifted. While considerable progress has been made in many sectors of the response, including by national authorities and humanitarian partners, specific risks and needs among the refugee population remain unresolved, and several challenges require targeted and sustainable solutions. These include barriers to inclusion in national systems, legal obstacles affecting their access to protection and essential services, and protection risks faced by vulnerable groups.

UNHCR will maintain its leadership role in the refugee response while shifting from direct service provision to strengthening Slovak institutions, systems, and civil society actors for long-term sustainability. In doing so, UNHCR aims to safeguard asylum space, promote inclusive policies, and ensure that the voices of refugees continue to inform decisions that affect their lives.

Nature of Position:
The Assistant Government Liaison Officer is based in the UNHCR National Office in Bratislava, Slovakia, and reports to the Head of Office. S/he plays a key role in ensuring that UNHCR’s approach to the government is consistent, strategic and coherent. UNHCR assists the government in coordination, response and protection issues. Typically, this includes joint coordination arrangements such as the Refugee Coordination Forum, partnering with different government departments in service delivery and regular dialogue at all levels on refugee protection issues. The main objective is to assist senior management in ensuring that UNHCR can fulfil its role in supporting the government to continue to lead the refugee response, ensuring the protection of refugees and - in line with the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) - promoting the inclusion of refugees into national systems through coordination with other actors - including development actors. This should be done in line with UNHCR’s mandate and agreed inter-agency commitments. More specifically, s/he advises senior management on issues and processes concerning government relations and related positioning, coordination, advocacy, information, resource allocation, fundraising, reporting and communication with other UN agencies, NGOs, civil society actors, the private sector, the media and other relevant stakeholders through strong engagement in humanitarian inter-agency processes, but also with a focus on relevant development processes. The overall objective of this position is to support the effectiveness of UNHCR’s leadership roles and responses to situations affecting the people for whom UNHCR works in Slovakia (refugees, temporary protection holders, asylum seekers, stateless persons, host communities) through an open and transparent partnership approach with the government.

The Assistant Government Liaison Officer provides support for strategic planning, assessment, monitoring and analysis of relations with the government. The Assistant Government Liaison Officer will support all planning and reporting activities. The incumbent will support the Head of Office in maintaining a continuous dialogue with the government on the overall protection context. A key tool in this regard will be facilitating and supporting periodic or ad hoc meetings with the government, as well as supporting the dissemination of information through meeting report, situation updates and inputs to senior management.

Living and Working Conditions:
Slovakia is a developed country with an advanced, high-income economy. It also performs favourably in measurements of civil liberties, press freedom, internet freedom, democratic governance, and peacefulness. The country maintains a combination of a market economy with a comprehensive social security system, providing citizens with universal health care, free education, and one of the longest paid parental leaves in the OECD. Slovakia became an independent state on 1 January 1993 after the peaceful dissolution of Czechoslovakia. It has, nevertheless, remained a close partner with the Czech Republic. Both countries co-operate with Hungary and Poland in the Visegrád Group. In 2024, Peter Pellegrini became the new president of Slovakia for a five-year term. The country has the beautiful Tatra Mountains, the Danube river and many historical places, including eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Bratislava offers good living conditions with a wide range of hotels, Airbnb, and apartments and flats. Accommodation can be sourced using the services of property agencies, as well as through various online websites. International schools are available. Health care is relatively good, but there is a shortage of professionals in many occupations, including doctors and medical staff, making access to health care somewhat challenging.

No specific security conditions pertain to Slovakia. Bratislava is a safe metropolitan city, however, as in any other city, caution shall be exercised when using public transport to avoid pickpocketing. Political protests can happen at short notice and may turn violent. Large gatherings must be avoided.

This position doesn't require a functional clearance

Slovak

,

English

,

,

,

Skills

CL-Multi-stakeholder Communications with Partners, Government & Community, CO-Drafting and Documentation, SO-Networking

Education

Bachelor of Arts: Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts: Law, Bachelor of Arts: Political Science, Bachelor of Arts: Social Science

Certifications

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Temporary Appointment is for a period of 6 months.