Government Liaison Associate

September 21, 2025

H (no hardship)

FamilyFamily

GS6

General Service

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2025-10-01

Government Liaison Associate

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Government Liaison Associate is a member of the Government Liaison Unit. S/he normally reports to the (Senior) Government Liaison Officer. The incumbent receives regular guidance and advice from the supervisor. S/he participates in all meetings/working groups related to the Government and to provide support on coordination work on common processes.
Under the supervision of the (Senior) Government Liaison Officer, the responsibilities of the Government Liaison Associate is to give, obtain and exchange information requiring discussions and explanations both to UNHCR staff members, Government authorities and other external parties on subject matters which may be of importance to the Organization.

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 officials in various ministries especially Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Keep track of evolving issues concerning asylum seekers, stateless persons and refugees within the Area of Responsibility (AoR).
- Ensure that the office is kept informed of local and international developments which may have a political or operational impact on the office's relation with the Government, including latest developments with regard to the implementation of the GCR, UN reform etc.
- Inform the supervisor and/or other senior managers on a continuing basis of relevant information on the outcome of discussions with government authorities on various issues.
- Assist senior management in dealing with the challenges posed by the political context, developments with the Government and issues related to humanitarian and development processes.
- Accompany the Representative/Deputy Representative/Head of Office and Headquarters visitors on missions and meetings.
- Assist in preparation for different visits and missions to the Operation.
- Liaise with Government partners and local authorities on behalf of UNHCR, as required.
- Draft correspondence and reports as required and assist in the drafting of briefing notes, background material, talking points, fact sheets, as required.
- Manage budget, when requested, including tracking expenditures.
- Initiate upon request of the supervisor the contact with the relevant external parties on various issues.
- Coordinate with different units in the office that information presented to government authorities is duly verified and endorsed by the supervisor.

- 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
Political/Social Science;
Business Administration;
or other relevant field;
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Not specified.
Desirable
Good knowledge of UNHCR operations and good political awareness.

Functional Skills
MS-Drafting, Documentation, Data Presentation
MS-Networking
CO-Cross-cultural communication;
(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.

As the ER team works closely with colleagues across the office and organization, the position requires excellent writing and communication skills, an ability to work collaboratively in a multicultural and international environment, and strong relationship-building and stakeholder management skills. Ability to prioritize and multi-task in a fast-paced work environment is a must. Given the U.S.’ engagement on global refugee and humanitarian assistance issues and its role as the top donor to UNHCR, the ER unit routinely supports high-level visits to Washington by senior UNHCR officials, so the position requires a high level of attention to detail, experience assisting in the preparation, planning, and follow-ups for such types of visits, experience supporting and liaising with senior officials and their teams, and exceptional diplomacy and interpersonal skills. This position requires an awareness of political and public sensitivities around refugee issues, and an understanding of the U.S. policymaking and legislative processes. Demonstrated commitment to refugee and humanitarian policies highly desirable. Prior experience working with senior officials in the U.S. government or Congress is highly desirable.

No late applications can be accepted, and applicants are able to withdraw directly from Workday Careers page until the Job Requisition has attained a certain stage in the vacancy management process. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. A written test and/or interview may be conducted as part of the selection process.
This is a locally recruited position. All applicants must be legally residing in the United States and possess a valid work permit (Employment Authorization Document - EAD) or permanent resident status at the time of application.

English

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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:

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Nature of Position:

The Government Liaison Associate reports to the Senior External Relations Officer and is part of the External Relations unit in the UNHCR Multi-Country Office in Washington (MCOW). The External Relations Unit works to engage and inform U.S. government officials, Congress, the diplomatic community, and civil society about UNHCR’s global strategic priorities and operations and the needs of refugees and other forcibly displaced persons, and to ensure continued bipartisan U.S. support for the organization’s work around the globe. The Government Liaison Associate monitors U.S. policy developments related to humanitarian assistance; attends think tank and other external briefings and other events of interest; provides regular information sharing, analysis, and reporting to HQ, Bureau, and field colleagues on relevant U.S. political and policy developments; provides support to the Senior ER Officer on budget and planning processes; provides logistical support for high-level events and meetings; and plays a critical role in organizing incoming visits by senior UNHCR officials. The GL Associate also drafts, edits, and formats materials such as talking points for meetings, as well as briefs and updates for distribution to key external audiences and partners.

Living and Working Conditions:

Multi-Country Washington is an H duty station. There are no particular security considerations in the USA or the Caribbean in general, and the living conditions in Washington D.C. are comfortable and safe. The post requires occasional mission travel to field locations. Current operational circumstances might require frequently long working hours. There is a need for security awareness, especially about criminality, when traveling to certain locations. MCOW is under the purview of a regional staff safety officer based in the Regional Bureau in Panama.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Bachelor of Arts: Diplomacy, Bachelor of Arts: International Affairs

Certifications

Business Administration - Other, Political Science - Other, Social Sciences - Other

Workforce to Supervise

Competencies

Accountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Negotiation & conflict resolution, Organizational awareness, Political awareness, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration

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

Compendium

Additional Information

Please note: This is a locally recruited position. All applicants must be legally residing in the United States and possess a valid work permit (Employment Authorization Document - EAD) or permanent resident status at the time of application.

This position doesn't require a functional clearance