Senior Protection Assistant

February 3, 2026

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

U (unclassified)

No designationUNOPS LICA5

2026-02-011. General Background

The Senior Protection Assistant normally reports to a more senior Protection colleague. 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 Senior Protection Assistant provides quality, timely and effective protection support to refugees and asylum seekers and identifies opportunities to mainstream protection methodologies and safeguards in operational responses. S/he contributes to designing a comprehensive protection strategy and may liaise externally with local authorities and partners on protection issues as guided by the supervisor.
The Senior Protection Assistant also ensures that refugees and asylum seekers 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. The incumbent is expected to perform Child protection and GBV case management activities in addition to the general protection activities.

2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment

Disembarkation/Rescue at Sea:

- Participate in RAS intervention.
- Protection monitoring and identification of vulnerable PoC at DPs for further referral to technical units or other partners and follow up.
- Ensuring life-saving assistance is being delivered to refugees at all disembarkation points in a timely manner.
- Ensuring that UNHCR and its partners are responding to the need of rescued persons after being disembarked.
- Ensure the implementation of enhanced screening, identification, and referral of refugees and asylum seekers for protection, assistance, and support within the situation of Mixed Migration.
- Provide regular reports on the situation for sea rescue and advice and guidance to the operation when there is a need for strategic interventions.

General Protection/Additional tasks :

- Consistently apply International and National Law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy, standards and codes of conduct.
- Provide counselling on protection issues to persons of concern; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documentation.
- Support activities in protection related AGD based programming with implementing and operational partners.
- Monitor Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities.
- Ensure the implementation of enhanced screening, identification, and referral of refugees and asylum seekers for protection, assistance, and support within the situation of Mixed Migration.
- Conduct GBV prevention and response activities, including awareness-raising sessions, dialogues, participatory methods, and community-based protection initiatives, with support for community mobilizers.
- Facilitate age, gender, and diversity-sensitive approaches in outreach and programming.
- Strengthen referral pathways for GBV survivors by working closely with health, legal, psychosocial, and protection actors.
- Undertake consultation with children, youth and communities and provide information on appropriate and meaningful approaches for their effective participation and programmatic responses on child protection issues.
- Conduct Best Interest Procedures for individual children at heightened risks and prepare Best Interests Determination report, when required.
- Identifying durable solutions for (FDSP) in voluntary repatriation, local integration, and where appropriate, resettlement.
- Monitor and report on cases of refoulement, expulsion, and other protection incidents.
- Contribute to the design, implementation and evaluation of protection related AGD based programming with implementing and operational partners.
- Assist in drafting reports, routine correspondence, updating relevant databases and compiling statistics for the protection unit / section.
- Contribute to initiatives to enhance national and local protection capacities.

3. Monitoring and Progress Controls
Data-entry of activities in relevant tools, number of assessments and individual cases processed and number of outreach and monitoring activities.

4. Qualifications and Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level

For G5 - 2 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 1-year relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Functional Skills
IT-Computer Literacy
CL-Protection & Solutions Awareness
PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators
PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework

Core Competencies

Accountability
Communication
Organizational Awareness
Teamwork & Collaboration
Commitment to Continuous Learning
Client & Result Orientation

Cross-Functional Competencies

Analytical Thinking
Political Awareness
Stakeholder Management

Desired Candidate Profile:
• Relevant experience in protection monitoring and outreach with UNHCR, INGOs or local NGOs.
• Experience in protection, mainly rescue at sea and disembarkation, would be advantageous.
• Child Protection experience, with a focus on Best Interest Procedures would be advantageous.
• Experience in psychological first aid and psychosocial support within Child Protection contexts would be advantageous
• Experience in Protection case management, with focus on CP and GBV case management would be advantageous.
• Understanding of UNHCR reporting and assistance systems, including RAIS and V4, is a valuable asset.

Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Standard Job Description

Required Languages

Arabic

,

English

,

Desired Languages

,

,

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Education

Bachelor's, High school diploma (Required)

Certifications

Other information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance

Remote

No