Senior Protection Assistant

This Job Opening is available to eligible UNHCR staff members and external applicants. Senior Protection Assistant

ORGANIZATIONAL CONTEXT
The Senior Protection Assistant normally reports to the Protection Officer or the Senior Protection Officer.  He/she 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 persons of concern and identifies opportunities to mainstream protection methodologies and safeguards in operational responses. He/she 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 persons of concern are involved with the Office 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.


FUNCTIONAL STATEMENT

Accountability
- The protection of populations of concern is met through the application of International and National Law relevant UN/UNHCR protection standards and IASC principles.
- Protection activities are guided by the UNHCR country protection strategy.
- The participation of persons of concern is facilitated through supporting participatory, rights and community based approaches.
- Support is provided to identify and report protection incidents

Responsibility
- 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.
- Conduct preliminary information gathering and interviews in support of eligibility, status determination, durable solutions and social needs assessment.
- Contribute to measures to identify, prevent and reduce statelessness.
- Contribute to a country-level child protection plan as part of the protection strategy.
- Contribute to a country-level education plan for persons of concern as part of the protection strategy. 
- Monitor Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities.
- Participate in individual protection case management including cases of SGBV and child protection. Monitor and report on cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents.
- Assist in identifying durable solutions for persons of concern in voluntary repatriation, local integration and where appropriate, resettlement.
- 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.

Authority
- Select persons of concern for preliminary interviews and decide which relevant information to share.
- Enforce integrity in the delivery of protection services by local implementing partners.

ESSENTIAL MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE REQUIRED.
5 years relevant experience with High school diploma.
Knowledge of English and/or UN working language of the duty station if not English.


DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES
- Good computer skills.
- Completed Protection Learning Programme.

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 also note that English and Arabic are essential for this Job Opening. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing, training, etc.). UNHCR strongly encourages applications from qualified female applicants, as well as form individuals with special needs. Shortlisted candidates may be required to sit for written test and/or oral interview.

UNHCR seeks to ensure that male and female employees are given equal career opportunities. UNHCR is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.
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See below for this postion's Operational Context
======================================================================================================== The Senior Protection Assistant is based in the UNHCR Qobayat office and reports to the Assistant Protection Officer. He/she will be expected to carry out tasks relating to monitoring of protection programmes, follow up on protection emergencies and individual cases. The candidate also needs to show readiness to participate in any other protection related activities when need be. Some of his/her work will be office based, however the candidate will be spending a substantial percentage of her/his time in the field, to better understand the needs faced by persons of concern and provide adequate counseling and support. He/she needs to possess excellent interviewing/counseling and drafting capacities, with strong analytical skills and attention to details. Having experience in working with or in partnership with other humanitarian or development agencies and in collaboration with local authorities will be viewed as an asset for the position. The candidate needs to be able to effectively multi-task and to work under pressure to meet deadlines. Interested qualified internal and external candidates meeting the requirements of the Job Descriptions posted online can apply no later than 29 September 2019 Midnight Geneva Time.