Senior Protection Assistant  (UNOPS, LICA-5), Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Title: Snr Protection Assistant, Individual Contractor (UNOPS)
Contract type: Local ICA
Contract level: LICA-5 (GS 5)  - Pillar 1
Location: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Department/office:  UNHCR Dominican Republic
Duration: 6 month contract starting from 07/01/2021 with a possibility of extension

This Position is advertised open to internal and external applicants.

General Background
UNHCR is a global organization dedicated to saving lives, protecting rights and building a better future for refugees, forcibly displaced communities and stateless people. We deliver life-saving assistance like shelter, food and water, and develop solutions that ensure people have a safe place to call home where they can build a better future. Every year, millions of men, women and children are forced to flee their homes to escape conflict and persecution. We are in over 125 countries, using our expertise to protect and care for millions. Under the supervision of the Protection Officer, the Senior Protection Assistant will perform the following functions:
1. Support the coordination of the R4V Inter-Agency Platform¿s national working groups.
2. In close coordination with Programme colleagues, prepare statistical reports following UNHCR and R4V indicators, and submit them in ActivityInfo or corresponding Platforms.
3. Provide support to the Associate Protection Officer to monitor the implementation of the partners' projects, in close coordination with the UNHCR Programme Unit.
4. Conduct monitoring and reporting activities, focusing on the implementation of the stay arrangement adopted for Venezuelans in the DR (Resolution 119-2021 MIP-MIREX).
5. In close coordination with Programme, Communication and Community-Based Protection colleagues, elaborate informational materials and ensure the implementation of Communication with Communities strategies.
6. Contribute to the planning and development of UNHCR projects, especially with regards to Venezuelan refugees and migrants¿ access to rights.
7. As needed, support the implementation of registration & identity management systems for UNHCR¿s persons of concern in the databases and operating systems used by UNHCR and its implementing partners, both in the office and in the field;
8. Write routine correspondence, produce statistics, and produce documents and reports using word processing equipment and keeping filing systems up to date;
9. Monitor compliance with global protection policies and professional integrity standards in the provision of protection services
10. Prepare internal and external reports;
11. Contribute to initiatives to improve the national and local capacities of the authorities in the field of international refugee law and human rights;
12. Prepare weekly report for the regional office on the activities of the Operation;
13. Maintain a focus on age, gender and diversity in all UNHCR activities, programs and projects.
14. Perform other duties or functions as needed.

Monitoring and Progress Control
The performance of the Senior Protection Assistant will be monitored and periodically evaluated according to the quality of the tasks carried out, in line with the assignments described in the previous section and the approved individual work plan, and in agreement with global protection policies and UNHCR standards.
In this sense, it will also be evaluated:
(i) Respect of the UNHCR Code of Conduct,
(ii) Adherence to the security protocols of UNHCR and United Nations, and
(iii) Participation in training activities provided by UNHCR, particularly through the Learn and Connect platform.

Qualifications and Experience
a. Education (Level and area of required and/or preferred education)
- Bachelor¿s Degree in Law, Political Science or similar studies;
- Fluency in Spanish and English;
b. Work Experience
- Minimum 3 years of previous work experience with state institutions, UN Agencies or civil society organizations.
- Experience working with refugees and/or migrant populations, notably in the context of the Venezuelan response.

Key Competencies
¿ Computer knowledge: Microsoft Office tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, Sharepoint);
¿ Availability to travel to the field including rural areas within the Dominican Republic;
¿ Analytical and creative thinking skills to quickly identify problems, find and implement solutions;
¿ Ability to work independently and proactively in situations that require flexibility;
¿ Leadership and teamwork skills;
¿ Strong interpersonal and effective communication skills;
¿ Ability to work in an international and multicultural environments;
¿ Ability to work with vulnerable populations;
¿ Ability to execute UNHCR's mandate in accordance with the principles of respect, neutrality, impartiality and transparency in front of the authorities and other actors. IMPORTANT NOTE:
Persons interested in applying for this position must be legally present in the Dominican Republic at the time of application, recruitment and hire.
candidates must have legal residence with valid work permission in the Dominican Republic or the duration of the contract.

Applications will be accepted only via the online portals. Please do not send application via email.
Incomplete and late applications will not be accepted. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. For any technical problems during the submission of application or any further information, please send an email to domsaadm@unhcr.org

Shortlisted candidates may be required to sit for a written test and/or oral interview.
UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview, processing or any other fees).
UNHCR strongly encourages qualified female applicants to apply. UNHCR seeks to ensure that male and female employees are given equal career opportunities.
UNHCR is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms gender, disability, marital or civil partnership status, race, color or ethnic and national origins, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.
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See below for this postion's Operational Context
======================================================================================================== After the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, UNHCR reopened its office in the Dominican Republic to provide coordination and humanitarian response to the thousands of people who came seeking International Protection. Since 2014, UNHCR has also been accompanying the Dominican authorities to achieve the effective implementation of Law 169-14, as well as finding document and nationality solutions for people of concern in line with our mandate. 
The Senior Protection Assistant reports to the Associate Protection Officer. The Senior Protection Assistant is expected to coordinate quality, timely and effective protection responses to the needs of populations of concern (PoC) and identify opportunities to mainstream protection methodologies and integrate protection safeguards in operational responses in all sectors. S/he contributes to designing a comprehensive protection strategy and liaises externally with authorities and partners on protection policy as guided by the supervisor. The Senior Protection Assistant also ensures that PoC 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 closing date for submission of application is Friday, 25 June 2021 (Midnight Geneva time).