Job Description

June 22, 2026

D

FamilyDanger Pay

NOA

National Professional Officer

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2026-06-09

Assistant Project Control Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The Assistant Project Control Officer is part of the multi-functional team. In coordination with the Division of Resource Management (DRM), s/he is responsible and accountable for providing substantive support, guidance, and oversight on the effective management of the Enhanced Framework for Implementing with Partners (the Framework) as well as oversight on the effective management of Direct Implementation.

Complementary to programme management, s/he will support and conduct analysis and assessment of risks associated with partnerships and direct implementation, policy compliance, operational practices, mitigation measures and gaps and make technical recommendations or decisions in line with the principles of the Framework, of UN/UNHCR’s financial rules, policies and regulations and operational context.

The incumbent prompts partnership integrity and other safeguarding mechanisms for ensuring sound stewardship and accountability of funds entrusted to partners or through direct implementation arrangements (e.g. contracts for the procurement of goods and/or services) to ensure resources are used most efficiently and effectively to attain the best results for forcibly displaced and stateless persons.

The Assistant Project Control Officer will promote dialogue and consultations for strengthening partnerships and have frequent contacts with UNHCR colleagues, particularly project control and programme staff. S/he may have contact with external stakeholders, such as UNHCR-funded partners, auditors, oversight bodies, and host governments on matters related to partnerships. The incumbent will be mindful of all dimensions of partnerships in accordance with the Principles of Partnership, the Code of Conduct, UN/UNHCR’s financial rules, policies and regulations and other relevant documents.

In the Regional Bureaux, the incumbent works under the supervision of the Regional Controller. In the Country and Multi-Country Offices, the incumbent normally works under the direct supervision of the Representative or Deputy Representative, Head of Office or (Senior) Project Control Officer, as applicable.

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

• Participate in the annual assessment and planning cycle.

• Assist with the review of project agreements, ensuring that they conform with Country Operation Plans and UNHCR’s rules, policies and procedures.

• Assist with the formulation and implementation of a performance project monitoring plan in collaboration with the Programme Unit and MFT.

• Assist with the development of the direct implementation monitoring plan in collaboration with the Programme Unit and other relevant functions.

• Assist with the support of Programme and other relevant functions in the selection of implementation modalities.

• Contribute to tracking the management of the project and direct implementation risks in collaboration with the Programme Unit, and report major risks to senior management.

• Contribute to reviewing, analysing and verifying Financial and Performance Partner Reports (PFR and -PPR), and to checking accuracy and consistency between PFR and PPR, in accordance with partnership agreements.

• Monitor, track and verify that expenditure for direct implementation by UNHCR is in line with the approved budget.

• Conduct reviews of the internal control systems of partners implementing projects and provide advice as required.

• Provide input on identified variants, risks and issues to partners, Programme Unit and escalate to management as required.

• Support timely project closure in coordination with the Programme Unit.

• Provide input to the mid- and end-year programme review process on issues related to project control.

• Maintain professional relationships with partners implementing projects and UNHCR’s contractors.

• Keep up-to-date with all UNHCR rules, regulations and procedures necessary to perform these duties.

• 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

Business Administration; Economics; Management;

or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses

Accounting;

Auditing;

Assc Chartered Certificate Account

Chartered Inst. Of Management Account

Institute of Mgmt Accountants

Chartered Accountant

Certified Practising Accountant

(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience

Essential

Good knowledge of international auditing standards.

Desirable

Good understanding of the workflows of major Enterprise Resource Planning financial modules (such as PeopleSoft, SAP or Oracle). Working experience with accrual accounting (such as IPSAS or IFRS).

Functional Skills

PC-Project Control

FI-International Auditing Standards

FI-Auditing practical experience

MS-Monitoring & Evaluation

MS-Data Collection and Analysis

MS-Reporting skills

UN-UN/UNHCR Financial Rules and Regulations and Procedures

(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

Competency Requirements

All jobs at UNHCR require six core competencies and may also require managerial competencies and/or cross-functional competencies. The six core competencies are listed below.

Core Competencies

Accountability

Communication

Organizational Awareness

Teamwork & Collaboration

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Client & Result Orientation

Managerial Competencies

Judgement and Decision Making

Cross-Functional Competencies

Analytical Thinking

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution

Planning and Organizing

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.

The Candidate is required to have a strong Technical Knowledge on Partnerships in UNHCR, as well as Internal UNHCR processes, including the engagement with OIOS and other Auditing entities.
In addition, strong knowledge of Financial Rules and Regulations and Procedures, as well as in Monitoring & Evaluation.
The preferred candidate needs to have demonstrated ability to work in a team, have strong managerial skills in ensuring the tasks related to Project Control are assigned and implemented in time, and ability to collaborate and cooperate with the heads of Units and assigned focal points in the field. Therefore, previous experience in management and in the field of project control is necessary.
The preferred candidate is expected to demonstrate high level of professional and personal integrity applied in all internal and external relations, within UNHCR, with the government counterparts and partners alike.

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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 Islamic Republic of Iran has generously hosted forcibly displaced persons for over 40 years. Despite numerous challenges, and in the absence of equitable international responsibility sharing proportionate with the number of people being hosted, the country has upheld refugee-inclusive policies, ensuring continued quality access to essential public services, in particular including healthcare and education. In 2024, some 3.8 million people are recognized as refugees and refugee-like, making Iran the largest refugee-hosting country in the world. The figure has dropped to 1,65 M at the end of 2025, as a result of regularization process in 2024 and an increased number of persons returning to Afghanistan.

Following the deterioration of the security and humanitarian situation in Afghanistan in August 2021, UNHCR rapidly scaled up its operation in Iran to respond to the large number of Afghans seeking safety in the country. Despite challenges, Iran has maintained its inclusive approach, providing forcibly displaced Afghans access to healthcare and education within the national systems as well as livelihood opportunities. However, economic challenges and an increased refugee population are making it harder for the Government of Iran to sustain its support and amplified their calls for improved international solidarity and responsibility-sharing to better assist refugees.

In the absence of short to medium-term opportunities for durable solutions, the majority of Afghans in Iran will remain reliant on both external assistance and the continuation of inclusive policies extended by the Government of Iran in areas of health and education. Against this backdrop and in a domestic and wider context which is increasingly constrained and polarized, the most strategic ‘investment’ is through international responsibility-sharing with a focus on promoting social cohesion and resilience, using humanitarian-development nexus approaches. Initiatives to bolster the resilience of Afghans are particularly critical, promoting participatory and community-based empowerment approaches, which equip them with the tools to overcome challenging circumstances themselves.

The Refugee Response Plan (RRP) for the Afghanistan situation was first developed in 2021, initially as a 6-month Refugee Preparedness and Emergency Response Plan, to support a coordinated response to Afghan refugees seeking international protection in neighbouring countries (Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan). Annual RRPs have subsequently been developed for 2022 and 2023 respectively, covering the whole of the refugee response in Iran and spanning the assistance spectrum. For 2024, a multi-year RRP was developed covering the period 2024-2025 The transition to a multi-year plan better aligns with the protracted situation of Afghans in Iran, helps contribute to more sustainable/longer-term outcomes, and lightens the planning and reporting process for partner organizations. In conjunction with RRP partners, UNHCR prioritizes the adoption of humanitarian-nexus approaches to Afghans displaced in Iran, particularly those in situations of protracted displacement. UNHCR supports the Government in maintaining its inclusive policies by strengthening health and education systems and service provision in refugee hosting areas. Despite economic challenges, the Government of Iran has maintained its inclusive policies, enabling refugees and undocumented Afghans to access health and education services within the national system. UNHCR supports the Government through the provision of protection and humanitarian assistance for refugees and also contributes to enhancing national services, which benefit persons of concern and host communities in urban areas and in the 20 refugee settlements across the country.

Assistant Project Control Officer is the Focal Point for support and in conducting analysis and assessment of risks associated with partnerships and direct implementation, policy compliance, operational practices, mitigation measures and gaps and technical recommendations or decisions in line with the principles of the Framework, of UN/UNHCR’s financial rules, policies and regulations and operational circumstances in Iran.Due to specific nature of partnerships in Iran, the role of the Asst Project Officer requires a thorough understanding of Iran’s structures, its internal auditing policies and mechanisms in place, as they are of high relevance in ensuring that UNHCR principles, approaches and processes are fully applicable. As UNHCR in Iran only works in transactional partnerships with local entities, both Government and non-Government, this requires the engagement of the Project Control in awareness Raising and in ensuring that the rules of regulations in working with UNHCR funding are well understood by partners. As situation in the country is dynamic and prone to changes, it is required that the Risk Registry is constantly updated in accordance with the context and anticipated future risks, and therefore engage regularly with colleagues from technical units and the Focal Points in the field in obtaining information, and seek validation as part of the process. UNHCR Iran works with CAFIA as its principal Government Counterpart, and with line ministries (Health, Education, TVTO) as well as with national;/ local NGOs, through tripartite partnership agreements. As there are diverse activities in the field, there is a need for a timely scheduling of all monitoring activities, with proper calculation on the potential delays in organizing the missions, without jeopardizing the deadlines set in the organization.

The Asst Project Control Officer reports directly to the Deputy Representative. At the same time the Asst Project Control Officer is responsible for maintaining close contact with the Regional Controller (RBAP) to ensure for timely troubleshooting as instructed by the Representative/ Snr Operations Officer, in addition to regular communication on ongoing matters, including the audit.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

CO-Reporting skills, DM-Data Collection and Analysis, EL-Monitoring and Evaluation, FI-Financial auditing, FI-International Auditing Standards, PM-Project Monitoring

Bachelor of Arts: Accounting, Bachelor of Arts: Administration, Bachelor of Arts: Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts: Economics, Bachelor of Arts: Finance, Bachelor of Arts: Public Administration

Certifications

Accounting - Other, Association of Chartered Certified Accountant - ACCA, Auditing - Other, Certif. Practicing Accountant - Other, Chartered Accountant (CA) - Other, Chartered Institute of Management Accountants - CIMA, Institute of Management Accountants - Other

Competencies

Accountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Teamwork & collaboration

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

Compendium

Additional Information

Shortlisted candidates may be required to sit for a test and/or Interview.

No late application will be accepted.

This position doesn't require a functional clearance