Job Description

Please note that this vacancy is only open to eligible staff members who have been individually notified of their eligibility to apply for positions advertised in the Accelerated Posting Compendium.

June 12, 2026

C

Family

PR5

Professional

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2026-05-26

Deputy Representative

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
Direct supervision and guidance is received from the Representative. Advice and operational support may also be provided by the Director/Deputy Director of the Bureau and by other senior staff in the Bureau and in the support Divisions at Headquarters. The incumbent will also refer to policies, standards, rules and regulations which are in force within UNHCR.

Regular contacts with the Representative and staff at Headquarters and in the field, to consult, discuss operational issues, and to seek common grounds for solutions on activities and programmes of importance to UNHCR and with persons on matters of great importance to UNHCR's programmes. These contacts may include heads of national/ international organizations, embassies, UN agencies, and high officials/ ministers in the national government. UNHCR is well integrated into the UN Resident Coordinator System.

Decisions taken directly influence the design and operation of all of UNHCR's activities in the country of accreditation. Proposals will have a substantive effect on UNHCR's policy on a wide range of issues in the country programmes. Errors lead to significant damage to UNHC's major objectives in terms of time, quality, and money in the country and will have a major negative impact on the safety of refugees and other forcibly displaced and stateless persons The Office's overall credibility and the safety of its staff may also suffer.

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
- Provide legal protection advice and guidance on matters of doctrine and policy to Representative, the Heads of Offices and protection staff in the country.
- Provide advice and support to offices in the country operation on specific issues/problems faced related to asylum, refugee protection and assistance, including access to territory, access to RSD and asylum procedures, non-refoulement adequate reception and the implementation of durable solutions, including developing a Protection Management Framework for each national office.
- Provide legal and programme related advice and guidance to offices in the country on developing and maintaining fair and effective asylum regimes in accordance with international standards and norms, especially with regard to national asylum/refugee legislation and the building of local protection capacity.
- Provide legal and programme related advice and guidance on matters relating to the issue of asylum and migration to the Representative and offices in the country with particular emphasis on the problems of trafficking and smuggling.
- Provide guidance and leadership related to the implementation of the Age, Gender Diversity Mainstreaming (AGDM) Participatory Assessments in sub-region and ensure the follow up on any identified gaps related to the reception and integration systems and structures in the region with relevant stakeholders.
- Keep abreast of and analyse trends and key issues related to legal protection and assistance in the country, including preparing strategy and position papers with policy recommendations on specific protection, assistance and durable solutions related issues relevant to the country.
- Directly supervise Protection and Programme sections and develop operations plan in accordance with the organizational policies and operational strategies.
- Assist the Representative in the promotion of UNHCR strategic goals and objectives in the country, monitoring of the overall progress towards achieving them and in managing the Representation country office.
- Ensure that appropriate security measures are in place to protect staff, and that the country operation complies with UN MOSS/MORSS staff security rules, guidelines and procedures.
- Serve as OIC of the Country Office when the Representative is on mission or leave.
- Any other duties as may be required or assigned by the Representative.
- Represent UNHCR in the meetings and fora related to the functions.
- Enforce local compliance with UNHCR's global protection, programme, finance and human resources and security policies and standards.
- Authorize payments as per the organization's Delegation of Authority Plan (DOAP) and in accordance with UN/UNHCR rules and procedures.
- Modify operational projects and reallocate funds, within the approved budgets and in respect of donor earmarking.

- Lead risk assessments and discussions with team(s) to proactively manage risks and seize opportunities impacting objectives. Ensure that risk management principles are integrated in decision-making both at strategic and operational levels. Allocate resources for planned treatments with resource requirements in Strategic Plans. Ensure that risks are managed to acceptable levels and escalate, as needed. If a Risk Owner, designate the Risk Focal Point and certify that the annual risk review is completed and ensure that the risk register is updated during the year, as needed.
- Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications
Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P5 - 12 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 11 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 10 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
Business Administration; International Relations; Law;
Political Science; Social Science; Human Resources Management;
or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses
HCR Learning Prog; HCR Managing Operatns Lrng Prg;
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
- High level of skill in management of broad programmes, political decision making and negotiating.
Desirable
- Completion of UNHCR training programmes, such as Protection Learning Programme, Operations Management Learning Programme.
- Knowledge of geo-political realities and their socio-cultural implications.

Functional Skills
*MG-Field Operations Management
*UN-UN/UNHCR Inter-agency Policies, Standards, Programmes, and Partnerships
*UN-UN/UNHCR Mandate and Global Strategic Priorities
*PG-Programme Management (programme cycles and reporting standards)
UN-Analysis of geo-political realities and their socio-cultural implications
*MG-Political Decision Making
(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.

Essential attributes:
Proven managerial and leadership skills in mixed programme/operations experience in large, complex and demanding emergency contexts dealing with intricate security and sustainable response issues, involving diverse refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced, and stateless populations.
Previous involvement in an operation at senior level with a strong advocacy agenda and excellent interpersonal skills for interaction with high-level government authorities, UN sister agencies, development actors, private sector entities and NGOs with well-established track record of strong diplomatic skills and consistently demonstrates the ability to take timely, well-judged decisions.
Substantial experience supervising multidisciplinary teams and managing large operational portfolios encompassing Programme, Supply, technical sectors and Monitoring and Evaluation functions.
Experience ensuring coherence across multiple operational pillars and translating strategic objectives into operational implementation is essential.
Experience in implementing area-based and localization approaches, multi-stakeholder partnerships and HDP nexus approaches, as well as relevant experience of Accountability to Affected Populations in remote contexts.
Experience contributing to strategic planning processes such as the MYMP, the HNO-HRP, the UNSDCF, etc. S/He should be well-informed about the positioning and engagement modalities of UNHCR in these processes.
Proficiency in both French and English (oral and written) is mandatory.

Desirable
Strong familiarity with programme cycle management, project oversight systems, monitoring and evaluation frameworks, risk management and strategic resource allocation processes is highly desirable.
Previous experience with UNHCR in complex internal displacement operations is highly desirable.

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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

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) hosts one of the largest and most complex displacement situations globally and remains among UNHCR’s largest operations in Africa. The country continues to face overlapping humanitarian crises driven by protracted armed conflict, intercommunal violence, population movements, disease outbreaks, climate-related shocks and structural development challenges. These conditions continue to generate large-scale internal displacement while simultaneously affecting refugee-hosting and return environments.

As of early 2026, the DRC hosts approximately 6.5 million internally displaced persons (IDPs), alongside over 600,000 refugees and asylum-seekers originating from neighboring countries, as well as returning Congolese populations. Population movements remain highly dynamic, particularly in Eastern DRC where deteriorating security conditions associated with AFC/M23 dynamics and the activities of multiple armed groups continue to generate recurrent displacement and increasing humanitarian needs. Simultaneously, western regions increasingly support solutions-oriented programming and Humanitarian–Development–Peace Nexus approaches.

The demographic profile of populations of concern remains overwhelmingly young. Approximately 58.5% of IDPs are below the age of 18, while women and girls constitute slightly more than half of affected populations. Large birth cohorts among refugee and displaced communities continue to generate increasing demand for secondary and tertiary education, child protection services, youth livelihoods, skills development initiatives, GBV prevention and response, disability-inclusive programming and support to older persons.

Socio-economic profiles among populations of concern remain heterogeneous but are concentrated in smallholder agriculture, petty trade, construction, service industries, transport, technical professions, ICT and health and education-related sectors. While tertiary-educated refugees constitute a relatively small proportion of the population, they represent a strategically important subgroup with potential to contribute to local integration, self-reliance and broader socio-economic inclusion initiatives.

The operation also supports populations at risk of statelessness, particularly among minority and cross-border populations with weak access to civil documentation systems. These include children born in exile, returnees with uncertain nationality status and long-term refugee descendants. Addressing legal identity, nationality and civil documentation gaps therefore remains an important strategic protection priority.

In parallel with humanitarian challenges, the DRC context is undergoing important political and regional developments with potential implications for the operational environment. The evolving regional peace architecture, including the Washington Peace Accords and the Doha process, has created renewed momentum around dialogue and stabilization efforts aimed at addressing insecurity and displacement dynamics in Eastern DRC. While implementation remains uncertain and progress may be uneven, these initiatives could create opportunities for enhanced humanitarian access, improved regional cooperation and expanded prospects for voluntary return and durable solutions. At the same time, they may generate increased expectations relating to refugee returns, reintegration support and broader transition planning. UNHCR is expected to play a central role in supporting protection-sensitive implementation of future agreements and ensuring that population movements remain aligned with international protection standards.

The DRC operation currently maintains a presence through one Representation Office, two Sub-Offices, two Field Offices and five Field Units. The operation underwent substantial restructuring between 2025 and 2026 due to severe funding constraints and organizational prioritization measures. Staffing levels reduced significantly while operational demands continued to increase. Despite serving one of UNHCR’s largest populations of concern globally, the operation remains comparatively under-resourced relative to similar operations.

The operation currently manages a complex portfolio encompassing refugee protection, IDP interventions, emergency response, durable solutions programming, humanitarian coordination responsibilities and strategic partnerships with Government institutions, development actors, donors and implementing partners. The operating environment remains characterized by significant security challenges, access constraints, high fiduciary risks and increasing expectations regarding accountability, efficiency and strategic impact.

Nature of Position:

Under the direct supervision of the Representative, the Deputy Representative provides strategic and operational guidance and advice to UNHCR staff and implementing partners regarding the implementation of the DRC’s MYMP protection and solutions strategies within available resources. In line with UNHCR’s policies, standards, rules and regulations, s/he ensures coordinated and harmonized programmatic, operational and sustainable response approaches at all levels and throughout the UNHCR Operations Management Cycle and the UNHCR DRC’s MYMP Strategy which crucially require working with local partners, including with affected communities, governmental institutions, and the private sector. S/he will ensure that programme management is approached as per UNHCR’s Strategic Directions, Global Strategic Priorities (GSPs), Global Compact for Refugees (GCR), corporate positions on SDGs.

S/He leads the operation’s strategic planning and results agenda and serves as the principal operational advisor to the Representative. S/he plays a central role in the leadership, management and overall strategic direction of one of UNHCR’s largest and most complex country operations globally. The incumbent supports the Representative in ensuring effective operational delivery, organizational coherence and implementation of strategic priorities across the operation within a highly dynamic environment characterized by large-scale displacement, insecurity, funding pressures and ongoing institutional transformation. In doing so, the Deputy Representative helps ensure that operational priorities, resources and organizational structures remain aligned to evolving needs and strategic objectives while maintaining accountability, operational effectiveness and programmatic impact.

The Deputy Representative directly supervises and provides strategic guidance to key operational functions, including Programme, Supply, Reporting, and Sector Experts, while also maintaining oversight of the operation’s Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) function. The incumbent ensures effective coordination and coherence across these pillars and promotes integrated planning, evidence-based decision-making and results-oriented management approaches across the operation.

The Deputy Representative ensures that protection priorities, programme implementation, project oversight and technical sector interventions remain aligned and mutually reinforcing. S/he supports strategic planning and operational implementation processes and ensures that interventions remain responsive to evolving protection needs, operational realities and funding constraints.

The position also plays a critical role in resource prioritization and allocation across the operation, ensuring effective use of increasingly constrained resources. This includes supporting strategic decisions relating to budget allocation, staffing structures, operational footprint rationalization and prioritization of resources across emergency response, field operations, durable solutions initiatives and sectoral programming. Given the current resource environment, the role requires balancing competing demands while maximizing operational impact and preserving critical capacities.

The incumbent also oversees organizational performance and accountability systems, including the operation’s Monitoring and Evaluation function. S/he ensures that monitoring frameworks, analytical products and performance management tools support adaptive management, donor accountability and evidence-based operational decision-making.

The Deputy Representative supervises implementation modalities and contributes to strengthening governance, internal controls and risk management systems across the operation. This includes oversight of audit follow-up processes, project oversight mechanisms and operational compliance structures in an environment characterized by elevated fiduciary and operational risks.

The incumbent serves as a senior interlocutor with Government authorities, UN agencies, donors, development institutions and humanitarian actors and represents UNHCR in inter-agency forums including the UN Country Team (UNCT), Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) and broader coordination mechanisms as delegated by the Representative.

The position requires frequent travel to field locations, including areas with challenging security conditions and difficult operational environments. Given the evolving political landscape, including emerging opportunities associated with the Washington and Doha processes, the Deputy Representative also supports strategic positioning around voluntary returns, durable solutions and broader transition planning.

Living and Working Conditions:

Kinshasa serves as the Representation Office and strategic coordination hub for the DRC operation. It is a large and dynamic metropolitan city offering comparatively better infrastructure and services than many other locations within the country. International schools, private health facilities, banking services and telecommunications infrastructure are available. Kinshasa also offers relatively good international connectivity and access to commercial services.

However, living costs in Kinshasa remain comparatively high, particularly regarding accommodation, transportation, schooling and imported goods. Traffic congestion can significantly affect mobility and infrastructure limitations may periodically result in interruptions to electricity, water and communication services.

While security conditions in Kinshasa remain relatively stable compared with Eastern DRC, staff are expected to maintain heightened security awareness and comply with all security procedures. The position also requires frequent travel to field locations where working and living conditions may be considerably more difficult.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Bachelor of Arts: Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts: Human Resources Management, Bachelor of Arts: International Relations, Bachelor of Arts: Law, Bachelor of Arts: Political Science, Bachelor of Arts: Social Science

Certifications

HCR Learning Program - UNHCR, Programme Management (PM) 1 - UNHCR

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Leadership, Managing performance, Managing resource, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Stakeholder management, Strategic planning & visions, Teamwork & collaboration

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

Compendium

Accelerated Posting Compendium 2026 - Part B

Additional Information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance