Job Description

Deadline for Applications

May 28, 2026

Hardship Level

A (least hardship)

Family Type

Family

Residential location (if applicable)

Grade

GS6

Staff Member / Affiliate Type

General Service

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

Target Start Date

2026-07-01

Standard Job Description

Protection Associate

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Protection Associate normally reports to the Protection Officer or the Senior Protection Officer. 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 Protection Associate 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 doctrine and policy as guided by the supervisor.

The Protection Associate 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.

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
- Stay abreast of political, social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on the protection environment.
- Consistently apply International and National Law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy, standards and codes of conduct.
- Assist in providing comments on existing and draft legislation related to PoC.
- Provide advice on protection issues to PoC; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documentation.
- Assist in conducting eligibility and status determination for PoC.
- 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 as part of the protection strategy.
- Monitor Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities.
- Manage individual protection cases including those on GBV and child protection. Monitor, and intervene in cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents.
- Assist in identifying durable solutions for the largest possible number of PoC through 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.
- Facilitate effective information management through the provision of disaggregated data on PoC and their problems.
- Participate in initiatives to capacitate authorities, relevant institutions and NGOs to strengthen national protection related legislation and procedures.
- Assist the supervisor in prioritizing PoC for interview, counselling and propose protection support for individual cases.
- Assist the supervisor with enforcing compliance of local implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services.
- Assit the supervisor with enforcing compliance with, and integrity of, all protection standard operating procedures.
- Submit individual payments request for PoC for approval.

- 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

Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For G6 - 3 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Field(s) of Education
Not applicable

Certificates and/or Licenses
International Law, Political Science
or other related field
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Not specified

Desirable
Protection Learning Programme

Functional Skills
IT-Computer Literacy
PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework
PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators
(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.

Desired Candidate Profile

OPERATIONAL CONTEXT
The Multi-Country Office in Argentina (MCO ARG) covers Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay, a Southern Cone subregion characterized by diverse and evolving forced displacement dynamics within a broader mixed migration context. While Argentina, Chile and Uruguay function primarily as destination countries for asylum-seekers, refugees and stateless persons, Bolivia remains mainly a country of transit, and Paraguay continues to develop its profile as an emerging destination country.
Legal and institutional frameworks across the subregion are broadly aligned with international and regional standards, including the 1951 Refugee Convention and the Cartagena Declaration. However, in recent years, the protection environment has become more complex. Policy and regulatory developments, combined with the increasing securitization of migration governance, have in some contexts affected access to territory, asylum procedures and procedural safeguards, thereby increasing protection risks for persons in irregular situations, particularly in border areas.
At the same time, alternative legal stay and regularization pathways continue to play an important role in facilitating access to documentation, basic rights and services. While these mechanisms can contribute to stabilizing legal status, they may not fully address international protection needs, requiring continued support for asylum systems and the application of protection-sensitive approaches.
By the end of 2025, the Southern Cone hosts more than 800,000 forcibly displaced and stateless persons, the majority of whom are from Venezuela, alongside smaller caseloads from Cuba, other countries in the region and extra-regional contexts. These populations are largely urban and concentrated in major cities, where they often face barriers to formal employment, access to services and legal certainty, despite relatively high levels of education and skills.
UNHCR maintains a permanent presence in Buenos Aires and Santiago de Chile, with field presence in La Paz and Montevideo, and works closely with government authorities, civil society organizations, refugee-led organizations and other UN agencies. Coordination mechanisms, including R4V platforms co-led with IOM, support joint analysis, response planning and alignment with national systems.
Within this context, the Protection Associate (G6), based in Buenos Aires, is part of the Protection and Solutions Unit of the MCO and reports to the Protection Officer or Senior Protection Officer. The position provides operational support for the implementation of protection activities in line with UNHCR policies, standards and procedures. The incumbent maintains effective interfaces with persons of concern, local authorities and partners, and supports quality, timely and effective protection responses, including through protection monitoring, case management and referral pathways for persons with specific needs, as well as support for the implementation and integrity of standard operating procedures.
A central component of the role is partner capacity development, hence the successful candidate should have a solid understanding of the political, economic, and social systems within the region to effectively support the implementation of participatory approaches in line with the MCO´s Protection and Solutions Strategy.
The incumbent works in close coordination with implementing and operational partners, providing day-to-day technical support, guidance and accompaniment to strengthen the application of protection standards, tools and procedures in protection delivery. This includes supporting partners in areas such as the identification of forcibly displaced and stateless persons with specific needs, case management and referral mechanisms, protection monitoring, and the integration of Age, Gender and Diversity considerations across interventions.
The position contributes to the documentation of protection risks, trends and operational gaps; supports the collection and management of protection-related information; and participates in initiatives to strengthen the capacity of authorities, institutions and NGOs involved in protection delivery. The role requires regular interaction with forcibly displaced and stateless persons, partners and local authorities, as well as availability to undertake regular missions to field locations across the multi-country operation. The incumbent will also support the operationalization of the localization strategy by collaboration with various units and stakeholders in the development of innovative solutions to enhance the protection environment in prioritized communities.

DESIRED CANDIDATE PROFILE
Essential Attributes
• Demonstrated professional experience in protection, humanitarian or human rights contexts, including direct engagement with forcibly displaced or stateless populations and involvement in community-based or participatory processes.
• Proven experience working with implementing or operational partners, including the provision of technical support, guidance or capacity strengthening, and support for the application of protection standards and procedures in protection delivery.
• Sound knowledge of international refugee law and human rights principles, with the ability to apply relevant legal and policy frameworks in operational contexts.
• Experience supporting core protection functions, such as case management, referral mechanisms, protection monitoring or interventions addressing specific protection needs, including in coordination with authorities and partners.
• Fluency in Spanish and English, with the ability to communicate effectively with persons of concern, partners and authorities, and to draft clear protection-related documents.

Desirable Attributes
• A university degree in Law, International Relations, Human Rights, Social Work, or a related field.
• Experience in partner capacity development approaches, including training, mentoring or on-the-job support, particularly to strengthen compliance with protection standards and standard operating procedures.
• Familiarity with national asylum and migration frameworks in the Southern Cone or comparable contexts.
• Experience in community engagement, participatory approaches or Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP).
• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to collect and interpret qualitative and quantitative protection data.
• Previous experience in inter-agency coordination, including engagement with UN agencies, NGOs or government counterparts.
• Ability to work effectively in a multicultural environment and manage competing priorities in a dynamic operational context. Proficiency in computer applications and data management tools relevant to protection work.

English and Spanish are mandatory (B2 level).

Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):

English

,

Spanish

,

Desired languages

,

,

Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

Nature of Position:

Living and Working Conditions:

Additional Qualifications

Skills

IT-Computer Literacy, PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators, PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework

Education

Certifications

International Law - Other, Political Science - Other

Work Experience

Competencies

Accountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Judgement & decision making, Negotiation & conflict resolution, Organizational awareness, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration

UNHCR Salary Calculator

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Compendium

Additional Information

Functional clearance

This position doesn't require a functional clearance