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

A (least hardship)

Family

PR3

Professional

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2026-07-01

Protection Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
In the Bureaux, the Protection Officer works under the direct supervision of the Senior Protection Coordinator or Senior Protection Officer. In the Field, the incumbent normally reports to the Representative, Deputy or Assistant Representative (Protection), Head of Sub Office or Senior Protection Officer as appropriate. The incumbent may have direct supervisory responsibility for protection staff whose work may include RSD, community-based protection, registration, resettlement, complementary pathways, internal displacement and education, among other areas. In HQ, the incumbent may report to a Senior Protection Officer, Chief of Section or Deputy Director and may supervise other protection staff.

The incumbent acts as an advisor to senior management in, when not responsible for, designing a comprehensive protection strategy under the area of responsibility (AoR). S/he represents the Organization to authorities, UN sister agencies, partners and other stakeholders on protection policy and doctrine.

The Protection Officer coordinates quality, timely and effective protection responses to the needs of populations of concern under the AoR. S/he ensures that forcibly displaced and stateless persons of all age, gender and diversity groups are involved with the Office in making decisions that affect them, whether in accessing their rights or in identifying and implementing appropriate solutions to their problems. To undertake this role effectively, the incumbent will need to build and maintain effective interfaces with other relevant teams within the operation or the Bureau (including programme; PI and external relations; IM) and with Division of International Protection and Solutions DIPS, communities of concern, authorities, protection and assistance partners as well as a broader network of stakeholders who can contribute to enhancing protection and achieving solutions.

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 technical guidance and support to UNHCR and partners on all protection related issues.
- Stay abreast of and report as relevant on legal political, social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on the protection environment.
- Engage relevant national authorities and structures in identifying and expanding opportunities in view of developing or strengthening national asylum/RSD systems.
- Facilitate a consultative process with government counterparts, partners and forcibly displaced and stateless persons to develop and implement a comprehensive protection and solutions strategy addressing the specific protection needs of women and men, children, youth and older persons, persons with disabilities, persons of diverse sexual orientation and/or gender identities (LGBTI persons), persons living with HIV/AIDS; gender equality and Gender Based Violence (GBV) priorities with regard to these persons.
- In operations applying the Cluster Approach, seek to ensure the response of the Protection Cluster is grounded in a strategy which covers all assessed and prioritized protection needs of the affected populations.
- Support senior management to ensure the protection strategy is fully integrated into the Country Operations Plan, the UN Development and Assistance Framework (UNDAF), the Humanitarian Country Team's common humanitarian response plan where applicable, as well as with the implementation of the Global Compact on Refugees and the Three Year Strategy on Resettlement and Complementary Pathways.
- Promote relevant International, Regional and National Law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy, standards and codes of conduct and ensure that all sectors and /or in clusters in applicable operations fulfil their responsibilities in mainstreaming protection.
- Promote the implementation of the AGD policy, including UNHCR's updated commitments to women and girls, and, design, deliver I and monitor programmes on an AGD basis to address identified protection needs.
- Develop, implement and monitor community-based protection strategies and ensure systematic application and integration of participatory and community-based approaches in protection and solutions planning, programming and strategies.
- Support the establishment of feedback and response systems and the incorporation of feedback received from forcibly displaced and stateless persons into programme design and adaptation.
- Support the operation to develop and implement robust prevention, identification, and responses to fraud within protection processes and procedures, including registration, RSD, resettlement and complementary pathways, ensuring the integrity of interventions across all protection activities.
- Assist UNHCR management at country level to comply with polices and commitment on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse measures.
- Oversee and manage individual protection cases including those on GBV and child protection.
- Provide legal advice and guidance on protection issues to internal and external interlocutors; ensure legal assistance is accessible to forcibly displaced and stateless persons; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documents to forcibly displaced and stateless persons (including women and others in need of civil documentation, in particular birth certificates).
- As designated Data Protection Focal Point, assist the data controller in carrying out his or her responsibilities regarding the Data Protection Policy (7.2 DPP).
- Oversee and undertake eligibility and status determination within the AoR ensuring compliance with UNHCR procedural standards and international protection principles.
- Promote and implement effective strategies and measures to identify, prevent and reduce statelessness within the AoR.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of an education plan as part of protection strategy within the AoR as relevant.
- Contribute to the development and implementation of a child protection plan as part of the protection strategy within the AoR ensuring programmes use a child protection systems approach.
- Monitor, and intervene in cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents through working relations with governments and other partners.
- Work to safeguard the rights of forcibly displaced and stateless persons in the context of mixed movements as relevant.
- Coordinate the preparation of, implement and oversee Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities.
- Ensure that durable solutions through voluntary repatriation, local integration and where appropriate, resettlement and complementary pathways are sought and provided to the largest possible number of forcibly displaced and stateless persons, including undertaking and/or overseeing resettlement and complementary pathways activities.
- Contribute to the coordination of the design, implementation and evaluation of protection related programming with implementing and operational partners.
- Contribute to and facilitate a programme of results-based advocacy through a consultative process with sectorial and/or cluster partners.
- Ensure that the Protection Sector or Cluster has an effective information management component which: provides disaggregated data on populations of concern and their problems; researches, collects and disseminates relevant protection information and good practices to enhance protection delivery.
- Build the protection capacity of national and local government, partners and civil society to assume their responsibilities vis-à-vis all forcibly displaced and stateless persons through protection training, mainstreaming and related activities.
- Coordinate capacity-building initiatives for communities and individuals to assert their rights.
- Advise and capacitate national authorities, relevant institutions and civil society to strengthen legislation and status determination procedures and mechanisms.

- 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.

For positions in Bureaux

- Support the Regional Bureau and Country Operations to reflect the protection and solution angle in support of forcibly displaced and stateless persons within regional processes.
- Support Country Operations in the development of strategies to build and further develop national asylum/RSD systems with a view to ensuring their fairness, efficiency, adaptability and integrity, favourable protection environment and solutions.
- Assist UNHCR management at regional and country level to comply with polices and commitment on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse measures.
- Support Country Operations and ensure they meet their complementary pathways objectives and resettlement quotas.
- In close collaboration with DIPS, (a) contribute to the development of background and general normative, policy, and legal positions, in compliance with UNHCR's global protection policies and standards; (b) contribute to the development of strategies at the regional and country level on the usage of law and policy approaches, including legislative and judicial engagement and UN human rights mechanisms - and/or regional ones - and other protection frameworks, and integrated human rights standards in protection strategies and advocacy; and (c) support coordination and review of UNHCR's country reports to the UN human rights mechanisms.
- Engage in relevant international and regional fora and contribute to forging regional partnerships to advocate for key protection and mandate issues, and engage in cross-cutting protection-related matters, including mixed movement, internal displacement and climate change/disaster-related displacement responses, as well as Statelessness, in cooperation with DIPS and where relevant RSD.

Minimum Qualifications

Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P3/NOC - 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
Law; International Law; International Refugee Law;
International Human Rights Law; International Humanitarian Law;
Refugee and Forced Migration Studies; Political Sciences
or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses
Not specified.

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Minimum 4 years of relevant professional experience in the area of refugee protection, internal displacement, human rights or international humanitarian law, including experience in working directly with Field Offices. Good knowledge of International Refugee and Human Rights Law and ability to apply the relevant legal principles. Excellent legal research, analytical skills and drafting.

Desirable
Diverse field experience. Good IT skills including database management skills.

Functional Skills
*PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators
*PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD)
PR-Human Rights Doctrine/Standards
PR-International Humanitarian Law
PR-Comprehensive Solutions Framework
LE-Judicial Engagement
PR-Assessment of IDPs Status, Rights, Obligation
PR-Climate change and disaster related displacement
PR-Accountability to Affected People - Principles and Framework
PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) Coordination
(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:
• Substantial experience as Head of Office/managerial role. Solid leadership and staff management skills, including the ability to guide multidisciplinary teams, promote a positive and inclusive workplace culture, and ensure effective performance management in line with UNHCR policies and values.
• Strong experience in protection, and experience in supporting the development or strengthening of national asylum systems (including capacity building, institutional development, and legislative alignment).
• Experience in donor relations and project management, including solid understanding of EU funding frameworks, including budgeting, reporting, and compliance requirements, are strong assets.
• Proven ability in effectively engaging and negotiating with authorities, coordinating and building networks including in an inter-agency context, and conducting effective advocacy.

Desirable Attributes:
• Expertise in mixed movements, asylum and migration dynamics, and related protection risks is a strong advantage.
• Considering Albania’s EU accession agenda, a good understanding of the EU enlargement process and knowledge of EU legislation (including the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum) are an added value. Experience engaging with EU institutions and agencies, including the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA), Frontex, the European Commission, and other relevant EU bodies, is a strong asset.

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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:

Albania, like other countries in the Western Balkans, continues to be significantly exposed to mixed movements, which include a considerable proportion of people with international protection needs, such as refugees, asylum seekers, unaccompanied and separated children, victims of trafficking, and stateless persons. Since the opening of the EU accession negotiations in 2019, Albania has continued to advance reforms in the areas of rule of law, human rights, and asylum, creating further opportunities for UNHCR to support the strengthening of national asylum and statelessness systems in line with international standards and the EU acquis.

In line with UNHCR’s Route-Based Approach, UNHCR seeks to further reinforce tools, systems and cooperation to strengthen asylum capacity and effectively manage mixed movements. This includes strengthening early identification and referral of refugees and migrants and those with specific needs, ensuring their access to appropriate channels. UNHCR also actively pursues stabilization efforts by reducing vulnerabilities, enhancing self-reliance, and supporting the authorities to increasingly ensure access to inclusion and integration opportunities, including by promoting better social cohesion.

In this context, UNHCR works closely with national authorities, civil society organizations, and international and regional actors, including IOM, EUAA, Frontex, and members of the United Nations Country Team.

A significant part of UNHCR’s operational engagement in Albania is implemented through the EU4MIGRATION project, a four-year initiative (2025–2028), funded by the European Union and jointly implemented by UNHCR and IOM in close partnership with the Government of Albania. The project aims to strengthen Albania’s asylum and migration management systems in line with EU and international standards, contributing to the country’s EU integration path. Through this initiative, UNHCR supports the enhancement of governance, policies and coordination mechanisms related to asylum; the strengthening of technical and operational capacities for protection-sensitive border and reception management; improved access of refugees and asylum seekers to local systems and services; and strengthened data collection and analysis to support evidence-based policymaking.

The UNHCR Office in Albania reports to the UNHCR Representation for Central and South-East Europe (RCSEE), based in Budapest, Hungary, which covers Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia and the Western Balkans. The Protection Officer – Head of National Office reports directly to the UNHCR Representative at RCSEE and plays a dual role of leading the protection response in Albania while also overseeing and coordinating the overall functioning of the office.

Under the overall supervision of the Representative, the incumbent will support the Representation in liaising with the Albanian authorities, judicial and law enforcement institutions, civil society, UN agencies and other stakeholders. S/he will support the strategic direction and the provision of technical guidance on all protection-related issues, including asylum, statelessness, child protection, gender-based violence, community-based protection and durable solutions, while ensuring that protection principles are mainstreamed across all operational activities.

At the same time, under the overall supervision of the Representative, the incumbent is responsible for the effective management of the office in Albania, including coordination of programme implementation, external engagement, advocacy, operational planning and inter-agency cooperation. The position requires strong coordination and supervisory capacities to ensure coherent delivery of UNHCR’s protection and solutions strategy in Albania, as well as close collaboration with the multi-functional team at the RCSEE Representation.

Living and Working Conditions:

Tirana is a family duty station with living conditions comparable to other countries in the South Eastern Europe. Tirana is classified 'A' Duty Station (Family) and has good infrastructure (health, housing, banking, transportation, telecommunications and recreational facilities) and good supply of goods and services, with no particular health hazards. Public and private health facilities are available locally. Educational facilities are available in the local language and there are international schools as well. Housing is of good quality, prices ranging depending on the location and the size of the apartments/houses.

The Albanian Lek is the currency of Albania. The currency code for Lek is ALL, and the currency symbol is Lek. Money is exchanged at banks or money exchange and transfer offices. Avoid doing so from local street vendors. Payments are commonly made in local currency, however in main hotels or venues, euros are also accepted. Cash is widely accepted but payments via bank cards can also be used, especially in the capital and main cities and less so in other more remote areas.

Mobile coverage covers the whole territory apart from some blind spots. There are two main providers of mobile services. A good range of internet platforms is offered by different companies in the country. Mobile phones with SIM cards and mobile/internet packages can be purchased at local mobile phone shops (providing ID card).

Tirana counts with several shopping centers, restaurants and a relatively good range of sports activities. Just like other fast-growing cities, the traffic is heavy at peak hours and considered an issue for people living in Tirana.

The climate of Tirana is Mediterranean, with mild, rainy winters and hot, sunny summers. The coldest record is -10 °C (14 °F) and was set in January 1968. In summer, temperatures are high. Moreover, it can get very hot when the sirocco blows from Africa. At the airport, the temperature reached 41.5 °C (106.5 °C) in July 1988 and July 2007, while in the city it reached 43 °C (109.5 °F) in July 2023.

Albania is a developing country. Albania, as well as other countries within the region, is stable and security risks are assessed as medium low in the UN Security Level System with no known direct threats to the UN. In terms of security, it is Level 2 mainly due to earthquake hazard. The last significant earthquake -6.4 magnitude- struck the country in November 2019. The United Nations personnel and visitors can carry out duties and operations in a generally safe and secure environment. Currently crime and civil unrest are considered relevant but there are no direct threats to UN personnel or operations within the country. UN personnel is advised to take normal safety and security precautions.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Bachelor of Arts: International Humanitarian Law, Bachelor of Arts: International Human Rights Law, Bachelor of Arts: International Law, Bachelor of Arts: International Refugee Law, Bachelor of Arts: Law, Bachelor of Arts: Political Science, Bachelor of Arts: Refugee and Forced Migration Studies

Certifications

Competencies

Accountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Managing performance, Negotiation & conflict resolution, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Political awareness, 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