Job Description

June 10, 2026

Grade

GS7

General Service

Reason

Temporary > Temporary Assignment/ Appointment

H (no hardship)

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2026-07-20

2027-07-19

Standard Job Description

Senior Field Associate

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Senior Field Associate is normally supervised by the (Senior) Field Officer or Head of Office and performs a variety of functions related to Field activities within the office. The supervisor defines general work objectives and the incumbent completes the work independently. Work is controlled for meeting expected results and conformity to policy and procedures by the supervisor. The Senior Field Associate normally supervises some General Service support staff.
The incumbent keeps frequent internal contacts with staff members in the same duty station to exchange information, to establish understanding of respective needs; to ensure provision of services and resolution of problems and with the external contacts generally with officials of national and international institutions, leaders of the refugee community, local population and/or Implementing Partners (IPs) on subject matters which may be of importance to the Organization.

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
- Undertake regular visits to various sites in order to assess needs of persons of concern, with particular attention to vulnerable groups.
- Advise the supervisor on programme requirements and formulate project submissions, including community development and self-reliance activities, where applicable, in collaboration with authorities and implementing partners.
- Monitor and supervise the implementation of UNHCR programme including the delivery of all assistance items and monitoring of infrastructure and make the necessary recommendation for its improvement.
- Keep regular contacts with local authorities and implementing partners as requested by supervisor.
- Act as interpreter when required.
- Contribute to the preparation of status and progress reports by providing info, preparing tables, etc.
- Monitor refugee movements related to repatriation and other inter-camps transfers.
- Inform and act on the reports received on persons of concern within the refugee community or from the local authorities.
- Handle, in coordination with implementing partners, the reception, registration and provision of assistance to persons of concern to UNHCR.
- Negotiate with local authority counterparts, partners and populations of concern.
- Represent UNHCR in physical monitoring of projects.
- Provide inputs for the country operations plan and other submissions and reports.

- 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 G7 - 4 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
Business Administration, Law, Political Science
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Knowledge of International legal affairs relating to asylum, migration and related issues.

Desirable
Completion of UNHCR learning programmes or specific training relevant to functions of the position.
UNHCR field experience.

Functional Skills
*IT-Computer Literacy
CO-Drafting and Documentation
CL-Multi-stakeholder Communications with Partners, Government & Community
PG-Programme Management (programme cycles and reporting standards)
(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.

Operational Context

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is a global organization protecting people forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution. We work in 128 countries, helping millions of people with life-saving support, safeguarding fundamental human rights, and helping them build a better future (see www.unhcr.org).

Since 24 February 2022, Lithuania has received a significant number of refugees from Ukraine and is offering remarkable reception and support to them. As of 22 May 2026, 104,895 refugees from Ukraine have been registered in Lithuania and more refugees continue to arrive. UNHCR has increased resources for engagement in protection monitoring, coordination, child protection, capacity development, and the provision of legal aid.

Lithuania has also received spontaneous arrivals of asylum-seekers, including those arriving irregularly in the context of the Belarus border situation. In response to the increased irregular arrivals, Lithuania has introduced emergency legislation providing for restrictions on access to the territory and derogations from reception conditions and procedural standards. With respect to spontaneously arriving asylum-seekers, UNHCR Lithuania has been conducting its core protection activities, such as protection monitoring, advocacy, and ensuring access to legal aid.

Organizational setting and Responsibilities

UNHCR has a Liaison Office in Lithuania with three national staff. The Liaison Office is led by the Associate Government Liaison Officer and reports to the UNHCR Representation for the Nordic and Baltic Countries (RNB) located in Stockholm, Sweden. UNHCR assists asylum-seekers, refugees, and stateless persons through partnerships with non-governmental organizations (NGO).

The Senior Field Associate will be based in Vilnius, Lithuania. The Senior Field Associate will work under the supervision of the Associate Legal Officer and perform field activities to monitor the situation of forcibly displaced persons, identify needs and protection issues of asylum-seekers, refugees and stateless persons. The Senior Field Associate will undertake regular visits to various border guard units, reception sites, accommodation centers and host communities to assess needs of asylum-seekers, refugees and stateless persons with particular attention to vulnerable groups, prepare written reports, manage individual protection cases, monitor, intervene and report in cases of refoulement, expulsion and other incidents. To ensure the involvement of forcibly displaced persons in decision-making that affects them, the incumbent will need to build and maintain effective interfaces with refugee communities, local authorities, and NGO partners. The Senior Field Associate will also be actively engaged in needs and participatory assessments, protection surveys, capacity-building initiatives, events, missions, communication with communities, public awareness activities and assist with project development, reporting and verification. The Senior Field Associate will facilitate effective information management through the collection and provision of the statistical disaggregated data and its analysis on populations UNHCR serves and their challenges.

Minimum Qualifications: 4 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher degree.

Field(s) of Education: Business Administration, Law and Political Science

Language requirements: Fluency in Lithuanian and English is essential. Knowledge of Russian and/or Ukrainian is an asset.

IMPORTANT:

No late applications will be accepted.

Only shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview.

Shortlisted candidates may be required to sit for a test.

UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process.

No late applications will be accepted.

The UNHCR workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, and opinions. UNHCR seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.

This position doesn't require a functional clearance

English

,

Lithuanian

,

,

,

Skills

CL-Multi-stakeholder Communications with Partners, Government & Community, CO-Drafting and Documentation, IT-Computer Literacy, PG-Programme Management (programme cycles and reporting standards)

Education

Certifications

Business Administration - Other, Law - Other, Political Science - Other

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