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

H (no hardship)

Family

PR4

Professional

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2026-05-26

Senior Liaison Officer for Regional Bureaux

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

Reporting to the Bureau Director, the Senior Liaison Officer for Regional Bureaux works closely with the Executive Office (EO), HQ-based divisions and the Secretariat, Permanent Missions and other stakeholders based in Geneva.

S/he supports the Bureau Director to ensure that regional and corporate UNHCR positions are aligned and coherent. As part of the Regional Bureau Management Team, s/he supports the regionalization process, ensuring that the relevant regional entities are consulted and engaged when required.

S/he establishes and maintains contacts with high-level and senior officials within Permanent Missions and addresses their queries and concerns on behalf of the Organisation. S/he also directs Permanent Missions’ requests to the appropriate entity in the organization, be it in HQ or in the Regional Bureau, and ensures that information regarding concerns of member states is shared across the organization. S/he also facilitates the humanitarian engagement of Permanent Missions and other external stakeholders with UNHCR

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

Liaison and Representation

• Sustain relations with the permanent mission, respond to their information needs, promote and facilitate their engagement with UNHCR.
• Liaise closely with the ExCom Secretariat and the Governance Section to ensure that Permanent Missions are consistently updated with the latest information on UNHCR’s informal and official engagements, Geneva-based events, and related preparations, particularly in the context of ExCom, the Standing Committee, and Global Compact on Refugees / Global Refugee Forum (GCR/GRF) meetings.
• Coordinate preparations of high-level visits of ministers, senior partner officials, senior parliamentarians, members of the cabinet or the heads of major institutions to Geneva with Permanent Missions and the Regional Bureau. Support the EO in its interface with such delegations.
• Organize, participate in, and represent the Regional Bureau at HQ-based meetings (e.g., Executive Meetings, ExCom, Standing Committee, Global Refugee Forum, High-Level Officials Meetings (HLOMs), donor briefings, regional or thematic and other meetings) in close coordination with the Regional Bureau.
• Coordinate the periodic visits of Bureau Directors to HQ and organize meetings with Permanent Missions and other Geneva-based stakeholders.
• Engage in humanitarian diplomacy at Geneva level and in liaison with UNHCR New York team.

Coordination and Planning

• Participate in the regional policy implementation and advocacy by liaising with regional bodies and member states to ensure alignment with protection and solutions strategies.
• Engage with regional and multilateral institutions to advocate for the inclusion of refugees, forcibly displaced and stateless persons in policy frameworks and development initiatives.
• Facilitate regional coordination platforms and events, ensuring follow-up on outcomes and integration into strategic planning.

Advocacy and Policy Support

• Lead strategic communications and advocacy efforts to elevate regional protection and solutions priorities across relevant platforms, in close consultation with the senior management in the Bureau and the communication team.
• Participate in monitoring and advise on regional trends and emergencies, providing timely analysis and recommendations to the Bureau Director and HQ divisions.

Internal Communication and Strategic Alignment

• Strengthen internal coordination and communication flow between the Regional Bureau, HQ divisions and Governance Section to ensure transparency, coherence and troubleshoot issues that may arise.
• Foster engagement with Geneva-based institutions, the civil society and other stakeholders to strengthen protection responses supporting capacity-building initiatives.

Other Duties

• 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

Years of Experience / Degree Level

For P4 - 9 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 8 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 7 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education

Law; International Law; Political Science; Social Science; Economics;
Communication; Business Administration or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses

Not specified.

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

Relevant Job Experience

Essential

Demonstrated experience in government relations management, external and multi-stakeholder management and diplomacy. Relevant and progressively responsible experience, including scoping, promoting, leading, and overseeing policies, programmes and projects on an international scale. Demonstrated experience in effectively consulting with a group of senior-level professionals. Proven ability to build a team culture of collaboration and performance. Client-oriented professional with the ability to anticipate client needs and to create lasting change in dynamic work environments. A high level of skill in management of broad programmes, political decision-making and negotiation, as well as demonstrated tolerance for frequently changing and highly charged situations. Demonstrated advocacy skills, leadership qualities, integrity, tact, diplomacy, and well-developed management, organisational, and communication skills.

Desirable

Donor, UN, NGO experience and familiarity from both the field and HQ perspective and processes.

Functional Skills

MG-Change Management

MG-Organisational Development

MG-People Management

PM-Project management industry best practices (methodologies, techniques and tools)

PM-Capacity building initiatives with project/programme partners

RM-Risk Management

SO-Critical Thinking and problem solving

(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

Empowering and Building Trust

Judgement and Decision Making

Leadership

Managing Performance

Managing Resources

Cross-Functional Competencies

Change Capability and Adaptability

Innovation and Creativity

Stakeholder Management

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.

• Experience in engaging with and negotiating with senior governmental counter-parts, in particular from the MENA region or similar displacement contexts.
• Strong representational, diplomatic, and stakeholder management skills with governments, Permanent Missions, donors, and UN partners; including advising Snr Management on policies and approaches vis-à-vis these stakeholders.
• Proven experience in strategic coordination, advocacy, and humanitarian diplomacy at regional and/or HQ level.
• Proven experience operating UNHCR governance, inter-agency coordination, protection and emergency response frameworks.
• Excellent analytical, drafting, and communication skills, with ability to support senior-level decision-making and engagement.
• Demonstrated ability to manage sensitive issues and competing priorities in fast-paced environments with sound judgment and discretion.
• Arabic is essential.

Arabic

,

,

,

,

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 Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region remains one of UNHCR’s most complex and politically sensitive operational environments globally, marked by large-scale displacement situations, protracted refugee crises, mixed movements, ongoing emergencies, and rapidly evolving geopolitical dynamics. The Regional Bureau for MENA oversees a diverse portfolio of operations across refugee, asylum, statelessness, emergency, solutions, and development contexts, requiring sustained high-level engagement with governments, regional organizations, donors, Permanent Missions, UN entities, international financial institutions, and humanitarian and development partners.

Reporting to the Bureau Director, the Senior Liaison Officer for Regional Bureaux supports the strategic positioning of the Bureau and strengthens coordination, advocacy, and institutional engagement with Geneva- and HQ-based stakeholders, including Permanent Missions, the Executive Office, ExCom Secretariat, DPM, DRM, DER, and other HQ divisions. The incumbent plays a key role in ensuring coherent communication and alignment between regional operational priorities and corporate strategic directions, particularly in the context of ongoing organizational transformation, regionalization efforts, emergency responses, and resource mobilization priorities.

The position requires strong political awareness and diplomatic engagement skills to support the Bureau’s interactions on highly sensitive regional matters, including emergency declarations, protection advocacy, solutions agendas, funding challenges, and operational risks affecting MENA operations. The incumbent will support the preparation and coordination of high-level missions, donor engagements, ExCom and Standing Committee processes, bilateral consultations, and strategic meetings involving senior UNHCR leadership, Member States, and external stakeholders.

The Senior Liaison Officer for Regional Bureaux will also contribute to strategic analysis, humanitarian diplomacy, and stakeholder engagement linked to regional developments, including displacement trends, evolving political and security dynamics, and inter-agency coordination processes. The role requires close collaboration with country operations and HQ entities to facilitate coherent messaging, strategic advocacy, and timely follow-up on sensitive operational and policy matters impacting the region.

Given the breadth and complexity of the MENA portfolio, the position requires demonstrating sound judgment, strong representational and negotiation skills, and the ability to navigate fast-paced and high-pressure environments while maintaining effective coordination across multiple stakeholders and organizational levels.

Living and Working Conditions:

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Bachelor of Arts: Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts: Communication, Bachelor of Arts: Economics, Bachelor of Arts: International Law, Bachelor of Arts: Law, Bachelor of Arts: Political Science, Bachelor of Arts: Social Science

Certifications

Competencies

Accountability, Change capability & adaptability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Innovation & creativity, Judgement & decision making, Leadership, Managing performance, Managing resource, Organizational awareness, Stakeholder management, 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