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.

Given UNHCR’s strategic engagement with Member States and other humanitarian actors in Geneva, and to ensure predictability and facilitate effective liaison and communication on a day-to-day basis between the ESA Bureau and the Permanent Missions on operational matters related to the region, this position requires a highly skilled and experienced professional, with a deep understanding of the region. The function is the main conduit through which the ESA Bureau interfaces with Geneva-based EXCOM Member States and external stakeholders (NGOs, UN Agencies, etc). It also ensures the representation of the ESA Bureau vis a vis HQ- based divisions and entities as necessary. Specifically, the position requires:
Essential:
• Proven diplomatic skills, including the ability to effectively interact and communicate with member states from the region based in Geneva, as well as with external stakeholders interested in the region;
• Demonstrated experience with the internal functioning of UNHCR at headquarters; and with UNHCR governance structures (EXCOM, Standing Committee and the GRF cycle and any other global and regional initiatives by UNHCR) is key.
• Proven direct experience with several UNHCR’s operations in Eastern and Southern Africa, and with HQ.
• Experience in organizing UNHCR events (including resource mobilization events) and managing groups of stakeholders at both senior officials and technical levels.
• Proven experience in senior representation, including with highest levels of government and effective advocacy in complex political settings.

Desirable Attributes:
• Due to the nature of the role and the need to effectively interact with Permanent Missions, it is desirable that the incumbent is a national of a country within Eastern African or Southern Africa.

• Good knowledge of the political and displacement dynamics in the ESA Region, including its regional economic bodies and the protection and solution priorities for the region, the route-based approach, as well as the humanitarian, development and peace nexus.
• Proven ability to work independently, multitask and be flexible, as the requirements of the position and UNHCR governance grow and become more complex.
• French is a strategic 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:

The Senior Liaison Officer for the Eastern and Southern Africa Region (ESA) reports directly to the Director of the Regional Bureau, while based in Geneva. S/he supports the ESA Bureau in coordinating with relevant Permanent Missions, UN agencies and other external partners in promoting guidance, positions, external relations, strategic communication and advocacy on protection and solutions policies undertaken by the Bureau. She/he liaises with UNHCR technical divisions and the Executive Office at headquarters.

Under the supervision of the Director and in close coordination with the Bureau Senior Management Team, the incumbent ensures the smooth flow of communication and provides strategic advice on HQ priorities and processes. She/he ensures that UNHCR 's Executive Office and Senior Managers receive relevant information, guidance, and orientation on the region when official meetings or other circumstances require. The incumbent is required to be on top of protection and solutions developments in Eastern and Southern Africa and to communicate them effectively both orally and in writing to internal and external audiences.

She/he will have extensive contacts with diverse external audiences ranging from the public-at-large, diplomats, scholars, civil society and staff from other UN and regional organizations, with the overall objective of drawing attention to the situations of forcibly displaced and stateless persons in the region and seeking durable solutions in a cohesive manner. This occurs in the framework of disseminating information, gathering support for UNHCR activities, and advocating on asylum, displacement, and statelessness issues in Eastern and Southern Africa.

In particular, she/he will closely coordinate with HQ entities and assist in mobilizing support for UNHCR, expanding the donor base and promoting the visibility of forced displacement needs in the ESA region.

She/he is the focal point for the ESA Bureau in relation to the works of the Executive Committee (EXCOM), the Standing Committee and the Global Refugee Forum (GRF) and will support the Bureau Director in his/her missions to Geneva. She/he coordinates special events to promote protection and solutions in the relevant forums and venues in Geneva and ensures that regional priorities remain relevant in the global arena. The post operates in a sensitive, demanding, and rapidly changing political and legal context, and requires the ability to anticipate and engage, follow a broad range of issues and respond promptly. Political awareness and diplomatic skills are required for the position, as well as a deep understanding and experience with protection and solutions contexts prevailing in the region.

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