Hardship Level A (least hardship) Family Type Family Family Type Family Residential location (if applicable) Grade GS5 Staff Member / Affiliate Type General Service Reason Regular > Regular Assignment Target Start Date 2025-09-01 Deadline for Applications June 26, 2025 Standard Job Description Senior Protection Assistant Organizational Setting and Work Relationships The Senior Protection Assistant normally reports to a more senior Protection colleague. 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 Senior Protection Assistant provides quality, timely and effective protection support to persons of concern (PoC) and identifies opportunities to mainstream protection methodologies and safeguards in operational responses. S/he contributes to designing a comprehensive protection strategy and may liaise externally with local authorities and partners on protection issues as guided by the supervisor. The Senior Protection Assistant 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 - Consistently apply International and National Law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy, standards and codes of conduct. - Provide counselling on protection issues to PoC; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documentation. - Support activities in protection related AGD based programming with implementing and operational partners. - Conduct preliminary information gathering and interviews in support of eligibility, status determination, durable solutions and social needs assessment. - 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 for PoC as part of the protection strategy. - Monitor Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities. - Participate in individual protection case management including cases of GBV and child protection. Monitor and report on cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents. - Assist in identifying durable solutions for PoC in 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. - Draft reports, routine correspondence, update relevant databases and compiling statistics within the Area of Responsibility (AoR). - Contribute to initiatives to enhance national and local protection capacities. - Select PoC for preliminary interviews and decide which relevant information to share. - Enforce integrity in the delivery of protection services by local implementing partners. - 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 G5 - 2 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 1 year relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher Field(s) of Education Not applicable Certificates and/or Licenses International Law; Political Science; (Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential) Relevant Job Experience Essential: Not specified. Desirable: Not specified. Functional Skills IT-Computer Literacy PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework (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 The ideal candidate has proven experience in advocacy and coordination with national and local authorities, including mayor’s offices, Personerías, Migración Colombia, the Defensoría del Pueblo, ICBF, and the Unidad para las Víctimas, to strengthen protection responses and ensure access to rights for persons of concern. This includes refugees, asylum-seekers, stateless persons, and internally displaced persons (IDPs). S/he demonstrates a strong understanding of the Colombian protection context, with the ability to operate effectively in both urban settings such as Bogotá and border departments such as Vichada and Guainía. The candidate has experience in individual case management, including GBV and child protection, and applies AGD principles and community-based protection approaches in their work. Excellent interpersonal, coordination and drafting skills are essential, as well as the ability to manage sensitive information with discretion, work independently, and contribute to a collaborative and inclusive team environment. A high standard of professionalism, integrity and respect for diversity is expected. Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level): Spanish , English , Desired languages , , 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: In 2025, Colombia is home to nearly 11 million people who have been forced to flee their homes, including 7 million internally displaced persons, 3 million people from Venezuela, and 500,000 returning Colombian nationals. In recent years, there has been a serious deterioration in the humanitarian situation in Colombia, with more than 191,000 people internally displaced and at least 118,100 affected by confinement in 2024 alone. In 2025, armed violence continues to affect communities across the country, with over 63,000 people displaced and 27,000 affected by mobility restrictions due to conflict in the Catatumbo region alone (Norte de Santander). Pervasive social control by armed actors, threats to communities, targeted killings of human rights defenders, massacres, recruitment of children by illegal armed actors, gender-based violence, and the use of mines and unexploded ordnance are a daily reality for the population in conflict affected areas. Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities are particularly affected by these situations. Around 1.9 million Venezuelans have benefited from the Temporary Protection Permit (TPP), a significant step toward regularization. Challenges remain in achieving their full socioeconomic integration, especially in accessing formal employment. One million remain in the process of regularization or without the possibility to regularize their situation. The Refugee Status Determination process in Colombia faces serious delays, limiting asylum-seekers’ access to basic rights. Colombia is a also major receiving country of people on the move across the region. Refugees and migrants also face challenges in accessing healthcare, and children are particularly vulnerable to protection risks such as forced recruitment by armed groups, displacement, sexual abuse, labour exploitation, and barriers to education. Xenophobia, discrimination, and gender-based violence further hinder their enjoyment of rights and access to protection. Addressing these challenges requires strengthening institutional responses, prevention, addressing protection risks, combating xenophobia, improving access to socio-economic inclusion for refugees and solutions to displacement for the internally displaced, as well as promoting meaningful participation of affected communities in decision-making processes. 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, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Organizational awareness, Political awareness, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration UNHCR Salary Calculator https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales Compendium Additional Information Functional clearance This position doesn't require a functional clearance #J-18808-Ljbffr