Senior Protection Associate - (Closing Date 26-Oct-26)

• Position Title: Senior Protection Associate
• Number of Positions: 1
• Duty Station: Islamabad
• Per month Salary: PKR 336,766.
• Contract Type: TPC Monthly
• Contract start date : Subject to completion of all HR Formalities
• Contract Duration: 6 Months
• Department: Protection

Job Responsibilities:

1. Support the National Protection Officer in planning, coordinating and following up legal and protection interventions, including urgent cases and agreed actions.
2. Conduct legal research and prepare draft analyses, briefing notes and correspondence on migration and protection issues, including documentation, arrest, detention, deportation and access to rights and services.
3. Coordinate with partner lawyers and legal service providers on legal assistance, case referrals and court proceedings; track deadlines, court orders and outcomes, and escalate protection concerns.
4. Support counter-trafficking (TIP) and migrant smuggling (SOM) interventions, including coordination with relevant authorities and partners, safe referrals for victims of trafficking and migrants in vulnerable situations, and capacity-building for LEAs and IPs on identification, legal safeguards and protection-sensitive responses.
5. Support the management of implementing partners, including due diligence, agreement preparation and amendments, work plans, budgets and follow-up of contractual obligations.
6. Monitor partner activities and service quality through regular coordination and field visits; review reports and deliverables, identify gaps, and follow up on agreed actions.
7. Compile and review partner payment documentation and expenditure records in coordination with Finance; maintain agreement, reporting, and payment trackers.
8. Prepare inputs for donor reports, proposals, management updates and advocacy, drawing on verified programme data and legal and protection developments.
9. Coordinate meetings, consultations and workshops; support capacity-building activities for law enforcement agencies (LEAs) and implementing partners (IPs) on migrants' rights, legal safeguards, protection principles and safe referrals; and assist with travel and other programme administrative requirements.
10. Maintain accurate and confidential case and programme records, and apply humanitarian principles, do no harm, safe referrals, data protection and safeguarding requirements throughout assigned activities.
11. Perform other related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications and Experience:

EDUCATION

• A Bachelor's or Master's degree in Law from an accredited academic institution is required for this position.

EXPERIENCE

• Experience working on general protection, child protection (CP), gender-based violence (GBV), including working in direct contact with beneficiaries.
• Understanding of the protection sector in Pakistan, its challenges, priorities and existing referral pathways, and demonstrated knowledge of principles applying to safe referrals.
• Good experience in providing technical guidance and capacity building on general protection, GBV, CP and other cross-cutting issues.
• Experience in trafficking in persons (TIP), smuggling of migrants (SOM) and migration, including supporting legal and protection interventions, coordinating with relevant authorities and partners, and facilitating safe referrals.
• Understanding of critical issues around data protection principles and knowledge of safe, confidential, and ethical data collection, processing, and analysis.
• Advanced computer skills and literacy (MS Word, PowerPoint) and proficiency in Excel.
• Knowledge of the Afghanistan crisis in Pakistan and understanding of issues related to Afghan migrants and host communities in Pakistan.
• Prior work experience with international humanitarian organizations, non-governmental or government institutions/organizations in a multicultural setting is considered an advantage.

SKILLS:

• In-depth knowledge of the broad range of migration-related subject areas dealt with by the Organization
• Good written and oral communication skills, effective in representation and liaison with external parties (required).
• Research skills, including qualitative and quantitative methods (required).
• Strong coordination and written/oral communication skills.
• Excellent computer skills and literacy (MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel, KOBO) and full proficiency in Excel.
• Good interpersonal and problem-solving skills (required).
• Teamwork-oriented, ability to problem-solve, take initiative, and work independently.
• Strong time management skills and ability to work under pressure and manage competing deadlines.
• Willing to collaborate with and support people from cultures and backgrounds (required).
• Knowledge of the broad range of migration-related subject areas dealt with by Client.
• Knowledge of UN and bilateral donor standards.
• Knowledge of financial rules and regulations.

Languages Required:

Fluency in English and Urdu.

Language DESIRABLE

Working knowledge of Pashto and Dari.

Competencies:

The incumbent is expected to demonstrate the following values and competencies:

VALUES - All Client's staff members must abide by and demonstrate these five values:

Inclusion and respect for diversity: Respects and promotes individual and cultural differences. Encourages diversity and inclusion.

Integrity and transparency: Maintains high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct.

Professionalism: Demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges.

Courage: Demonstrates willingness to take a stand on issues of importance.

Empathy: Shows compassion for others, makes people feel safe, respected and fairly treated.

CORE COMPETENCIES - Behavioral indicators – Level 1:

Teamwork: Develops and promotes effective collaboration within and across units to achieve shared goals and optimize results.

Delivering results: Produces and delivers quality results in a service-oriented and timely manner. Is action oriented and committed to achieving agreed outcomes.

Managing and sharing knowledge: Continuously seeks to learn, share knowledge and innovate.

Accountability: Takes ownership for achieving the Organization's priorities and assumes responsibility for own actions and delegated work.