Snr Protection Assistant

September 2, 2026

A (least hardship)

Family

GS5

General Service

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2026-09-01

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.

Nature of the Position (Operational Context):

Over recent years, Mexico has evolved from being predominantly a country of origin and transit for refugees and asylum-seekers to becoming a significant country of destination for hundreds of thousands of individuals seeking international protection from within the region and beyond. The Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance (COMAR) has registered claims from more than one hundred nationalities. The exponential growth in the number of asylum applications - reaching a record high of over 140,000 in 2023, followed by approximately 80,000 in 2024 and around 40,000 in the first half of 2025 - continues to pose major challenges to Mexico’s asylum system. Currently, an average of 250 new asylum applications are submitted daily, mostly in Tapachula and Mexico City. UNHCR’s strategy in Mexico aims to safeguard the asylum space by strengthening the institutional capacity of COMAR and ensuring efficient processing and adjudication of claims, promoting access to alternative legal pathways for individuals with specific protection needs, and supporting regularization alternatives for those not in need of international protection, thereby safeguarding the integrity of the asylum system. Durable solutions form a central component of UNHCR’s engagement, with a particular focus on socioeconomic inclusion of asylum-seekers and refugees and on alleviating pressure on host communities, particularly in southern Mexico. Communication and awareness-raising initiatives are critical to ensure that information on asylum procedures and access to durable solutions reaches target populations effectively. Mexico is a relevant country in the regional context and is fully engaged in the MIRPS, the Chile Plan of Action, and other relevant processes. The very dynamic relations between the US and Mexico in key aspects of human mobility require continuous adaptation and flexibility.

Desired Candidate Profile:

The ideal candidate is a protection-oriented and community-focused professional with solid experience supporting the delivery of protection services to refugees, asylum-seekers, stateless people and other people of concern. S/he demonstrates sound knowledge of refugee protection principles, international and national legal frameworks, protection standards, case management procedures and Age, Gender and Diversity approaches. The candidate is expected to provide timely, confidential and accountable support to people of concern, while contributing to the identification of protection risks, appropriate referrals and durable solutions.

Protection Delivery, Counselling and Case Management: Experience providing counselling and protection support, conducting interviews, gathering information and following up on protection cases. S/he should support case management processes, ensuring confidentiality, sensitivity and compliance with protection principles.

Protection Analysis, Monitoring and Reporting: Able to monitor protection activities, identify risks, document incidents and maintain accurate records, statistics and reports. Strong attention to detail and information management skills are required..

Community-Based Protection and Age, Gender and Diversity Programming: Capable of engaging with communities of concern and supporting their participation in decisions affecting their rights and access to services. Experience with Age, Gender and Diversity approaches and community outreach is desirable.

Coordination, Partner Engagement and Institutional Liaison: Able to collaborate effectively with authorities, partners and internal teams to support referrals, access to rights, documentation and protection interventions.

Durable Solutions, Documentation and Protection Safeguards: Knowledge of voluntary repatriation, local integration and other durable solutions. Able to support access to documentation and contribute to efforts that strengthen protection safeguards and reduce statelessness.

Competencies and Skills: Strong analytical, communication, organizational and interpersonal skills. The candidate should demonstrate accountability, teamwork, results orientation, sound judgment and a commitment to continuous learning and effective protection responses.

Languages and Other Requirements: Fluency in English and Spanish is essential, with demonstrated ability to draft and communicate effectively in both languages.

Living and Working Conditions:

Tijuana provides a dynamic and culturally diverse working environment. Its border location and complex security environment require a high degree of cultural awareness, flexibility and situational awareness. While the city offers generally good access to housing, healthcare, education, communications and commercial services, personnel should be prepared to adapt to local security conditions, traffic congestion, environmental hazards and the particular dynamics of living and working in a major border city. Staff should remain aware of local emergency procedures and the city’s efficient civil protection response system. Heavy rainfall may also cause localized flooding, landslides and road disruption, particularly in hillside and poorly drained areas. Additionally, air quality may be affected by the Santa Ana winds, which carry dust and pollutants across the border region, particularly during spring and autumn months.
Tijuana is the largest town of the state of Baja California, a border state with the United States. Tijuana is an important industrial and commercial center. The main economic activities in the region are tourism, finance, insurance, and real estate services. As such, it has a high-level infrastructure:
• Health: Tijuana has a highly classified medical infrastructure with some first-rate hospitals, such as Hospital Angeles Tijuana and Centro Medico Nova hospital.
• Education: there are public and private schools. All private schools are bilingual (English-Spanish), Howard Gardner, Pierre Faure School, among others.
• Housing: Furnished and unfurnished apartments are available. International personnel are required to reside in areas pre-approved by the Security Unit. A residential security assessment must be conducted before confirming accommodation. The assessment should consider the immediate surroundings, access routes, building security, access control (including non-armed security guards and CCTV), parking arrangements, lighting, emergency exits, and exposure to identified security and natural hazards. Due to Tijuana’s proximity to the United States and the cross-border nature of the local economy, rental prices in some areas may be quoted or denominated in U.S. dollars, which is a common practice in the local housing market.
• Entertainment: Tijuana offers a wide range of recreational and cultural activities, including parks, cinemas, museums, sports facilities, shopping centers, restaurants, and other leisure and tourist attractions. Its proximity to San Diego, California, also provides access to additional recreational, cultural, and commercial options for personnel who meet the applicable U.S. entry requirements.
• Weather: Tijuana According to the State Government, the climate of the municipality of Tijuana is of the Mediterranean type, temperate, semisteppe with temperatures ranging from 15 degrees the lowest to 36 degrees the highest. The hot season runs from March to October, the intensity of which can be felt between July and September with temperatures close to 28 ° C. Tijuana has considerable variation in monthly rainfall per season. The rainy season lasts 5.7 months, from October 26 to April 17, with a sliding interval of 31 days of rain. Hurricane and cyclone probability.
• Currency and exchange: Mexican peso. Dollars, euros and travelers checks can be exchanged at a currency exchange office.
• Communications: Internet is available almost everywhere, but in homes and offices, a contract must be made to access this service.
• Transportation: Public buses and taxis are available; however, the use of app-based transportation services (e.g., Uber) or authorized airport taxi services is highly recommended for security reasons.
• Security: According to the current General Threat Assessment, Tijuana is assessed at Global Threat Level 3 – Moderate. The security environment is primarily characterized by criminal activity, including violent robbery, residential burglary, homicide, kidnapping, street robbery, and telephone fraud. Organized criminal groups maintain a significant presence in Tijuana and the wider border area and are involved in activities including drug trafficking, extortion, and human smuggling. Competition among criminal groups and security operations against them may result in targeted armed attacks, localized spikes in violence, and occasional armed confrontations. Although most organized crime-related violence is targeted and does not directly involve UN personnel, the use of firearms in public areas may pose an incidental risk to staff and requires continued situational awareness. Demonstrations occur periodically for a variety of social and political reasons and are generally peaceful; however, staff should avoid demonstrations and large gatherings as a precaution.
• Security Measures: UNHCR personnel should maintain a high level of situational awareness and exercise increased caution during nighttime movements. Unnecessary movement after dark, particularly in higher-risk areas, should be avoided. There is no curfew in Tijuana, however, the crime incidence in the night hours is high. During road missions, Security Clearance it’s Mandatory for Official Travels, overnight road travel is restricted. Staff deployed in Tijuana would be required to process an official US visa (G4) at the earliest (approbation subject to United States Government). Field activities along the Northern border and particularly in Baja California and Sonora state must be coordinated with local authorities, UNHCR Security (FSA based in Monterrey) and UNDSS.

Important Information for Applicants:

• Eligibility – Internal Advertisement Only, i.e., applications are open to:
- Internal candidates: staff members with an indefinite or fixed-term appointment in the same category as the position advertised, staff members who, at the date of the deadline for application, are serving at the grade of the position or one grade below or above, as well as any candidates serving at higher grades who fulfil the criteria as per the job advertisement.
- Former Staff (due to post abolition under special measures): Local FTA/IND contract holders whose posts were abolished due to structural changes, and who were separated as of 01 January 2025 (last working day 31 December 2024). Other types of former staff members are considered candidates with UNHCR experience for any location. Eligibility period for application: May 2025 – June 2026 vacancies.
- Candidates with UNHCR experience at the time of application: current staff members in other categories, staff members on temporary appointment, affiliate workforce and interns with at least 1 year of service, and staff loaned/seconded. Former UNHCR locally recruited staff members who held an indefinite or fixed-term appointment (within 2 years of separation for males and 5 years for females).
• Nationality / Right to Work Requirement: Only Mexican nationals or candidates holding permanent residency are eligible (Candidates must attach proof of permanent residency in Mexico at the time of application). Failure to do so will result in disqualification.
• Mobility and Eligibility for Application: Staff members must normally serve a minimum of one year in their current assignment before applying for another position within the same category, unless their post has been abolished.
• Selection Process: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Shortlisted candidates may be required to sit for a written test and/or oral interview. UNHCR does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process.
• Application Requirements: Applicants are responsible for ensuring that their Workday Career Profile is accurate and fully updated prior to applying. The evaluation will be based solely on the information provided in the application. Once submitted, applications cannot be modified. Candidates under consideration may be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided.
• Diversity and Inclusion: UNHCR is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce and strongly encourages applications from qualified candidates regardless of gender, nationality, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, or disability status. All applications are treated with the strictest confidentiality, and UNHCR is committed to providing equal career opportunities for all staff.
• Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA): UNHCR maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA). SEA constitutes serious misconduct and may result in disciplinary action, including dismissal. Concerns or suspicions can be reported confidentially to: [email protected] or at https://www.unhcr.org/php/complaints.php or by confidential fax: +41 22 739 73 80.
• Educational Requirements: UNHCR recognizes only qualifications obtained from institutions accredited in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), maintained by the International Association of Universities (IAU) and UNESCO. The database is available at: WHED portal.at http://www.whed.net/. For candidates under consideration, degrees verification will be conducted also through the SEP portal.
• Remuneration: A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. This includes salary, allowances (where applicable), comprehensive medical insurance, and participation in the UN pension scheme. Further details are available via the UN Office of Human Resources Management.

Spanish

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English

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

Nature of Position:

Living and Working Conditions:

 

Additional Qualifications

Skills

IT-Computer Literacy, PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators, PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework

Certifications

International Law - Other, Political Science - Other

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Organizational awareness, Political awareness, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Compendium

Additional Information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance