Protection Associate

julio 23, 2026

A (least hardship)

Family

GS6

General Service

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2026-08-01

Protection Associate

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Protection Associate normally reports to the Protection Officer or the Senior Protection Officer. 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 Protection Associate is expected to coordinate quality, timely and effective protection responses to the needs of populations of concern (PoC) and identify opportunities to mainstream protection methodologies and integrate protection safeguards in operational responses in all sectors. S/he contributes to designing a comprehensive protection strategy and liaises externally with authorities and partners on protection doctrine and policy as guided by the supervisor.

The Protection Associate 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
- Stay abreast of political, social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on the protection environment.
- Consistently apply International and National Law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy, standards and codes of conduct.
- Assist in providing comments on existing and draft legislation related to PoC.
- Provide advice on protection issues to PoC; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documentation.
- Assist in conducting eligibility and status determination for PoC.
- 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 as part of the protection strategy.
- Monitor Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities.
- Manage individual protection cases including those on GBV and child protection. Monitor, and intervene in cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents.
- Assist in identifying durable solutions for the largest possible number of PoC through 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.
- Facilitate effective information management through the provision of disaggregated data on PoC and their problems.
- Participate in initiatives to capacitate authorities, relevant institutions and NGOs to strengthen national protection related legislation and procedures.
- Assist the supervisor in prioritizing PoC for interview, counselling and propose protection support for individual cases.
- Assist the supervisor with enforcing compliance of local implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services.
- Assit the supervisor with enforcing compliance with, and integrity of, all protection standard operating procedures.
- Submit individual payments request for PoC for approval.

- 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
For G6 - 3 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Field(s) of Education
Not applicable

Certificates and/or Licenses
International Law, Political Science
or other related field
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Not specified

Desirable
Protection Learning Programme

Functional Skills
IT-Computer Literacy
PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework
PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators
(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.

Desirable Candidate Profile - Protection Associate, GS6 Pasto:

1. Position Purpose
We are seeking a professional to provide strategic leadership to the Protection Team at the Pasto Field Office, ensuring the design, implementation, and monitoring of the protection and durable solutions strategy in the department of Nariño. The incumbent will promote high-quality protection responses, institutional capacity strengthening, inter-agency coordination, and community empowerment, in line with UNHCR’s mandate and protection standards.

2. Key Responsibilities
• Lead the design, implementation, and monitoring of the comprehensive protection and durable solutions strategy for the department of Nariño, ensuring alignment with national, regional, and organizational priorities.
• Coordinate and supervise the technical work of the Protection Team, promoting effective team management, staff development, and a collaborative, results-oriented working environment.
• Promote institutional capacity-strengthening strategies, durable solutions initiatives, and community empowerment, integrating Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) and Protection Centrality approaches across all interventions.
• Ensure that protection interventions comply with UNHCR's technical standards, institutional policies, and operational procedures, guaranteeing timely, high-quality protection responses.
• Provide context analysis and strategic recommendations to support decision-making, identifying protection risks, opportunities, and trends that may affect persons of concern.
• Support the Head of the Pasto Field Office in strengthening UNHCR's strategic positioning with government authorities, UN agencies, implementing partners, and other key stakeholders to promote a favorable protection environment for internally displaced persons, refugees, asylum-seekers, returnees, and other populations under UNHCR’s mandate.

3. Required Technical Competencies
• Demonstrated experience leading and coordinating protection teams in complex humanitarian settings.
• Strong knowledge of national and international legal frameworks related to international protection, internal displacement, refugee protection, statelessness, human rights, and international humanitarian law.
• Proven experience in the design, implementation, and monitoring of protection strategies, institutional capacity strengthening, durable solutions programming, and inter-agency coordination.
• Strong ability to conduct protection context analysis, identify protection risks, and translate findings into strategic and operational responses.
• Ability to manage multiple competing priorities, work effectively under pressure, and ensure compliance with operational and protection standards.
• Excellent drafting, report writing, and strategic communication skills.

4. Behavioral Competencies
• Strategic and inspiring leadership, with the ability to guide multidisciplinary teams toward shared objectives.
• Strong analytical thinking and the ability to undertake strategic planning and evidence-based decision-making.
• High level of organizational awareness and understanding of the institutional and political environment.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and influencing skills with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Results-oriented, with a strong commitment to quality and accountability.
• Ability to build trusted relationships, foster collaboration, and manage diverse and inclusive teams.
• Adaptability, resilience, and the ability to perform effectively in dynamic and complex operational environments.
• Strong commitment to humanitarian principles, ethics, integrity, and respect for diversity.
Operational Context:

Colombia is the country most impacted by the outflow of over 7.7 million Venezuelan refugees, hosting nearly 2.8 million Venezuelans. Over 2.4 million have registered to benefit from the Temporary Protection Status (TPS), issued by the Government of Colombia in February 2021. The TPS provides a 10-year protection status and access to a full range of rights, including healthcare, education, formal employment, and financial inclusion. More than 1.9 million permits have been delivered; however, challenges remain in terms of access to rights and services. Xenophobia against Venezuelans persists, as misinformation and the perceptions that Venezuelans will take away job opportunities from Colombians, fuel general discontent. UNHCR supports the TPS roll-out, as well as a similar initiative announced by the Government of Colombia in December 2024, and believes it is a promising pathway for addressing the vulnerable situation of Venezuelan refugees, including opportunities for durable solutions. At the same time, despite the 2016 Peace Agreement, conflict and armed violence continue to generate new internal displaced persons, in addition to the 7.7 million Colombians already displaced. Afro-Colombians and indigenous people continue to be disproportionally affected by large-group displacement events and confinements, particularly in the Pacific coast. UNHCR and partners work to strengthen preventive actions as well as to respond to emergencies, providing protection and solutions for internally displaced persons. UNHCR also works with individuals transiting Colombia, including promoting alternatives to dangerous, irregular crossings of the Darien region for those heading north and seeking solutions to those returning from central America through the same route. In the context of the Humanitarian Reset and funding challenges, innovative approaches are being explored of interagency offices and pooling of UN resources and missions.


UNHCR is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, nationality, socio-economic, religious and ethnic backgrounds, to apply to become a part of the organization. Furthermore, UNHCR Colombia strongly encourages persons living with disabilities to apply to this position.

The grading (step calculation) of the appointed candidate will be based on the information you have registered in Workday. Please make sure to include all the relevant work experience you have (specify the relevant responsibilities) as well as educational qualifications necessary for the position. Any discrepancies or missing information could affect this step calculation.

English

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Spanish

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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, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Judgement & decision making, Negotiation & conflict resolution, Organizational awareness, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration

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

Compendium

Additional Information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance