Assistant Protection Officer (Hub Manager)

Organizational Context

The Assistant Protection Officer reports to the Protection Officer or Senior Protection Officer, potentially supervising protection staff. The role provides functional protection guidance on legal matters and accountabilities, including statelessness, GCR commitments, AGD, and AAP, to information management and programme staff. The incumbent ensures operational responses mainstream protection methodologies and integrate safeguards.

Job Purpose

The Assistant Protection Officer is responsible for coordinating quality, timely, and effective protection responses to the needs of populations of concern (PoC). This involves ensuring that operational responses across all sectors integrate protection methodologies and safeguards. The incumbent contributes to the design of a comprehensive protection strategy and represents UNHCR externally on protection doctrine and policy, as guided by their supervisor. A key aspect of the role is ensuring PoC are meaningfully engaged in decisions affecting them and supporting programme adaptations based on their concerns, priorities, and capacities. This requires building and maintaining effective interfaces with communities of concern, authorities, protection partners, and a broader network of stakeholders to enhance protection.

Responsibilities

The Assistant Protection Officer must stay informed about political, social, economic, and cultural developments impacting the protection environment and consistently apply International and National Law, along with applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policies, standards, and codes of conduct. They will assist in commenting on existing and draft legislation related to PoC, and provide legal advice and guidance on protection issues, liaising with authorities to ensure the issuance of necessary documentation. The role involves conducting eligibility and status determination for PoC in compliance with UNHCR standards and international protection principles, and promoting measures to identify, prevent, and reduce statelessness. Contributions are expected for country-level child protection and education plans as part of the protection strategy, and for the development of protection policies and standards within the Area of Responsibility (AoR). Implementation and monitoring of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities are crucial, as is managing individual protection cases, including those involving Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and child protection. Monitoring and intervening in cases of refoulement, expulsion, and other protection incidents are also key duties. The incumbent will recommend durable solutions, assess resettlement needs, and contribute to the design, implementation, and evaluation of AGD-based programming with partners. Facilitating results-based advocacy and effective information management through disaggregated data is required. Assisting capacity-building initiatives for communities and authorities, intervening with authorities on protection issues, and assisting the supervisor in prioritizing reception, interviewing, and counselling are also part of the responsibilities. Finally, enforcing compliance with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity among staff and partners, and managing risks and opportunities impacting objectives are essential.

Work Experience

1 year of relevant experience with an undergraduate degree. Knowledge of International Refugee and Human Rights Law and the ability to apply relevant legal principles are essential.

Skills

Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) Project Management Human Rights Doctrine/Standards International Humanitarian Law Assessment of IDPs Status, Rights, Obligation Climate change and disaster related displacement Drafting and Documentation Gender Based Violence (GBV) Coordination

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