Job Description

Deadline for Applications

diciembre 30, 2025

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

A (least hardship)

Family Type (not applicable for home-based)

Family

Staff Member / Affiliate Type

UNOPS LICA7

Target Start Date

2026-02-01

Terms of Reference

The UNHCR operation in Chile comprises approximately 25 personnel, including national and international staff and affiliates. The National Office (NO) is located in Santiago de Chile and operates under the Multi-Country Office (MCO) based in Buenos Aires, Argentina, which also covers Bolivia, Paraguay and Uruguay.
Chile has become a key destination for forcibly displaced populations in Latin America, currently hosting 1.6 million foreigners—8.8% of the total population—according to the 2024 Census. The country ranks second in the region in terms of foreign-born population, after Costa Rica. The majority of refugees and migrants in Chile are Venezuelan (41.6%), followed by Peruvians, Colombians, Haitians, and Bolivians. Chile also provides protection to individuals fleeing conflict and persecution from countries such as Palestine, Syria, Afghanistan and Ukraine.
As of December 2024, over 677,922 individuals are considered forcibly displaced in Chile, including more than 660,420 people in need of international protection, 13,366 asylum seekers, and 2,448 recognized refugees. UNHCR works closely with government institutions, civil society, municipalities, refugee-led organizations, and the private sector to ensure access to protection, humanitarian assistance and durable solutions.
The country has recently experienced a rise in negative public perception regarding human mobility, leading to increased discrimination, violence, and exploitation against people forced to flee. In regions with high concentrations of refugees and migrants—such as the north and the metropolitan area—host communities face challenges in accessing public services, which has exacerbated tensions and hindered peaceful coexistence.
Chile is currently navigating a complex scenario in terms of human mobility, marked by increased cross-border movements, asylum requests, and integration challenges. The incoming administration will implement policies focused on order, control, and enforcement of migration regulations, which creates a critical need for effective coordination between national institutions and international organizations to ensure compliance with international standards and human rights obligations.

The Senior Government Liaison Officer is part of the Protection and Solutions Unit and reports to the Protection Officer. S/he will support UNHCR’s engagement with the Government of Chile, ensuring effective interaction at both national and regional levels, and will also serve as a key liaison with the legislative branch to facilitate dialogue on forced displacement and protection-related policies.
In addition, the incumbent will represent UNHCR in interagency coordination initiatives, co-lead the UN Human Mobility Working Group, and actively contribute to the drafting and implementation of the new United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2026-2030 (UNSDCF), ensuring that forced displacement and protection priorities are fully integrated.
The incumbent will also act as a co-leader of the Regional Inter-Agency Coordination Platform for Refugees and Migrants from Venezuela (R4V) and other relevant UN mechanisms. This involves facilitating joint planning, harmonizing operational priorities, and ensuring coherent advocacy efforts across agencies to maximize impact and avoid duplication of efforts.

Additional Duties
- Represent UNHCR in interagency coordination initiatives, ensuring alignment of strategies and operational priorities with other UN agencies and partners.
- Lead the Human Mobility Working Group, fostering collaboration among agencies and stakeholders to address migration and protection challenges.
- Facilitate and lead participation in R4V, contributing to joint planning, reporting, and advocacy efforts.
- Actively contribute to the drafting and implementation of the new United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF), ensuring forced displacement and protection priorities are integrated into joint programming.
- Promote coherence in interagency responses: Ensure that government liaison activities are harmonized with interagency initiatives, avoiding duplication and fostering complementarity.
- Monitor and track legislative developments related to forced displacement, human mobility, and asylum, providing timely analysis and recommendations to inform UNHCR’s advocacy and engagement strategies.
- Support joint programming and resource mobilization: Collaborate with partners to design and implement multi-agency projects that address human mobility governance, protection, and integration.
- Advocate for common positions: Prepare talking points and briefing notes that reflect interagency consensus on key policy issues, including protection standards and migration management.
- Perform other related duties as required.

The ideal candidate has strong expertise in government relations, forced displacement, and international protection, with solid knowledge of the United Nations system and interagency coordination mechanisms.
S/He has experience engaging with high-level government and legislative actors, as well as leading multi-stakeholder platforms such as the Human Mobility Working Group and the R4V coordination structure.
Possesses strong analytical and strategic skills, including the ability to monitor legislative developments, develop common advocacy positions, and contribute to joint programming under frameworks like the UNSDCF.
Demonstrates excellent communication, negotiation, and representational abilities, operate effectively in complex political environments, and foster coherent interagency collaboration.
Prior UN or international organization experience, and fluency in Spanish and English complete the ideal profile.

Standard Job Description

Senior Government Liaison Associate

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The Senior Government Liaison Associate is a member of the Government Liaison Unit. S/he normally reports to the (Senior) Government Liaison Officer. The incumbent receives regular guidance and advice from the supervisor. S/he participates in all meetings/working groups related to the Government and to provide support on coordination work on common processes.
Under the supervision of the (Senior) Government Liaison Officer, the responsibilities of the Senior Government Liaison Associate is to give, obtain and exchange information requiring discussions and explanations both to UNHCR staff members, Government authorities and other external parties on subject matters which may be of importance to the Organization. The incumbent may supervise some support staff.

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
- Assist the supervisor in the establishment of close working relations with officials in various ministries especially Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Monitor evolving issues concerning asylum seekers, stateless persons and refugees within the Area of Responsibility (AoR).
- Analyse news and political activities and their implication to the Operation. Report on local and international developments which may have a political or operational impact on the office's relationship with the Government, including latest developments with regard to the implementation of the GCR, UN reform etc.
- Inform the supervisor and/or other senior managers (as applicable) on a continuing basis of relevant information on the outcome of discussions with government authorities on various issues.
- Provide support to senior management in dealing with the challenges posed by the political context, developments with the Government and issues related to humanitarian and development processes.
- Accompany the Representative/Deputy Representative/Head of Office and Headquarters visitors on missions and meetings.
- Assist in preparation for different visits and missions to the Operation.
- Draft correspondence, reports and assists in the drafting of briefing notes, background material, talking points, facts sheets as required.
- Manage budget, when requested, including tracking expenditures.
- Initiate upon request of the supervisor the contact with the relevant external parties on various issues.
- Coordinate with different units in the office that information presented to government authorities is duly verified and endorsed by the supervisor.

- 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

Years of Experience / Degree Level
For G7 - 4 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
Political/Social Science;
Business Administration;
or other relevant field;
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Not specified.
Desirable
Good knowledge of UNHCR operations and good political awareness.

Functional Skills
CO-Cross-cultural communication
CO-Drafting and Documentation
SO-Networking
(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.