Mission and objectives

Our primary purpose at UNHCR is to safeguard the rights and well-being of people who have been forced to flee. Together with partners and communities, we work to ensure that everybody has the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another country. We also strive to secure lasting solutions. For over half a century, UNHCR has helped millions of people to restart their lives. They include refugees, returnees, stateless people, the internally displaced and asylum-seekers. Our protection, shelter, health and education has been crucial, healing broken pasts and building brighter futures.

Context

As of 1 May 2025, 184,499 refugees from Ukraine have been recorded in Romania. The Government of Romania and UNHCR have been actively responding since the onset of the emergency, both at the borders and in areas where refugees are settling. Close collaboration and policy coordination with the government are maintained at national and local levels. Through the Inter-Agency Refugee Coordination Model and the Refugee Response Plan, UNHCR, in partnership with UN agencies and NGOs, supports the government's refugee response, ensuring full harmonization and complementarity both at central and local level. UNHCR Romania has its Country Office in Bucharest, together with a Field Office in Timisoara (where the Emergency Transit Centre is established). The Legal Associate will be under the direct supervision of the Assistant Protection Officer, under the overall coordination of the Senior Protection Officer in UNHCR Romania. Part of the wider protection team in UNHCR Romania’s Country Office in Bucharest, the legal sub-team led by the Assistant Protection Officer focuses on access to the territory, access to fair and efficient asylum procedures, access to temporary protection status, access to rights through documentation and the national social protection system, and statelessness. The Unit monitors legislative changes that have an impact on asylum-seekers, beneficiaries of international protection, temporary protection holders and statelessness, and oversees legal aid, cooperation with the judiciary, bar associations, and the wider legal community. The Unit also collaborates with academia and provides support to the Protection Working Group, an interagency coordination forum of more than 35 organizations engaged in the protection response for persons displaced from Ukraine. The Legal Associate will prepare legal analyses required for quality, timely and effective protection responses to the needs of forcibly displaced and stateless people. This essential task involves staying abreast of any legislative changes or initiatives relevant to UNHCR’s mandate and to support the timely intervention in strategic situations. Another important function of the position is to support the team in the engagement with central and local authorities that have mandates in refugee protection, public administration and legislative/parliamentary activities. Additionally, the Legal Associate is expected to support capacity strengthening activities for central and local state authorities in the area of protection, either directly or in cooperation with partners. S/he will also be involved in directly assisting cases reaching UNHCR, including but not limited to support to UNHCR helpline operators and responses to e-mail queries from displaced persons. S/he will also support the supervisor in monitoring funded legal partnership(s) and ensure optimal cooperation with operational partners. The Legal Associate will actively participate in multi-functional teams, jointly with other units of the operation. The staff member needs to demonstrate strong inter-personal and communication skills and possess excellent analytical and English and Romanian drafting skills. He/she is able to establish positive work relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, while also being a result oriented and proactive team-worker.

Task Description

Within the delegated authority and under the direct supervision of the Assistant Protection Officer in Bucharest, the Legal Associate will: · Monitor the development of law and doctrine, including but not limited to those relating to asylum-seekers, beneficiaries of international protection, beneficiaries of temporary protection, the prevention and reduction of statelessness and protection of stateless persons, and access to rights for all categories of persons under UNHCR’s mandate. · Analyse, relevant emerging national legislation and policies and their compliance with relevant regional and international legal principles and UN policies and standards. · Carry out legal research as needed to contribute to and develop legal comments and other legal documents and position papers. · Liaise with relevant state authorities at central and local levels, partner NGOs and other relevant stakeholders. · Provide guidance and support in the formulation and implementation of protection strategies, including but not limited to engagement with legal professions (lawyers, judges), academia (students, professors), and members of the Parliament. · Support in drafting communications, liaising and intervening with local authorities on legal issues pertaining to forcibly displaced and stateless people. · Act as a back-up for the Quality Assurance Mechanism relating to the quality of asylum procedures in Romania. · Prepare, conduct and contribute to events and trainings related to international protection, demonstrating the ability to summarize and present legal provisions in understandable terms, including for a non-legal audience · Prepare analytical notes, talking points, and presentations on UNHCR Romania’s advocacy priority areas. · Assist in handling and ensuring timely follow-up of individual cases and situations raising special questions of application or interpretation of international law, refugee and human rights law. · Support the monthly meetings and follow up on agreements reached at the Protection Working Group. · Consistently apply international and national law and UNHCR policies and standards. · Perform other related duties as required.

Competencies and values

· Professionalism: demonstrated understanding of operations relevant to; technical capabilities or knowledge relevant or transferrable to UNHCR procedures and rules; discretion, political sensitivity, diplomacy and tact to deal with clients; ability to apply good judgement; ability to liaise and coordinate with a range of different actors, especially in senior positions; where appropriate, high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; resourcefulness and willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented; · Integrity: demonstrate the values and ethical standards of the UN and UNHCR in daily activities and behaviours while acting without consideration of personal gains; resist undue political pressure in decision-making; stand by decisions that are in the organization’s interest even if they are unpopular; take prompt action in cases of unprofessional or unethical behaviour; does not abuse power or authority; · Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; excellent interpersonal skills; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, mixed-gender environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity;sensitivity and adaptability to culture, gender, religion, nationality and age;commitment to implementing the goal of gender equality by ensuring the equal participation and full involvement of women and men in all aspects of UN operations; ability to achieve common goals and provide guidance or training to colleagues; · Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment, · Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities; · Communication: proven interpersonal skills; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with staff (including national staff), military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups; · Flexibility: adaptability and ability to live and work in potentially hazardous and remote conditions, involving physical hardship and little comfort; to operate independently in austere environments for protracted periods; willingness to travel within the area of operations and to transfer to other duty stations within the area of operations as necessary; · Genuine commitment towards the principles of voluntary engagement, which includes solidarity, compassion, reciprocity and self-reliance; and commitment towards UNHCR’s mission and vision, as well as to the UN Core Values.

Living conditions and remarks

Romania is located in a temperate climate zone having 4 seasons (spring, summer, autumn and winter). Winters are becoming milder with average temperatures around -2 centigrade on average during the daytime. Summers are hot, occasionally reaching around 35 centigrade, especially in July and August. Bucharest is a safe metropolitan city, however as in any other city caution and good judgement shall be exercised. Accommodation is relatively easy to find although more challenging in the last few months; short-, mid- and long-term. The city offers a wide range of hotels, Airbnb, long term rents, etc in areas not immediately neighbouring UNHCR Office. Accommodation can be fixed using the services of property agencies, but online solutions are also numerous. As this is a National UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. UN Volunteer entitlements and allowances: The purpose of the allowances and entitlements paid to UN Volunteers is to enable UN Volunteers to sustain a secure standard of living at the duty stations in line with United Nations standards without incurring personal costs. The allowances are in no way to be understood as compensation, reward, or salary in exchange for the UN Volunteer’s service. Contingent on specific eligibility criteria, location of the volunteer assignment, and contractual type and category, the payment of allowances will begin from the date of Commencement of Service For more information on entitlements please read the Condition of Service (https://explore.unv.org/cos). For information specific to your assignment please see below: Monthly Living Allowance (Per month) apx. RON 8161.41* *The amount may fluctuate due to the local bank exchange rates. Entry lump sum (one-time payment) USD 400 Travel Ticket when moving to duty station USD 200 Exit allowance (for each month served, paid on completion of contract) RON 680.12 Medical and life insurance Cigna Private Insurance Leave entitlements: Annual leave: 2.5 days accrued per calendar month Certified sick leave: 30 days annually Uncertified sick leave: 7 days annually Learning leave: 10 working days per consecutive 12 months Maternity Leave: 16 weeks Paternity Leave: 10 days