Job Description

Deadline for Applications

January 29, 2026

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

H (no hardship)

Family Type (not applicable for home-based)

Family

Staff Member / Affiliate Type

UNOPS IICA3

Target Start Date

2026-02-01

Terms of Reference

Title: Senior Protection Officer
Duty station: Home-based
Section/Unit: Division of International Protection and Solutions, Policy and Law Service, Protection Policy and Legal Advice Section
ICA Level: ICA-3
Duration: [01/02/2026] to [31/12/2026]

1. General Background

Context of and need for the policy options

Recent State proposals and practices have refocused public attention on unlawful externalization and other restrictive approaches aimed at restricting access to asylum. UNHCR’s route-based approach (RBA) aims to provide ‘toolkit’ of lawful and practical policy options to assist States in meeting the challenges of mixed and onward movement globally. Through the Task Team on Mixed and Onward Movement (TTOMM), DIPS needs to continue to lead the work developing policy options that provide lawful alternatives to ensure access to protection and solutions in this context.

States are increasingly exploring potential options for a range of policy innovations, including transfer arrangements, disembarkation arrangements, return hubs and extraterritorial processing. DIPS leads UNHCR’s engagement on these policy discussions, as States are increasingly looking to UNHCR for advice and guidance on ways to better manage complex mixed and onward movements. The challenge for UNHCR will be to situate such approaches as tools in a broader, multi-faceted, and long-overdue effort to address irregular mixed and onward movements and uphold international obligations.

After three years of discussions internally and with selected external partners, the RBA has entered a new phase and the AHC-P has tasked DIPS with continuing to develop the policy options, in consultation with other colleagues in an internal ‘think tank’ of policy option generation. There is thus a need to ensure dedicated legal and policy knowledge and capacity within DIPS to support the further work in this sensitive, complex and multifaceted area.

Simultaneously, as the 1951 Convention turns 75 there are renewed discussions on reforming the international protection system, with several actors recently calling for new instruments or frameworks.
several actors have called for the reform of the international protection system. Notably, the United States recently convened a meeting in the margins of UNGA in September 205 to propose a new global framework that would require asylum seekers to claim protection in the first country they enter, codify temporary protection rather than permanent integration and place cessation decisions in the hands of host states. UNHCR’s work on policy options is thus critical to maintaining the efficacy of the international protection system as a whole, while renewing its guidance on international protection, such as the UNHCR Handbook.

Reporting lines and position within DIPS
The Policy and Law Service within UNHCR’s Headquarters’ Division of International Protection and Solutions is responsible for advising on laws and policies concerning international protection and solutions for forcibly displaced and stateless populations and for supporting the implementation of these laws and policies. The Service comprises several sections, including the Protection Policy and Legal Advice (PPLA) Section, the Asylum and Migration Section, the Statelessness Section and the Asylum Systems and Determination (ASD) Section.

The position reports to the D1 Deputy Director, working closely with the Chief of each of the four sections in the Policy and Law Service. The contractor will work particularly closely with the PPLA to ensure coordination on UNHCR’s other legal positions and work, as well as the Asylum and Migration Section leading work on the route based approach and the ASD Section linked to asylum capacity and processes.

2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment

Purpose
This position aims to advances the development, presentation, consultation and discussion on lawful policy options linked to strengthening responses to asylum and protection challenges, including mixed and onward movement, in the context of the route-based approach and otherwise. It also supports and ensures coherence with development of policy and legal guidance on relevant issues as related to UNHCR’s work more broadly, including potentially as connected to the Handbook revision, judicial engagement or otherwise.

Key Responsibilities

The Senior Protection Officer will:
• Research and draft, under the guidance of DIPS, internal analyses, policy options, if-asked lines, draft inputs for other processes and other documents as required, relating to mixed and onward movement and evolving discussions within and beyond HCR on related issues.
• Provide verbal and written advice to bureaux, DIP and EO personnel (including senior management) on questions of international and regional law and policy as applicable, as well as UNHCR’s legal and policy positions and previous research, guidance and interpretative tools.

• Liaise and work with bureau, country operation and HQ staff, as well as selected partners as appropriate, on issues linked to mixed and onward movement.
• Undertake consultations and/or convene meetings linked to the route-based approach, including agendas and background materials.
• Undertake research and analysis of specific routes, country conditions and asylum processes and related legal and operational issues.
• Speak at internal and external meetings as relevant, under guidance of DIPS, on mixed and onward movement as well as externalization related issues.
• Compile and track internal and external discussions on related issues, providing updates in writing or verbally as may be needed.
• Undertake work on reform proposals to the international protection system as needed, including analysing reform proposals, drafting UNHCR key messages and contributing to UNHCR’s engagement in discussions on reform of the system.
• Contribute to DIPS Handbook project, including through legal analysis of key doctrinal issues and recommendations for the revised Handbook.
The Senior Protection Officer will continue to work under the supervision of the Deputy Director, DIPS, in close coordination with the Chief of Section of the Protection Policy and Legal Advice (PPLA) section, Asylum and Migration (A&M) Section and Asylum Systems and Determination (ASD) Section, all in DIPS.

3. Monitoring and Progress Controls

Deliverables and timelines:
• Legal and policy papers for TTOMM issues, including specific policy option papers on:
o Extraterritorial processing (Q1)
o Cessation (Q2)
o Revocation (Q3)
o Expulsion (Q4)
• Timely and accurate legal and policy advice;
• Support to the TTOMM, Senior UNHCR management on the TTOMM’s work and related issues;
• Support the operationalization of the route-based approach.

4. Qualifications and Experience
(List the required education, work experience, expertise and competencies of the individual contractor. The listed education and experience should correspond with the level at which the contract is offered.)

a. Education (Level and area of required and/or preferred education)

• Bachelor’s degree or advanced degree (Masters or Doctorate/PhD) in law or related area of study.

b. Work Experience

• 8 Years work experience if with Bachelor’s degree, 6 years with Masters degree, or 5 years doctorate/PhD degree, in the field of law and policy analysis.
• Excellent analytical skills: including the capacity to develop analytical frameworks, collect and analyze qualitative and quantitative data from multiple sources to produce meaningful analysis for external reporting.
• Exposure to digital platforms and information management systems, including AI applications, and familiarity with data structuring and usability design.
• Demonstrated organizational and coordination skills: the ability to work independently and productively in a fast-paced environment with multiple and diverse internal and external stakeholders.
• Engagement with IT teams and software developers.
• Experience in partnership building and collaborative projects.
• Experience in fundraising, donor management and preparing advocacy materials.

• Previous demonstrated experience working on mixed and onward movement, with a focus on legal analysis, including within the European legal framework (including EU).

• The position requires excellent drafting and verbal communications skills to present sound legal advice to UNHCR.

Desirable:
Experience of UNHCR country operations and HQ
Experience in legal analysis, advice and research
Experience in developing UNHCR policies on state approaches to asylum
Documented experience related to the position's responsibilities/area.

c. Key Competencies

• Understanding of international refugee and human rights law, and related frameworks.
• Ability to synthesize complex legal information into accessible formats.
• Strong planning, organizational, and coordination skills.
• Ability to manage multi-phase projects with strict deadlines.
• Being digital literate.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for diverse audiences.
• Ability to develop promotional strategies and donor proposals.
• Strong interpersonal skills to maintain effective relationships with internal teams and external partners.
• Capacity to negotiate and influence stakeholders.
• Fluency in English. Proficiency in other UN languages would be an asset.
• Flexible work attitude: the ability to work productively, independently, and to handle requests or issues as they arise, particularly from a distance.
• Communicates sensitively and effectively across different constituencies.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
• In-depth knowledge of international and regional refugee law and the international refugee protection framework.
• Excellent analytical skills, including the capacity to collect and analyse qualitative and quantitative data to produce meaningful legal and policy analyses.
• Excellent drafting skills, including the ability to express complex concepts and issues clearly and succinctly.
• Demonstrated organisational skills and the ability to work independently and productively in a fast-paced environment.
• Flexible work attitude: the ability to work productively, independently, and to handle requests or issues as they arise.
• Excellent computer skills.