April 1, 2026

Grade

NOA

National Professional Officer

Reason

Temporary > Temporary Assignment/ Appointment

U (unclassified)

No designation<p></p><p></p>

2026-04-01

2026-06-30

Standard Job Description

Assistant Protection Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Assistant Protection Officer reports to the Protection Officer or the Senior Protection Officer. Depending on the size and structure of the Office, the incumbent may have supervisory responsibility for protection staff including community-based protection, registration, resettlement and education. S/he provides functional protection guidance to information management and programme staff on all protection/legal matters and accountabilities. These include: statelessness (in line with the campaign to End Statelessness by 2024), Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) commitments, age, gender, diversity (AGD) and accountability to affected populations (AAP) through community-based protection, Child protection, Gender-Based Violence (GBV) prevention and response, gender equality, disability inclusion, youth empowerment, psycho-social support and PSEA, registration, asylum/refugee status determination, resettlement, local integration, voluntary repatriation, human rights standards integration, national legislation, judicial engagement, predictable and decisive engagement in situations of internal displacement and engagement in wider mixed movement and climate change/disaster-related displacement responses. S/he supervises protection standards, operational procedures and practices in protection delivery in line with international standards.

The Assistant Protection Officer is expected to coordinate quality, timely and effective protection responses to the needs of populations of concern (PoC), ensuring that operational responses in all sectors mainstream protection methodologies and integrate protection safeguards. The incumbent contributes to the design of a comprehensive protection strategy and represents the Organization externally on protection doctrine and policy as guided by the supervisor. S/he also ensures that PoC are meaningfully engaged in the decisions that affect them and support programme design and adaptations that are influenced by the concerns, priorities and capacities of them. To achieve this, the incumbent will need to build and maintain effective interfaces with communities of concern, authorities, protection and assistance partners as well as a broader network of stakeholders who can contribute to enhancing protection.

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 legal advice and guidance on protection issues to PoC; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documentation.
- Conduct eligibility and status determination for PoC in compliance with UNHCR procedural standards and international protection principles.
- Promote and 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.
- Provide inputs for the development of protection policies and standards within the AoR.
- Implement and 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.
- Recommend durable solutions for the largest possible number of PoC through voluntary repatriation, local integration and where appropriate, resettlement.
- Assess resettlement needs and apply priorities for the resettlement of individuals and groups of refugees and other PoC.
- Contribute to the design, implementation and evaluation of protection related AGD based programming with implementing and operational partners.
- Contribute to and facilitate a programme of results-based advocacy with sectorial and/or cluster partners.
- Contribute to and facilitate effective information management through the provision of disaggregated data on populations of concern and their problems.
- Assist capacity-building initiatives for communities and individuals to assert their rights.
- Participate in initiatives to capacitate authorities, relevant institutions and NGOs to strengthen national protection related legislation and procedures.
- Intervene with authorities on protection issues.
- Assist the supervisor in deciding priorities for reception, interviewing and counselling for groups or individuals.
- Assist the supervisor in enforcing compliance of staff and implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services.
- Enforce compliance with, and integrity of, all protection standard operating procedures.

- 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 P1/NOA - 1 year relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or no experience with Graduate degree; or no experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
Law,

International Law,

Political Sciences
or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses
Not specified;

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Knowledge of International Refugee and Human Rights Law and ability to apply the relevant legal principles

Desirable
Not specified.

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

Nature of Position

The Assistant Field Officer will follow up on processes with public institutions and stakeholders in the provinces under the AFU area of responsibility. The incumbent will regularly travel to border gates and conduct interviews with individuals arriving and departing in order to identify protection concerns and trends. Based on these observations and interviews, the Assistant Field Officer will advocate for refugees from vulnerable groups and regularly inform the supervisor and relevant units.

The Assistant Field Officer will coordinate regular meetings with partners and local authorities operating in the region and maintain close communication with relevant stakeholders. The incumbent will also be responsible for regularly meeting with local authorities and following developments in the region, particularly in the border areas.

The Assistant Field Officer will oversee the daily activities of the field team, including supervision of the driver, scheduling team activities, and ensuring the timely reporting of team activities to the supervisor.

In addition, the Assistant Field Officer will monitor protection needs in the provinces under their responsibility, follow the activities of institutions operating at border gates, and conduct regular media monitoring on border movements and vulnerable groups. The incumbent will also contribute to broader protection monitoring, assessment of procedures, and analysis of the protection space.

The desired candidate profile for this post includes the following:
• Monitor the protection situation at border gates and in the provinces under the AFU area of responsibility, collect data and other information relevant to UNHCR, and report findings to the supervisor accordingly.
• Undertake regular visits to border gates and relevant sites and conduct interviews with individuals arriving and departing in order to identify protection concerns, trends, and risks, with particular attention to vulnerable groups.
• Closely follow developments in the region, particularly at border areas, and provide regular updates and analysis to the supervisor and relevant units.
• Advocate for refugees and persons of concern, particularly vulnerable groups, based on observations and interviews conducted in the field.
• Monitor the implementation of UNHCR programmes, including the delivery of assistance items, the status of infrastructure, and the physical monitoring of projects implemented by partners.
• Maintain regular contact and coordination with local authorities, including PDMMs and PDoFSS, as well as implementing and operational partners.
• Organize and participate in coordination meetings with partners and local authorities working in the region and represent UNHCR and the AFU when required.
• Support the unit and supervisor in organizing and moderating coordination mechanisms, including IACM meetings at the duty station.
• Represent UNHCR in meetings with local authorities, partners, and communities of concern, and engage in discussions or negotiations on protection-related matters when required.
• Provide regular reporting on field activities and developments in the area of responsibility, including the preparation of status and progress reports by collecting information and preparing analytical inputs.
• Facilitate effective information management by providing disaggregated data and analysis on populations of concern and their protection challenges.
• Conduct regular media monitoring to identify developments and protection challenges affecting persons of concern.
• Oversee and coordinate the daily activities of the field team, including scheduling field missions and supervising logistical arrangements such as the work of the driver.
• Provide administrative and operational support during field missions, including assisting visiting staff and preparing mission-related documentation.
• Act upon and follow up on reports concerning persons of concern received from the refugee community or local authorities.
• Perform other related duties as required.
Desired Candidate Profile
• A deep understanding of refugee experiences and cultural sensitivity, reflected through effective reporting skills.
• Strong communication and analytical abilities, with attention to detail and proficiency in relevant software.
• Fluency in both English and Turkish is essential to ensure strong written and verbal skills in these languages. Farsi is desirable.
• Reporting Efficiency: Ability to report effectively in both English and Turkish, improving communication and support for the refugee community.
• Relevant Jon Experience in the humanitarian and migration fields is desirable.

Operational context
• Relevant Experience: Several years of experience in areas related to refugee protection, such as humanitarian aid, social work, or community development.
• Experience working in field settings.
• Interpersonal Skills: Strong interpersonal abilities to engage effectively with the refugee community, state institutions, local NGOs, and other stakeholders, demonstrating proficiency in communication.
• Ability to work in challenging environments, both independently and as part of a team.
• Willingness and ability to travel outside the duty station with flexibility, including same day return trips when required.
• Reporting and Managerial Structure: The Field Associate reports directly to the immediate supervisor, the Senior Protection Associate, under the overall supervision of the Head of AFU, the Associate Field Officer.
• Interaction with Displaced and Stateless Persons, and Liaison with External Stakeholders.
• There is no further information specific to this position, as it is a standard field role. The working environment is not considered particularly challenging. All relevant details have already been outlined in the job description and the Operational Context.

PLEASE DO NOT USE TURKISH CHARACTERS IN YOUR NAME & SURNAME INFORMATION.

Recruitment as a UNHCR staff member and engagement under a UNHCR affiliate scheme or as an intern is subject to successful reference checks and integrity clearance.

A break of minimum 31 days is required before a staff member who currently holds a Fixed-term or Indefinite Appointment may be rehired on a Temporary Appointment.

UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, training or any other fees).

Only short-listed candidates will be notified. The recruitment process might include written test and/or oral interview for this job opening. No late applications will be accepted.

External candidates should be legally present in Türkiye at the time of application, recruitment and hire.

Non-Turkish citizens are required to upload their residence permits or relevant documents under the ‘Certifications’ section, by selecting the type as ‘Personnel Administration – Other’, in order to be considered for this job opening. Applications by non-Turkish citizens will NOT be considered if a valid residence permit is not attached to the application.

For further information on how to apply, please visit ‘UNHCR - Application and Selection’ page, at https://www.unhcr.org/how-to-apply.html.

This position doesn't require a functional clearance

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Skills

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

Education

Bachelor of Arts: International Law, Bachelor of Arts: Law, Bachelor of Arts: Political Science

Certifications

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

This is a TA job opportunity initially for three months with a possibility of extension.