Assistant Protection Officer

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. – 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. (Field(s) of Education marked with an asterisk* are essential) Certificates and/or Licenses Not specified; (Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential) Relevant Job Experience Essential Knowledge of International Refugee and Human Rights Law and ability to apply the relevant legal principles Desirable Completion of the Protection Learning Programme, RSD- Resettlement Learning Programme. 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.

Desired Candidate Profile

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

• This position is advertised to internal and external applicants. Candidates must be legally present in México at the time of application, recruitment, and hire. Only Mexicans or candidates holding a permanent residency in México will be considered eligible.

• Internal Candidates: comprises current GS staff members holding an indefinite or fixed-term appointment who, at the date of the deadline for application, are serving in the country of the vacancy at the grade of the position or one grade below or above, as well as any candidates serving at higher grades who fulfill the criteria as per the job advertisement. Staff members must serve for a minimum of one year following assignment before being considered eligible to apply for another position within the same category.

• Recruitment as a UNHCR staff member and engagement under a UNHCR affiliate scheme or as an intern, is subject to proof of full vaccination against COVID-19, independently of contract type and duration. The selected candidate(s) will be required to provide proof of vaccination prior to recruitment.

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

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

• This position is offered under Fixed-Term Appointment, initially for a period of 1 year.

• Remuneration: A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered depending on relevant experience as per the requirements of the job advertisement. For information on UN salaries, allowances, and benefits, please visit the portal of the Office of HR Management of United Nations.

OPERATIONAL CONTEXT

DESIRED CANDIDATE PROFILE:

UNHCR Mexico is looking for a dynamic and well-rounded Assistant Protection Officer, with solid refugee protection knowledge, experience in the field, leadership qualities, and initiative. Technical knowledge must be combined with interpersonal skills, tact, and emotional intelligence. Results orientated, operationally focused and practical, with high motivation to work for UNHCR are key qualities for the role. A legal background will be favourable. Furthermore, they must be a natural team player, able to manage various priorities and time pressure, and familiar with multicultural environments. Fluency in both English and Spanish is also required.

The incumbent will report to the Head of Field Office, and manage their own unit of 3-5 protection staff. Coordination will be necessary with other protection colleagues in Sub and Country offices, while also leading the relations and projects with protection implementing partners. Alongside the Head of Field Office, and other protection colleagues, the Assistant Protection Officer will lead the protection response in the area of responsibility of the Field Office.

Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):

Spanish

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English

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Desired languages

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Operational context

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit:

Over recent years, Mexico has evolved from being a country predominantly of origin and transit for many refugees and asylum-seekers, to also being a country of destination for hundreds of thousands of individuals seeking international protection from within the region and beyond. The exponential growth in the number of asylum applications in Mexico, which reached a historical record of over 130,000 in 2021 and 118,478 in 2022, has posed multiple challenges to its asylum system, which has already been strained over the past years.

UNHCR seeks to protect the asylum space by strengthening it, and also in alleviating pressures on the asylum system by promoting regularization alternatives for those not in need of international protection. There is also great importance for communication and awareness-raising campaigns to ensure that information on asylum procedures effectively reache target audiences. Support to shelters run by civil society and religious institutions across Mexico, is also key to delivering protection outcomes, as a large number of persons UNHCR serves transit through these spaces.

Across northern Mexico, UNHCR is working to ensure an appropriate response to existing protection risks, taking into account an increase in mixed movements together with a growing number of people in need of international protection. While UNHCR's priority has always been to maintain a strong relationship with local organizations, developments over the past years at the northern border have also called for a need to engage actors more specialized in protection and asylum procedures both in Mexico and in the United States.

Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua is not the exception. The increase presence of mixed movements requires the local field office to implement protection strategies, monitor protection needs and identify risk mitigation activities. The collaboration with local organizations and other UN agencies becomes fundamental to prevent and follow-up GBV, PSEA and Child Protection risks. Additionally, information and communication with the people who we serve becomes an important pillar for people to access international protection.

Ciudad Juarez is located in the North of the state of Chihuahua at the border with the United States. Ciudad Juarez is one of the main border transit points and is an important center for "maquiladora" (assembly plant) production in the automotive, aerospace, telecommunications, metallurgical, and health items as well as manufacturing and exporting products to various countries As such, it has a medium-level infrastructure:

– Health: Ciudad Juarez has a good medical infrastructure with some advanced hospitals and private medical centers,

– Education: there are public and private schools. Most of the private schools are bilingual (English-Spanish),

– Housing: you can rent furnished and unfurnished apartments. Rental contract must be signed AFTER taking UN security advice in consultation with UNHCR AFSA/FSA.

– Entertainment: Ciudad Juarez has a vast diversity of entertainment: cinemas, several tourist attractions, sports centers, shopping malls.

– Climate: Ciudad Juárez lies on 1131m above sea level. The climate here is "desert." There is virtually no rainfall during the year.

– Currency and exchange: Mexican peso. US Dollars, euros and traveler's checks can be exchanged at a currency exchange office.

– Communications: Internet is available almost everywhere and a contract must be made to access this service.

– Transportation: there are buses, public taxis, it is recommended to call an Uber or safe taxi sites (taxi del sitio).

Ciudad Juarez belongs to the Security Risk Management area North, with the current security threat is Level 3, MODERATE, with the Crime specific category at HIGH level. Security situation in the town is of concern for UNHCR. There is high proliferation of weapons among the population. Shootouts, armed clashes may happen in the urban area at daytime. Police response capacity may be limited. There are no known direct threats to UNHCR, however, UNHCR staff may be indirectly affected by the organized crime (there is confirmed established presence of Drug Cartels) or by common street crime, which includes: homicide, kidnapping, theft of wallets, fraud is common. During road missions, Security Clearance is mandatory, and overnight road travel is restricted.

UNHCR personnel must remain security aware and vigilant at all times, apply personal security measures and avoid movement after darkness. There is no curfew, yet the crime incidence at night hours is high. Staff deployed to Ciudad Juarez are required to process an official US visa (G4) at the earliest.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Leadership, PR-Cooperation with national and international asylum stakeholders, PR-Gender mainstreaming, PR-International protection concepts and principles, PR-Mixed migratory movement management, PR-Protection mainstreaming, SP-Shelter and Infrastructure Coordination, Team Management, TR-Training and capacity building of personnel, TR-Training – Virtual and face to face

Education

Bachelor of Arts (BA): International Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Law, Bachelor of Arts (BA): Political Science

Certifications

Work Experience

Number of Persons of Concern Served, Workforce to Supervise, Working with Persons of Concern: Asylum Seekers, Working with Persons of Concern: Internally Displaced Persons, Working with Persons of Concern: Others of Concern, Working with Persons of Concern: Refugees

Competencies

Accountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Judgement & decision making, Negotiation & conflict resolution, Organizational awareness, Political awareness, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration

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Additional Information

Functional clearance

This position doesn't require a functional clearance

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