Interpreter Assistant

Deadline for ApplicationsFebruary 1, 2026

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)B

Family Type (not applicable for home-based)

Family

Staff Member / Affiliate TypeCONTR Local Entry and Mid-Level Support

Target Start Date2026-04-01

Terms of ReferenceThere will be four hires for this advertisement, subject to operational needs and requirements.

I. PROJECT DETAILS

Requesting office (hiring office): UNHCR Türkiye
Title of project: VolRep
Purpose of project (summary): To support Volrep in Türkiye

II. DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENT, DUTIES, AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ENGAGED INDIVIDUAL CONTRACT HOLDER

a. General Background of Project or Assignment, Operational Context:
Operational Context

The Government of Türkiye, through the Presidency of Migration Management, leads the protection of and assistance to refugees and asylum-seekers in the country. UNHCR Türkiye complements the work of the Government by supporting the inclusion of refugees into the national system, making the services known to refugees and strengthening their availability and accessibility - particularly in areas with high concentrations of vulnerable populations, many of whom have fled conflict and instability in neighboring countries and are facing ongoing protection challenges.
To enhance the efficiency and focus of its refugee response, UNHCR Türkiye has established field offices, including the Gaziantep Sub Office in Southeast Türkiye, to manage overall operational responsibilities. The UNHCR presence in Southeast Türkiye consists of a Sub-Office in Gaziantep and three Field Units located in Adana, Gaziantep, and Sanliurfa, covering 11 provinces: Mersin, Adana, Hatay, Osmaniye, Kahramanmaraş, Gaziantep, Kilis, Malatya, Adıyaman, Sanliurfa, and Mardin. These provinces host around 1.2 million Syrian refugees under temporary protection, alongside individuals of other nationalities requiring international protection.

Through its Sub-Office in Gaziantep and three Field Units, UNHCR ensures that individuals in need of international protection can access essential social services and support systems in Türkiye. Additionally, the organization monitors the voluntary nature of refugee returns to their country of origin.
Since 8 December 2024 and following recent regional developments - including the shifting security situation in parts of Syria - a growing number of these approximately 1.2 million Syrians who are under temporary protection and located in Southeast Türkiye began returning voluntarily in larger numbers than before. In response to this increase in returns, UNHCR has enhanced its efforts to monitor voluntary returns to Syria, while continuing its broader protection and assistance activities. Since the mentioned developments, UNHCR has expanded its monitoring capacity. Currently, UNHCR monitor the voluntary returns at 25 Provincial Directorate of Migration Management (PDMM) offices across 22 provinces, six south-eastern border crossings, at İstanbul Airport and Sabiha Gökçen Airport, together with Ankara Esenboğa Airport. Ad hoc monitoring also takes place at Adana Sarıçam and İstanbul Arnavutköy Temporary Accommodation Centres (TACs).

Within this scope, a need has been identified for a total of 4 (four) Arabic-speaking Interpreter/ Assistants to be based in the Gaziantep Field Unit to support voluntary returns monitoring as well as the protection work of UNHCR.
These positions are based in Gaziantep. Travel within the area of responsibility (Gaziantep, Kilis, Malatya, Osmaniye, and Kahramanmaras) and broader southeast provinces (under other Field Units’ area of responsibility) may be required to support field missions. The role requires flexibility, discretion, and the utmost commitment to UNHCR’s protection principles and standards.

b. Purpose and Scope of Assignment

The incumbent will be part of the Gaziantep Field Unit. The Interpreter Assistant is normally supervised by the UNHCR staff assigned for this task and performs interpretation functions related to voluntary returns monitoring or other protection activities. Some missions may involve late hours, weekends, UN Official Holidays and night shift, or overnight travel, depending on operational needs. The supervisor defines general work objectives and provides necessary advice and guidance in consultation with the Assistant Field Officer.

As part of her/his responsibilities, the incumbent will:

• Provide accurate and impartial interpretation between returnees and staff during interviews and counselling sessions.
• Translate written materials such as information leaflets, consent forms, return-related documentation, and communication materials from and into relevant languages.
• Accompany the field teams to border crossings to provide interpretation during monitoring activities.
• Maintain strict confidentiality and professional neutrality at all times, especially when dealing with sensitive protection-related information.

III. CANDIDATE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS, SELECTION CRITERIA

a. Required qualifications, language(s) and work experience:

Minimum 1-year relevant experience with a High School Diploma, or Bachelor's or equivalent or higher.

Core Competencies

Accountability
Communication
Organizational Awareness
Teamwork & Collaboration
Commitment to Continuous Learning
Client & Result Orientation
Required/mandatory: N/A

Desirable:

Excellent team-working skills.
Consistent approach to work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude.
Excellent command of Turkish, Arabic, and English (spoken and written)

IV. MONITORING AND PROGRESS CONTROLS

The incumbent reports to the Assistant Field Officer or other UNHCR staff assigned to this task and will submit reports related to duties through mechanisms established by the Office (such as email or KOBO toolbox), considering deadlines. The incumbent is expected to be present at their assigned duty station on the designated days and times. Weekly assignments will be overseen by the incumbent’s supervisor and the Head of Office.

The incumbent will prepare timesheets for any night shifts or overtime hours and submit them to their supervisor before the specified deadline. The supervisor will meet with the incumbent at least once a month, either in person or online, to discuss the requirements and continuity of the assignment.

The incumbent is expected to attend periodic office-wide meetings as well as team-specific meetings. They are also responsible for staying up to date with relevant documents and participating in related trainings as approved by the office. The incumbent is accountable to their supervisor for the implementation, planning, and reporting of their assignment.

The incumbent is expected to have core competencies including accountability, communication, organizational awareness, teamwork & collaboration, commitment to continuous learning and client & result orientation.

The report requirement includes periodicity, attendance, and performance indicators.

Individual Contractor Agreements

Definition:

Individual contractor is an individual engaged by UNHCR under a contract of limited duration to provide skills or knowledge for the performance of a specific task or piece of work and engaged under an individual contract issued directly by UNHCR. They are neither staff members of UNHCR under the Staff Regulations and Rules, nor Officials for the purpose of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations of 13 February 1946.

Contract Duration/Renewal:

Any extension of an individual contract is subject to operational needs, satisfactory service, and availability of funds. There is no expectation of renewal or conversion of the individual contract beyond its expiry date.

Working Hours:

40 hours per week, inclusive of mandatory night shifts, possibility of work on weekends and official holidays as part of the assigned schedule.

Leave Entitlements:

Annual leave at the rate of two and a half working days per month.
Sick leave at the rate of two working days for each month of service.

Medical Coverage:

Cigna Health Insurance, also available optionally for eligible dependents, subject to additional contribution rates.

Remuneration:

Remuneration at the level of the vacancy (G4 level or G5 level as applicable) based on the International Civil Services Commission (ICSC) salary scale.

Legal Requirements:

Individual Contractors must comply with relevant local legislation, including but not limited to those relating to taxation, social security requirements, licenses, work permits and visas, and other details stipulated in the terms of their contract. UNHCR undertakes no liability for taxes and social security contributions, duties, or other contributions payable by the individual contract holder on payments made under the individual contract. The individual contract holders will not be reimbursed such taxes or granted any other benefit, payment,t or subsidy which is not expressly provided for in the contract under which they are engaged. UNHCR may require the individual contract holder to provide evidence within a reasonable time that they have registered for and are paying applicable taxation and social security to the relevant national authorities.

Important to note: The Individual Contractor shall be responsible for paying any tax levied by his/her Government or other entities on his/her UNHCR earnings. Under no circumstances shall UNHCR be responsible for paying or reimbursing such taxes.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Clearances and ID Cards:

Applications of non-Turkish candidates are subject to MFA clearance before any offer can be made. For cleared candidates who are recruited, MFA ID card applications will be processed while the issuance lies within the authority of the MFA.

Important to note: Once the MFA ID is issued, the time spent under an Individual Contract no longer counts toward eligibility for Turkish citizenship.

Application Requirements:
Applicants must ensure:

-To apply for the vacancies timely through Workday. No late applications are accepted.
-To reflect their previous experience, language skills (including the mother tongue), and other assets in their Workday applicant profiles, duly. Shortlisting is done based on the information provided in the applications only
-To attach their valid residence permits (both sides visible) in case they are non-Turkish nationals.

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.

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 a 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 the ‘UNHCR - Application and Selection’ page at https://www.unhcr.org/how-to-apply.html.

Standard Job Description

Required Languages Turkish

,Arabic

,English

Desired Languages

,

,

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Education

Certifications

Work Experience

Other informationThis position doesn't require a functional clearance

RemoteNo