Senior Protection Assistant

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)A (least hardship)

Family Type (not applicable for home-based)

Family

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

Target Start Date2025-09-01

Deadline for ApplicationsAugust 24, 2025

Terms of ReferenceThere will be one (1) hire 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:

Türkiye continues to host one of the largest refugee populations globally, with the Government of Türkiye—through the Presidency of Migration Management (PMM)—leading the protection and assistance response for individuals under Temporary and International Protection. UNHCR supports these efforts by working to strengthen access to services, promote inclusion, and respond to protection risks, particularly in areas with high concentrations of vulnerable populations.

The Ankara Field Unit (AFU) operates in a diverse and dynamic Area of Responsibility (AoR), which includes both urban and rural areas with large populations under Temporary Protection (TP) and International Protection (IP). As of April 2025, approximately 400,000 individuals under TP and a significant number under IP reside within the AoR, the majority of whom are Arabic-speaking. Many of these individuals have fled conflict and instability in neighboring countries and face ongoing protection challenges.

Following recent regional developments, including the shifting security situation in parts of Syria, the number of individuals expressing interest in voluntary repatriation has increased. In response, UNHCR has scaled up its protection monitoring and voluntary return activities. Within this context, Arabic-speaking protection staff are essential to ensuring the proper assessment of voluntariness and the delivery of accurate information to persons considering return.

The Senior Protection Assistant (Arabic-speaking) plays a key role in supporting voluntary return interviews, communicating clearly with persons of concern about their rights and options, and documenting the process in line with UNHCR standards. The role also contributes to broader protection case management and supports communication with partners, local authorities, and UNHCR units.
The position is based in Ankara, the capital city of Türkiye, which offers a stable security environment and reliable access to services. Travel within the AoR may be required to support field missions, conduct interviews, or follow up on protection concerns. The role requires flexibility, discretion, and a commitment to UNHCR’s protection principles and standards.

b) Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

To view occupational safety and health considerations for specific duty stations, please visit this link: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

c) Purpose and Scope of Assignment:

• The Senior Protection Assistant (Arabic-speaking), based in the Ankara Field Unit (AFU), plays a vital role in supporting UNHCR’s protection activities, particularly in the context of voluntary repatriation and individual case management for Arabic-speaking persons of concern (PoCs). Under the supervision of the Assistant Protection Officer, the incumbent contributes to protection interventions targeting individuals with specific needs and ensures effective communication with PoCs through Arabic interpretation and translation.

• The incumbent supports the protection team in conducting voluntary return interviews, monitoring the voluntariness of return, and ensuring that individuals are informed of their rights and available options in a language they fully understand. The Senior Protection Assistant also contributes to the identification and follow-up of cases with urgent protection needs, including those involving detention, deportation, and lack of access to services or documentation.

• As part of the AFU’s case management structure, the Senor Protection Assistant participates in counselling sessions, prepares case summaries, updates the protection database, and supports referrals to relevant services or UNHCR units. The incumbent prepares weekly follow-up lists, contributes to protection reporting, and shares field observations with the team to inform protection strategies and planning.

• The role also involves interpreting during field visits, interviews, and coordination meetings with Arabic-speaking individuals. The Senior Protection Assistant may also provide written translations of relevant documents and materials, ensuring that protection information is accessible to the affected population.

• In addition to these core responsibilities, the incumbent may be asked to participate in trainings, workshops, and Inter-agency coordination meetings, and to support other tasks as assigned by supervisors. The role requires strong interpersonal skills, cultural sensitivity, and a solid understanding of protection principles and UNHCR’s mandate.

III. CANDIDATE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS, SELECTION CRITERIA

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

-Minimum 2 years of relevant experience with a High School diploma, or 1 year with a university degree in International Law, Political Science, or related field is preferred.

-Language: Required: Excellent command of Turkish, Arabic, and English (spoken and written)

-Desirable: Additional knowledge of Farsi is an asset.

Field of expertise, competencies:

Core Competencies

-Accountability
-Communication
-Organizational Awareness
-Teamwork & Collaboration
-Commitment to Continuous Learning
-Client & Result Orientation

Cross-Functional Competencies

-Analytical Thinking
-Political Awareness
-Stakeholder Management

Desirable:

-Proficiency in MS Office applications and relevant data entry systems.
-Advanced problem-solving skills and strong organizational capabilities.
-Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build effective working relationships with stakeholders.
-Demonstrated ability to handle confidential information and work under pressure.
-Familiarity with UNHCR protection standards, guidelines, and refugee law.

IV. EVALUATION, MONITORING, SUPERVISION

a) Monitoring and Progress Controls:

The incumbent reports to the Assistant Protection Officer and will be monitored under his/her guidance.

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, 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 Arabic

,Turkish

,English

Desired Languages

,

,

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Education

Certifications

Work Experience

Other informationThis position doesn't require a functional clearance

RemoteNo