Senior Protection Associate, G7 – UNHCR jobs in Costa Rica

• Location: Costa Rica
• Vacancy No: N/A 
• Salary: N/A
• Organization: UNHCR
• Gender: Both
• Deadline: February 22, 2024

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Senior Protection Associate reports to the Protection Officer or the Senior Protection Officer. The position may entail supervisory responsibilities for protection staff including community services, registration, resettlement and education depending on the structure of the Office. The incumbent monitors protection standards, operational procedures and practices in protection delivery in line with international standards and provides functional protection support to information management and programme staff.

The Senior Protection Associate is expected to coordinate quality, timely and effective protection responses to the needs of populations of concern (PoC) and identify opportunities to mainstream protection methodologies and integrate protection safeguards in operational responses in all sectors. The incumbent contributes to designing a comprehensive protection strategy and represents the Office externally on protection doctrine and policy as guided by the supervisor.

S/he also ensures that PoC are involved in making decisions that affect them, whether in accessing their rights or in identifying appropriate solutions to their problems. To achieve this, the incumbent will need to build and maintain effective interfaces with communities of concern, local authorities and protection and assistance partners.

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 advice and guidance on protection issues to PoC; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documentation.
– Assist in conducting eligibility and status determination for PoC in compliance with UNHCR procedural standards and international protection principles.
– 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.
– Assist the supervisor in implementing and monitoring Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities.
– Manage individual protection cases including those on GBV and child protection. Monitor, and assist the supervisor with intervening in cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents.
– Assist in identifying durable solutions for the largest possible number of PoC through voluntary repatriation, local integration and where appropriate, resettlement.
– 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.
– Facilitate effective information management through the provision of disaggregated data on PoC and their problems.
– Participate in initiatives to capacitate authorities, relevant institutions and NGOs to strengthen national protection related legislation and procedures.
– Assist the supervisor with intervening with authorities on protection issues.
– Provide assistance to the supervisor in deciding priorities for reception, interviewing and counselling for groups or individuals.
– Assist the supervisor with enforcing compliance of staff and implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services.
– Assist the supervisor with enforcing compliance with, and integrity of, all protection standard operating procedures.
– Recommend and prepare payments to individual cases.

– 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

Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For G7 – 4 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Field(s) of Education
Not applicable

Certificates and/or Licenses
International Law;
Political Science;
or other relevant field.
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Not specified.

Desirable
RSD-Resettlement LP and/or Protection Learning Programme

Functional Skills
IT-Computer Literacy
PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators
PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework
(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.

Candidates must be legally present in Costa Rica at the time of application, recruitment and hire.

Only candidates holding a legally job permit in Costa Rica will be considered eligible.

UNHCR is committed to a diverse and inclusive environment, so its staff come from a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds and world perspectives. We are committed to maintaining diversity in terms of age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, nationality, racial identity, religious beliefs, among others. People belonging to minority groups, people with special abilities, people who are qualified and meet the requirements of each vacancy are especially encouraged. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.

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.

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

Include in your application all your work experience. Shortlisted candidates may be required to sit for a test and or interview. Only shortlisted candidates will be notified. No late applications will be accepted.

Remuneration & Benefits:
A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. The monthly net salary depends on relevant experience, dependency status and language proficiency. For more information on UN salaries, allowances and benefits, please visit the portal of the Office of HR Management of United Nations.

UNHCR also offers comprehensive medical insurance and pension plans.

If you have special needs or require assistance to apply, please contact cossarrhh@unhcr.org

Desired profile:
The candidate is expected to have completed studies in any of the following social science disciplines: law, international relations, sociology, anthropology, social worker or any other related area.

The candidate is expected to have 4 years of work experience as manager, leading teams, managing budget implementation, and adequately managing human resources and office resources and conducting planning. And at least 3 years of experience working jointly with different counterparts, especially institutions building trust and conducting advocacy.

Previous work experience in issues related to (i) human rights, international protection, refugee, conflict resolution, (ii)conducting awareness workshops, (iii) preparing training programs and providing training and/or (iv) implementing and monitoring projects will be an asset.

The candidate will be in charge of the Field Unit in the canton of Los Chiles and will be the person in charge of providing the line to the Protection Unit of the Field Office in Upala.

– Intervene with the authorities on protection issues.
– Negotiate locally on behalf of UNHCR, when authorized by the head of the northern zone office (Upala).
– Require compliance by staff and implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the provision of protection services.
– Enforce and comply with all protection standard operating procedures, as well as their integrity.
– Follow up on Community Based Protection and Legal Protection work plans and ensure they follow annual strategic objectives.
– Follow up on the implementation of the budget assigned to the Protection Unit.
– Train staff on protection issues and strengthen their knowledge on related topics.
– Responsible for planning the logistics of the Protection unit and harmonizing it with other units in the Field Office.
– Carry out staff evaluations.
– Strengthen institutional capacities, providing technical assistance and/or co-leading spaces for institutional coordination and/or cooperation.

Having leadership, analytical thinking, decision making, time management, adaptability, problem solving, thrust worthing and respect, relationship building, communication and interpersonal skills are desired.

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