JOB DESCRIPTION

H (no hardship)

Family

Family

PR3

Professional

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2025-10-01

August 8, 2025

English Editor and Protocol Specialist

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

Reporting to the Head of Secretariat and Protocol Unit, the English Editor and Protocol Specialist performs a critical governance-support function, with a focus on editorial excellence and diplomatic protocol. The incumbent serves as UNHCR’s global focal point on diplomacy and protocol matters, providing advice to colleagues across the organization and maintaining effective networks with key stakeholders, including delegations of Permanent Missions in Geneva.

The incumbent plays a key role in ensuring continuity and consistency in the Office’s governance-related communications and proceedings. S/he liaises with the Chef de Cabinet, the Legal Affairs Service, the Division of People Management, and the United Nations Office at Geneva, as appropriate, and advises UNHCR colleagues on matters of diplomatic protocol. The incumbent also provides advice to members of the Senior Executive Team and Directors of regional bureaux and divisions.

Working with a high degree of independence, the English Editor and Protocol Specialist contributes to the organization of high-level meetings and events, including the Global Refugee Forum, High-Level Officials Meetings, and the High Commissioner’s Dialogue on Protection Challenges. The incumbent also updates the UNHCR handbook on diplomatic protocol and supports the Office’s engagement in intergovernmental processes through expert guidance on style, tone, and presentation.

The incumbent supervises, coaches, and manages other personnel within the team.

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

• Draft, edit, and review documentation for the Executive Committee and its Standing Committee, ensuring that it is analytical, well-written, and aligned with established requirements and editorial standards.
• Provide substantive support for the preparation and conduct of meetings of the Executive Committee, its Standing Committee, and major events of the Office, such as the Global Refugee Forum, High-Level Officials Meetings, the High Commissioner’s Dialogue on Protection Challenges, and the Global Representatives Meeting.
• Uphold editorial standards for content, style, presentation, and protocol in the Office’s official correspondence with governments and other external parties.
• Oversee the drafting of the High Commissioner’s Annual Report to the United Nations General Assembly, along with the coordination, compilation, editing, and submission of reports in accordance with relevant General Assembly resolutions.
• Serve as UNHCR’s global focal point on diplomatic protocol; provide expert advice on protocol matters and liaise with the United Nations Office at Geneva, the Legal Affairs Service, and other relevant entities within UNHCR
• Maintain and update the UNHCR handbook on diplomatic protocol.
• Supervise, coach, and manage personnel within the team in relation to documentation, conference servicing, and meeting planning.
• Provide additional support to the Chief of the Governance Section and the Head of the Secretariat and Protocol Unit, and serve as Officer-in-Charge during the latter’s absence.
• Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision-making is 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 P3 – 6 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 5 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 4 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education

English Literature/Language;             Journalism;

International Relations;                      Political Sciences;               or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses

Not specified.

(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience

Essential

Relevant professional experience in functions requiring extensive analytical drafting and a substantial part of it in a direct editorial capacity. Experience working in an international capacity and environment. Comprehensive knowledge of the UN system and its governance structure. Proven experience in drafting and editing in English, with the ability to ensure high-quality revision, quality control, and the production of a large volume of documentation.

Desirable

Good understanding of UNHCR’s protection mandate and operations. Comprehensive knowledge of UNHCR’s governance structure. Solid knowledge of diplomatic protocol.

Functional Skills

*CO – Editing

MG – Meeting management;

MG – Diplomacy

UN – UNHCR Governance ;

(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.

Competency Requirements

All jobs at UNHCR require six core competencies and may also require managerial competencies and/or cross-functional competencies. The six core competencies are listed below.

Core Competencies

Accountability

Communication

Organizational Awareness

Teamwork & Collaboration

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Client & Result Orientation

Managerial Competencies

Empowering and Building Trust

Managing Performance

Judgement and Decision Making

Cross-Functional Competencies

Planning and Organizing

Political Awareness

Stakeholder Management

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.

– Relevant professional experience in function(s) requiring extensive analytical drafting and a minimum of 3 of those years in a direct editorial capacity.
– Minimum 5 years of experience working in an international capacity and environment.
– Good understanding of UNHCR’s protection mandate and work.
– Comprehensive knowledge of the UN system and governance structure.
– Excellent drafting and editing skills in English; ability to ensure high quality revision, quality control and production of a large quantity of documentation for UNHCR’s governing body.
– Must have in-depth knowledge and understanding of diplomatic protocol, with proven diplomatic skills.

Desirable
Working knowledge of French. Any other UN language would be an added advantage.

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,

French

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Operational context

Nature of the position

General Context

The Governance Section is part of the Executive Office, located at Headquarters in Geneva. It is responsible for managing and supporting UNHCR’s relations with its governance bodies (primarily the Executive Committee of the High Commissioner’s Programme, its Standing Committee, as well as the UN General Assembly). The Executive Committee is a subsidiary of the General Assembly, currently with 108 Member States.

The Governance Section comprises the Chief of Section/Secretary to the Executive Committee, a Head of Secretariat and Protocol Unit, an English Editor and Protocol Specialist (previously Sr. English Editor and Protocol Officer), an Associate External Relations Officer, an Associate Reporting Officer, two Conference Services Associates (French and English) and one Senior Translation and Conference Services Assistant. All team members have clear primary responsibilities, yet work closely as a team to ensure that all responsibilities are met, thus flexibility is required.  All positions require strong attention to detail, as well as tact, diplomacy and sensitivity to political and regional concerns, as team members have frequent contact with members of diplomatic missions and exercise discretion in the drafting and review of official documents and correspondence of the High Commissioner.  A constructive, problem-solving outlook and ability to remain calm in the face of stress are essential.

The Section’s work is structured around the annual calendar of the governance bodies and includes supporting special high-level events, such as the Global Refugee Forum and the High-level Officials Meeting, as well as the High Commissioner’s Dialogue and occasional regional conferences. The Governance Section supports the Executive Committee Bureau in the planning and execution of its programme of work; organizes all formal sessions and informal meetings/briefings either in-person, hybrid or virtual; ensures appropriate background documentation for all agenda items; and provides substantive and procedural support for Executive Committee negotiations on conclusions on international protection and decisions, as well as the annual Omnibus resolution adopted by the General Assembly.  The Section works extensively with all the Divisions and Regional Bureaux.

The Secretariat also has responsibility for the High Commissioner’s correspondence and the Office’s notes verbales.  It contributes to the production and/or editing of major UNHCR publications, including such as the High Commissioner’s Report to the General Assembly.

Post-Specific

Reporting to the Head of Secretariat and Protocol Unit, the English Editor and Protocol Specialist performs a critical governance-support function, with responsibility for ensuring quality and timely production of documentation for UNHCR’s Executive and Standing Committees and the United Nations General Assembly.  The incumbent also provides organizational support and advice on conference management, diplomatic protocol for meetings of the Executive Committee and its Standing Committee, as well as other high-level meetings.  The English Editor and Protocol Specialist works within a close-functioning team, with guidance from the Chief of Section and the Head of Secretariat and Protocol Unit, but with substantial discretion and independence in the quality production of documentation and organization of certain events and meetings. The incumbent liaises closely with the Executive Office, UNHCR Bureaux and Division colleagues on many aspects of ExCom proceedings and documentation and has frequent interaction with delegations of Permanent Missions in Geneva. Therefore, the position requires diplomatic skills, political awareness and discretion.  The incumbent also functions as the global UNHCR focal point on protocol matters. The incumbent liaises with the Chef de Cabinet, the Legal Affairs Service, the Division of Human Resources and the United Nations Office at Geneva, as appropriate, and advises UNHCR colleagues in this regard.

The incumbent of this position directly supervises and manages the Associate Reporting Officer (P2).

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Bachelor of Arts: English Language and Literature, Bachelor of Arts: International Relations, Bachelor of Arts: Journalism, Bachelor of Arts: Political Science

Certifications

Competencies

Accountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Managing performance, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Political awareness, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration

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

Compendium

Add. 2 to the Bi-Annual 2025 Compendium – Part B

Additional Information

This position doesn”t require a functional clearance