JOB DESCRIPTION

U (unclassified)

No designation

No designation

Bangkok, Thailand

NOB

National Professional Officer

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2025-08-01

August 6, 2025

Associate Field Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Associate Field Officer is normally supervised by the Senior Field Coordinator or Field Officer or Head of Sub-Office/Field Office depending on the structure of the Office. S/he may receive indirect guidance from other sections and units relevant to the country/regional programme(s). UNHCR Manual, programme and protection objectives, Operations Plans, UN and UNHCR financial/budgetary rules and regulations will guide the work of the incumbent.
The incumbent may supervise some support staff. S/he has daily contacts with staff in the various field offices and with the functional units at the Country/Regional Office. S/he also has close liaison with a range of local civilian and military authorities and counterparts in NGOs and UN agencies to discuss matters of common interest.

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
– Identify vulnerable groups or individuals who may need special attention or special arrangements and make recommendations on the needs of different groups of refugees.
– Assess protection and assistance needs of refugees and asylum-seekers in the region and monitor implementation of refugee assistance programmes.
– In co-ordination with implementing partners, handle the reception, registration and provision of assistance to persons of concern to UNHCR.
– Provide inputs for project submissions and periodic narrative and financial reports for the annual programme.
– Develop and maintain relations with local authorities ensuring smooth negotiations in all aspects of UNHCR’s mandate for the benefit of refugees.
– Monitor the security situation in the area and intervene as appropriate with the local authorities.
– Submit recommendation for protection interventions to the designated officer.
– Negotiate with local authority counterparts, partners and populations of concern.
– Approve expenditures within the DOAP.

– 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 P2/NOB – 3 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 2 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 1 year relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
Law, Political Sciences or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses
UNHCR Operations Management Learning Programme.
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Field experience.

Desirable
Knowledge of refugee law.
Good knowledge of UNHCR’s programmes.

Functional Skills
IT-Computer Literacy
PG-UNHCR’s Programmes
(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.

The ideal candidate for the Associate Field Officer (NOB) – Head of Field Unit in Taunggyi is a dynamic and field-oriented professional with demonstrated experience in leading protection responses in complex humanitarian settings. The incumbent must possess strong leadership, coordination, and negotiation skills, with a proven ability to operate effectively in high-risk, politically sensitive, and access-constrained environments. A deep understanding of and previous engagement in protection principles, community engagement, and durable solutions is essential.

1. Field Leadership and Operational Management
• Serves as the Head of the Field Unit, providing strategic and operational leadership in the delivery of UNHCR’s protection and assistance mandate in Shan and Kayah States.
• Leads the day-to-day management of the field unit, ensuring operational effectiveness, staff supervision, and compliance with UNHCR standards.
• Oversees multi-functional teams, ensuring integrated implementation of protection, programme, supply, admin/HR, and security functions.
• Ensures field-level planning and implementation are aligned with UNHCR’s multi-year protection and solutions strategy.
• Promotes a culture of accountability, staff well-being, and duty of care, in coordination with relevant support services.

2. Protection and Programme Response
• Leads the design and implementation of field-based protection activities, with a focus on addressing protection risks, enhancing community-based protection, and supporting pathways to solutions for IDPs, returnees, and stateless populations.
• Ensures timely and quality delivery of protection and assistance interventions, including cash-based assistance, in-kind support, and resilience-building initiatives.
• Provides technical guidance to partners and staff on protection monitoring, case management, and referral systems.
• Maintains a strong field presence (remotely or in-person as security permits) to ensure protection interventions are grounded in contextual realities.

3. Stakeholder Engagement and Advocacy
• Builds and maintains effective relationships with implementing partners, local humanitarian networks, civil society organizations, and administrative and security actors to facilitate humanitarian access and promote protection outcomes.
• Advocates for the rights and needs of persons of concern, including access to services, documentation, and freedom of movement.
• Represents UNHCR in meetings with donors, diplomatic missions, and humanitarian actors, highlighting operational challenges, gaps, and opportunities.

4. Inter-Agency Coordination
• Supports coordination mechanisms at the sub-national level, including joint assessments, inter-agency missions, cluster coordination under the Area Inter-Agency Coordination Group (AICCG) and represent UNHCR in the AHCT meetings.
• Ensures UNHCR’s leadership role in protection coordination is effectively exercised and contributes to collective outcomes.

5. Security and Staff Safety
• Ensures the safety and security of staff and operations in coordination with UNDSS and UNHCR’s security team in Myitkyina.
• Monitors the evolving security context and ensures contingency planning and risk mitigation measures are in place.
• Fosters a supportive and inclusive team environment, promoting staff morale, resilience, and inter-agency collaboration.

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Operational context

Occupational

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

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Nature of Position:

The Associate Field Officer (NOB) serves as the Team Leader (Head of Field Unit) for UNHCR in Taunggyi, Shan State, Myanmar. This position is critical in ensuring the effective implementation of UNHCR’s protection and solutions mandate in a complex and sensitive operational environment. The incumbent represents UNHCR at the field level, maintains close contact with local authorities, partners, and communities, and ensures that UNHCR’s activities are responsive to the needs of persons of concern, including internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, and stateless populations.

Operating under the direct supervision of the Head of Field Office in Myitkyina, the Associate Field Officer leads a multidisciplinary team, newly composed of the Lashio (Shan North) and Tuanggyi (Shan South+Kayah) offices and is responsible for the day-to-day management of the Taunggyi Field Unit. The incumbent ensures coordination of protection, assistance, and community-based interventions while also contributing to inter-agency coordination and humanitarian access efforts.

Given the operational context in Shan and Kyah States, the position requires strong leadership, negotiation, and coordination skills, as well as a deep understanding of protection principles, conflict sensitivity, and humanitarian programming. The Associate Field Officer (NOB) must be able to work independently, manage security risks, and maintain a high level of professionalism and integrity in a politically and ethnically sensitive environment.

Due to the prevailing security situation in Shan and Kayah States, the  Field Office should be able to conduct protection monitoring, provide support to IDPs through partners from Taunggyi, where the team operates remotely while maintaining close coordination with stakeholders in the area of responsibility.

Living and Working Conditions:

The town has commercial shops and recreational facilities. Medical services are available. The most reliable ones are the private hospitals with limited cpacities. In case of complicated situations, for immediate care and referrals, patients could rely on Yangon or Bangkok as needed.

The socio-political landscape has significantly changed since the military takeover on 1 February 2021. The State of Emergency, extended in 2024, has disrupted banking systems, affected humanitarian operations, and led to critically low cash reserves. The conflicts in close proximity to the city sometimes create complications for access to certain parts of the state, impact the price of commodities and provision of services.

Beside the hostilities between different Ethnic-based Organizations and Armed groups, inter-communal tensions and anti-UN/INGO sentiment persist. Health risks include road accidents, food-borne illnesses flooding, and vector-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue. Given the limited medical infrastructure, staff should be in excellent health.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

IT-Computer Literacy, PG-UNHCR”s Programmes

Bachelor of Arts: Law, Bachelor of Arts: Political Science

Certifications

Programme Management (PM) 1 – UNHCR

Competencies

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

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

Compendium

Additional Information

This position doesn”t require a functional clearance