JOB DESCRIPTION

Deadline for Applications

October 30, 2025

Hardship Level

H (no hardship)

Family Type

Family

Family Type

Family

Residential location (if applicable)

Grade

NOA

Staff Member / Affiliate Type

National Professional Officer

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

Target Start Date

2026-01-01

Standard Job Description

Assistant Protection Officer

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Assistant Protection Officer reports to the Protection Officer or the Senior Protection Officer. Depending on the size and structure of the Office, the incumbent may have supervisory responsibility for protection staff including community-based protection, registration, resettlement and education. S/he provides functional protection guidance to information management and programme staff on all protection/legal matters and accountabilities. These include: statelessness (in line with the campaign to End Statelessness by 2024), Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) commitments, age, gender, diversity (AGD) and accountability to affected populations (AAP) through community-based protection, Child protection, Gender-Based Violence (GBV) prevention and response, gender equality, disability inclusion, youth empowerment, psycho-social support and PSEA, registration, asylum/refugee status determination, resettlement, local integration, voluntary repatriation, human rights standards integration, national legislation, judicial engagement, predictable and decisive engagement in situations of internal displacement and engagement in wider mixed movement and climate change/disaster-related displacement responses. S/he supervises protection standards, operational procedures and practices in protection delivery in line with international standards.

The Assistant Protection Officer is expected to coordinate quality, timely and effective protection responses to the needs of populations of concern (PoC), ensuring that operational responses in all sectors mainstream protection methodologies and integrate protection safeguards. The incumbent contributes to the design of a comprehensive protection strategy and represents the Organization externally on protection doctrine and policy as guided by the supervisor. S/he also ensures that PoC are meaningfully engaged in the decisions that affect them and support programme design and adaptations that are influenced by the concerns, priorities and capacities of them. To achieve this, the incumbent will need to build and maintain effective interfaces with communities of concern, authorities, protection and assistance partners as well as a broader network of stakeholders who can contribute to enhancing protection.

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 legal advice and guidance on protection issues to PoC; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documentation.
– Conduct eligibility and status determination for PoC in compliance with UNHCR procedural standards and international protection principles.
– Promote and 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.
– Provide inputs for the development of protection policies and standards within the AoR.
– Implement and monitor Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities.
– Manage individual protection cases including those on GBV and child protection. Monitor, and intervene in cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents.
– Recommend durable solutions for the largest possible number of PoC through voluntary repatriation, local integration and where appropriate, resettlement.
– Assess resettlement needs and apply priorities for the resettlement of individuals and groups of refugees and other PoC.
– 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.
– Contribute to and facilitate effective information management through the provision of disaggregated data on populations of concern and their problems.
– Assist capacity-building initiatives for communities and individuals to assert their rights.
– Participate in initiatives to capacitate authorities, relevant institutions and NGOs to strengthen national protection related legislation and procedures.
– Intervene with authorities on protection issues.
– Assist the supervisor in deciding priorities for reception, interviewing and counselling for groups or individuals.
– Assist the supervisor in enforcing compliance of staff and implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services.
– Enforce compliance with, and integrity of, all protection standard operating procedures.

– 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

Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P1/NOA – 1 year relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or no experience with Graduate degree; or no experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
Law,

International Law,

Political Sciences
or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses
Not specified;

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Knowledge of International Refugee and Human Rights Law and ability to apply the relevant legal principles

Desirable
Not specified.

Functional Skills
*PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators
*PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD)
MG-Project Management
PR-Human Rights Doctrine/Standards
PR-International Humanitarian Law
PR-Assessment of IDPs Status, Rights, Obligation
PR-Climate change and disaster related displacement
CO-Drafting and Documentation
PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) Coordination
(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.

Desired Candidate Profile

Desired Candidate Profile:

The Assistant Protection Officer should have a wide range of relevant protection experience including substantial field experience, experience working with individual cases, experience advocating on refugee and stateless protection issues with authorities and key stakeholders at the local and national level and engaging with donors. Moreover, as this position will be the most senior one in the UNHCR Office in Croatia, the Assistant Protection Officer will need experience in both internal and external coordination, staff supervision, stakeholder engagement, including with donors and private sector partners, and partner oversight.

The potential candidate should be proactive, able to work autonomously, and have strong organizational skills. The role requires good drafting and communication skills in both English and Croatian. In addition, demonstrated experience in stakeholder engagement and negotiation, diplomatic communication, and advocating for protection solutions and refugee inclusion with key stakeholders in Croatia is highly valued.

The Assistant Protection Officer must have proven experience liaising with key stakeholders, including government, other UN agencies, private sector donors and diplomatic missions as well as civil society and academia. Given that the Assistant Protection Officer will need to oversee UNHCR’s activities and partnerships in Croatia, knowledge of and experience with the programme cycle and partnership management would be highly desirable. The Assistant Protection Officer should also have experience in supervising staff.

Language Requirements:

Knowledge of English (B2) as the UN working language of the duty station and Croatian (mother tongue) is required.

Desirable education, experience, and competencies:

– Education in law, international relations, human rights, social sciences, or a related field;
– Relevant professional experience in the field of asylum, migration, or international protection;
– In-depth knowledge of national legislation, policies, and practices related to asylum and statelessness;
– Strong understanding of UNHCR’s mandate, the 1951 Refugee Convention, the 1954 and 1961 Statelessness Conventions, and other relevant international legal instruments;
– Experience in legal analysis, protection monitoring, capacity building and coordination with governmental and non-governmental actors;
– Strong background in the UNHCR operational cycle and partnership management;
– Proven experience liaising with donors, including private-sector partners, government and diplomatic missions.

Remuneration:

In case of appointment, a competitive compensation and benefits package is offered.
NO-A monthly salary range: NET EUR 3,332 – NET EUR 3,813

Benefits:

Annual leave: UNHCR staff members holding a fixed-term appointment will accrue annual leave at the rate of 2.5 working days for each full calendar months of service (i.e. 30 working days per year).

Pension system: Staff members holding a fixed-term appointment will become participants in the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF).

Health insurance plan: locally recruited staff members in Croatia will be enrolled in the Medical Insurance Plan (MIP). The coverage is also optionally available for eligible family members.

Eligibility:

This position is advertised to internal applicants and UNHCR experience applicants.

Internal Candidates: current National Professional Officer staff members holding an indefinite or fixed-term appointment who, at the date of the deadline for application, are serving in the country of the vacancy at the grade of the position or one grade below or above, as well as any candidates serving at higher grades who fulfil the criteria as per the job advertisement. Staff members must serve for a minimum of one year following assignment before being considered eligible to apply for another position within the same category.

The minimum one-year requirement is waived in respect of staff members whose position is being changed or who encumber a position identified as ‘suitable’ in a comparative review process and staff members whose assignment/appointment through the AC is in a replacement capacity.

Candidates with UNHCR experience: Regardless of the category of the position, the following candidates are considered candidates with UNHCR experience: Junior Professional Officers; Temporary Appointment holders; affiliate workforce; interns; staff loaned/seconded from another UN organization/ international organization/ government entity, or former UNHCR international and local staff members who held an indefinite or fixed-term appointment (within two years of separation for males and five years females).

Staff members holding an indefinite or fixed-term appointment applying for a vacancy in a category different from their own are considered candidates with UNHCR experience.

Locally recruited staff members applying for a position two grades above their own are considered candidates with UNHCR experience.

This is a National Professional Officer (NPO) position. Applicants must be nationals of Croatia. The functions of the role require in-depth knowledge of the national context, including language, culture, institutions, and systems.

Applications:

All applications must be submitted online in Workday. Email applications will not be accepted. Incomplete and late applications will not be accepted. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Shortlisted candidates might be required to sit for a written test and/or oral interview.

The evaluation of applicants will be conducted based on the information submitted during the application. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.

UNHCR is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, sexual orientation, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. UNHCR seeks to ensure that male and female employees are given equal career opportunities. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.

UNHCR has a zero-tolerance policy against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA). SEA is unacceptable behavior and prohibited conduct for UNHCR personnel. It constitutes acts of serious misconduct and is therefore grounds for disciplinary measures, including dismissal.

Any concerns or suspicions about a possible case of SEA should be reported immediately to the Inspector General’s Office (IGO) at [email protected] or through the online complain form at https://www.unhcr.org/php/complaints.php or by confidential fax: +41 22 739 73 80.

Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):

English

,

Croatian

,

Desired languages

,

,

Operational context

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

Nature of Position:

In line with the strategic priorities of the UNHCR Bureau for Europe, UNHCR Croatia advocates for the protection of asylum seekers, refugees, stateless persons and individuals at risk of statelessness. Key protection advocacy priorities include access to territory and asylum, adequate reception conditions, prevention of and response to sexual and gender-based violence, child protection, prevention and reduction of statelessness, inclusion and promotion of durable solutions. UNHCR engages in protection monitoring, supports the provision of free legal aid and access to rights and services, and provides technical guidance and capacity-building to government institutions and civil society actors.

Within this context, UNHCR advocates for a protection-sensitive environment ensuring access to the territory and to the asylum procedure. UNHCR strives to ensure that refugees and asylum-seekers can access essential rights, basic services, and legal and protection assistance, with a focus on persons with specific needs, including children, persons with disabilities and victims of trafficking. Furthermore, the organization increasingly supports enhanced inclusion and integration of refugees in Croatia, including by engaging with local partners and the private sector. Finally, UNHCR advocates for the prevention and reduction of statelessness.

The Assistant Protection Officer (NOA) is responsible for Croatia-specific protection and inclusion issues, reporting directly to the Protection Unit in the Representation for Central and South-East Europe based in Budapest, Hungary. S/he leads and coordinates the Croatia protection response and plays a central role in ensuring the delivery of UNHCR’s protection mandate at the national level.

Responsibilities include protection monitoring, analyzing and commenting on national legislation and policies and providing technical guidance and support. The Assistant Protection Officer also contributes to the development of protection strategies and coordinates with partners to ensure a coherent and rights-based response. Additionally, the role includes operational planning and advocacy efforts. The Assistant Protection Officer is expected to provide technical guidance, support capacity-building initiatives, and represent UNHCR in relevant coordination forums, ensuring that protection concerns are effectively addressed and integrated into broader policy discussions.

Living and Working Conditions:

Additional Qualifications

Skills

CO-Drafting and Documentation, MG-Project Management, PR-Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD), PR-Assessment of IDPs Status, Rights, Obligation, PR-Climate change and disaster related displacement, PR-Gender Based Violence (GBV) Coordination, PR-Human Rights Doctrine/Standards, PR-International Humanitarian Law, PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators

Education

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

Certifications

Work Experience

Competencies

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

UNHCR Salary Calculator

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

Compendium

Additional Information

Functional clearance

This position doesn”t require a functional clearance