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Deadline for Applications August 11, 2026 Grade GS6 Staff Member / Affiliate Type General Service Reason Temporary > Temporary Assignment/ Appointment Hardship Level H (no hardship) Family Type Family <p></p><p></p> Residential location (if applicable) Target Start Date 2026-09-01 Target End Date 2026-11-30 Standard Job Description Protection Associate Organizational Setting and Work Relationships The Protection Associate normally reports to the Protection Officer or the Senior Protection Officer. 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 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. S/he contributes to designing a comprehensive protection strategy and liaises externally with authorities and partners on protection doctrine and policy as guided by the supervisor. The Protection Associate 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 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. • 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. • 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. • 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. • 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 in prioritizing PoC for interview, counselling and propose protection support for individual cases. • Assist the supervisor with enforcing compliance of local implementing partners with global protection policies and standards of professional integrity in the delivery of protection services. • Assit the supervisor with enforcing compliance with, and integrity of, all protection standard operating procedures. • Submit individual payments request for PoC for approval. • 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 G6 - 3 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 related field (Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential) Relevant Job Experience Essential Not specified Desirable Protection Learning Programme Functional Skills IT-Computer Literacy PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators (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 Title: Protection Associate Location: Ljubljana, Slovenia Duration: 3 months Contract Type: Temporary Appointment Start date: 01 September 2026 Operational Context: The UNHCR Representation for Central and South-East Europe (RCSEE) covers nine operations: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Hungary, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Slovenia and Kosovo* (*under UN SCR 1244). Slovenia is a Member State of the European Union located on the Western Balkans migration route and continues to play an important role in regional mixed movements. While the number of asylum applications remains relatively modest compared to some other EU Member States, Slovenia experiences significant onward movements, resulting in a relatively small asylum population and an increasing emphasis on sustainable integration of those granted international protection. The country has developed a comprehensive legal framework aligned with the EU asylum acquis and is currently implementing the Pact on Migration and Asylum, while also strengthening complementary pathways as part of broader responsibility-sharing efforts. UNHCR maintains a non-resident presence in Slovenia through the Representation for Central and South-East Europe. Given the limited operational footprint, partnerships with government institutions, universities, civil society organizations, municipalities and the private sector are essential for delivering protection outcomes and advancing durable solutions. As part of its protection and solutions strategy, UNHCR Slovenia will start implementing the AMIF-supported SEED (Supporting Education Pathways for Refugees) project in September 2026, a multi-country initiative implemented in Italy, Germany, Bulgaria and Slovenia. The project aims to strengthen complementary education pathways by expanding opportunities for refugees to access higher education in Europe, improving programme quality, supporting successful integration and transition to employment, and developing sustainable national models that can be replicated across the European Union. Building on the successful pilot Education Pathway launched in Slovenia in 2024, the project will significantly expand the national programme by increasing annual admissions of refugee students, strengthening institutional cooperation among universities and government institutions, establishing a national Education Pathway Working Group, and developing a long-term sustainability framework. The project requires close coordination among a broad range of stakeholders, including the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, universities, civil society organizations, student associations, employers and refugee-serving organizations. The incumbent will work under the overall oversight of the Legal Officer - Protection and the direct supervision of the Assistant Protection Officer and will contribute to the implementation of UNHCR's protection responsibilities under the SEED project by coordinating multi-stakeholder engagement, facilitating the functioning of the national coordination mechanisms, supporting the admission and protection-related aspects of refugee students throughout the education pathway, monitoring implementation against project objectives, and contributing to evidence generation, reporting and sustainability planning. The incumbent will work closely with project partners to ensure that education pathways remain protection-sensitive, accessible and aligned with international protection standards, while strengthening national ownership and institutional capacity. The position requires strong coordination, project management and partnership-building skills, as well as the ability to work effectively across government institutions, academia, civil society and international organizations. The incumbent is expected to operate with a high degree of independence while contributing to UNHCR's broader strategic objectives on complementary pathways, inclusion, and durable solutions for refugees. Desired Candidate Profile: Essential: • Experience in refugee protection, migration, international development, project coordination, education, or related fields. • Demonstrated experience in coordinating projects involving multiple stakeholders, including government institutions, civil society organizations, academia, and international organizations. • Good knowledge of international refugee protection principles, durable solutions, complementary pathways, and refugee inclusion. • Experience in project implementation, monitoring, reporting, and coordination of donor-funded programmes. • Strong organizational, analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and work independently. • Excellent drafting, communication and interpersonal skills, including experience preparing reports, briefing materials and meeting documentation. • Proven ability to build and maintain effective partnerships and facilitate coordination among diverse stakeholders. • Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint