• This position is advertised to internal and external applicants. Candidates must be legally present in México at the time of application, recruitment, and hire. Only Mexicans or candidates holding a permanent residency or valid work permit in México will be considered eligible.

• Recruitment as a UNHCR staff member and engagement under a UNHCR affiliate scheme or as an intern, is subject to proof of full vaccination against COVID-19, independently of contract type and duration. The selected candidate(s) will be required to provide proof of vaccination prior to recruitment.

• Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on the grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity.

• Only short-listed candidates will be notified. The recruitment process might/could include a written test and/or oral interview for this job opening. No late applications will be accepted.

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

• This position is offered under UNOPS Local ICA contract until 31/12/2024 with possibility of extension.

• Remuneration: A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. 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.

General Background

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has as its Mandate: International Protection and the search for durable solutions for refugees and stateless persons.

In Mexico, UNHCR works to provide technical advice on asylum and refugee status determination, as well as their respective procedures. It also works with relevant authorities to identify people with international protection needs, particularly in the identification and protection of special groups such as unaccompanied or separated refugee children and adolescents, victims of human trafficking, as well as stateless persons, among others. . In conjunction with Mexican civil society organizations, UNHCR also supports the strengthening of mechanisms and initiatives that promote and facilitate the integration of refugees and stateless persons in Mexico.

The UNHCR office in Mexico is composed by a country office in Mexico City as well as offices and Field Units in Tapachula and Palenque, Chiapas; Tenosique, Tabasco; Acayucan, Veracruz; Saltillo Coahuila; Monterrey, Nuevo Leon; Tijuana and Mexicali, Baja California; Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes and Guadalajara, Jalisco. Additionally, it has presences in Cancun, Quintana Roo; Leon, Guanajuato; Puebla, Puebla; Querétaro, Querétaro and San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí. UNHCR also carries out some activities to provide services and support to refugees and applicants for refugee status in other locations in Mexico.

Purpose and Scope of Assignment

Under the direct supervision of the Assistant Protection Officer, the Protection Assistant will carry out the following tasks:

Consistently apply International and National Law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy, standards and codes of conduct.
Observe and respect protection related Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
Provide functional and administrative support in all protection related AGD based programming with implementing and operational partners.
Provide functional and administrative support in implementing participatory approaches, needs assessments, monitoring, reporting and case management.
Facilitate liaison with competent authorities for the issuance of personal and other relevant documents.
Assist in drafting reports, routine correspondence, updating relevant databases and compiling statistics within the Area of Responsibility (AoR).
Assist visits to migratory detention facilities to provide information about asylum process in Mexico.
Support Protection Monitoring activities in shelters and strategic border points.
Conduct registration interviews in accordance with local SOPs and registration standards.
Respond to queries from asylum seekers and refugees regarding UNHCR´s registration procedures and their rights and entitlements.
Maintain accurate and up-to date records and data related to all individual registration cases.
Identify persons with specific needs and ensure timely referral to protection follow-up as required.
Collaborate with protection staff and/ or partners in the delivery of assistance and programming, including provision of identity and entitlement documentation.
Refer cases to other units within the office and to implementing partners as necessary.
Perform other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

Monitoring and Progress Controls

Stronger knowledge about refugee protection, with special emphasis on International Refugee Law, through trainings and presentations provided to authorities and civil society.
All cases that need follow up are provided the needed legal and basic assistance within the limitations of UNHCR.
Good coordination amongst legal aid and humanitarian and development actors.
Asylum-seekers, refugees, and migrants properly informed regarding their rights and obligations, and all given cases receive thorough follow-up.
Efficient case management in coordination with government partners and stakeholders.
Progress case registration, ensuring data quality.
Support tasks aimed at strengthening the Multi-service center in Baja California.
Strengthened capacity-building of actors -governmental, NGOs, civil society- working with asylum-seekers, refugees, and migrants to better detect and inform potential asylum seekers.

Qualifications and Experience

a. Education

• Completed high school or its equivalent with certificate / training in International Relations, Law, Social Sciences, Psychology, Political Science, Communication or other related area. • Use of MS Office. • Advanced command of spoken and written English language (Writing skills in Spanish and English)

b. Work Experience

• Minimum 1 year of experience relevant to the functions. • Experience working with vulnerable populations. • Experience with the refugee population and with data collection.

c. Key Competencies

Core Competencies • Accountability • Communication • Organizational Awareness • Teamwork & Collaboration • Commitment to Continuous Learning • Client & Result Orientation

Managerial Competencies • Not applicable.

Cross-Functional Competencies • Analytical Thinking • Political Awareness • Stakeholder Management • Be proactive and possess a sense of urgency. • Good knowledge of English. • Demonstrated communication skills and teamwork-oriented. • Demonstrated ability to work in an international, and multicultural environment. • Demonstrated ability when working with PoC to be assertive, to demonstrate sensitivity, and to make good and quick decisions. • Demonstrated ability to work in stressful, and demanding situations with difficult PoC cases. • Demonstrated ability to manage, and follow-through complex PoC cases. • Demonstrated ability to deliver presentations in public settings. • Demonstrated ability to manage confidential information in a professional manner. • Demonstrated ability of time management, and work organization skills. • Demonstrated ability to work with little guidance. • Demonstrated ability to interact with several governmental, non-governmental, and other actors in order to ensure good collaboration among all.