Senior Protection Assistant

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees; Saudi Arabia; On-site; SAR 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading international organization is seeking a Protection Assistant based in Saudi Arabia. The successful candidate will support protection activities, engage with communities, and manage case referrals. Applicants should have at least a year of relevant experience, communicate well in Arabic and English, and possess a strong understanding of protection principles. This position does not require a functional clearance. Competitive terms and conditions apply.

Qualifications

• 1 year of relevant experience in protection or case management.
• Knowledge of English and Arabic required.

Responsibilities

• Provide administrative support to the protection unit.
• Assist with case management and protection responses.
• Facilitate engagement with communities of concern.

Skills

Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators

Refugee Protection Principles and Framework

Computer Literacy

Education

High School Diploma or Bachelor or equivalent

International Law certificate

Job description

Overview

Deadline for Applications: February 3, 2026

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based): A (least hardship)

Family Type (not applicable for home-based): Family

Staff Member / Affiliate Type: UNOPS LICA5

Target Start Date: 2026-02-01

Terms of Reference

The candidate ideally has experience working with UNHCR in protection and case management. The candidate should ideally have experience in offering counseling and gathering necessary additional information to assist with case assessment. Providing effective counselling requires a strong understanding of protection principles and specific operational procedures, and the candidate should act as the first point of entry for case referrals and management, conduct initial assessments, and share with the supervisor to advise on actions and accomplish tasks as per the ToRs. The candidate ideally communicates well verbally and in writing in both Arabic and English and is well versed in the protection working environment in the GCC and KSA specifically and is well versed in coordinating with various entities both within UNHCR and outside.

Standard Job Description

Protection Assistant

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

The Protection Assistant normally reports to a more senior Protection colleague. The incumbent provides functional and administrative support to the protection unit on protection related liaison, correspondence, monitoring, case management and reporting activities.

The Protection Assistant also supports the protection unit in designing a comprehensive protection strategy and in providing quality, timely and effective protection responses to persons of concern (PoC). S/he may liaise externally with local authorities and partners on correspondence and/or protection issues as guided by the supervisor.

The Protection Assistant also facilitates the involvement of PoC 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

• 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.
• Support assessments on durable solutions through voluntary repatriation, local integration and where appropriate, resettlement.
• 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).
• Select PoC for preliminary interviews and decide which relevant information to share.
• Enforce integrity in the delivery of protection services by local implementing partners.

• 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.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

Years of Experience / Degree Level

For G4 - 1 year relevant experience with High School Diploma; or Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Field(s) of Education

Not applicable

Certificates and/or Licenses

Protection

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

Relevant Job Experience

Essential: Not specified.

Desirable: Not specified.

Functional Skills

• PR-Protection-related guidelines, standards and indicators
• PR-Refugee Protection Principles and Framework
• IT-Computer Literacy

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.

Required Languages Arabic

English

Desired Languages

English

Additional Qualifications

Skills

Education

Associate diploma or certificate: International Law (Required)

Certifications

International Law - Other, Political Science - Other

Work Experience

Case Management: Refugees

Other information

This position doesn\'t require a functional clearance

Remote: No