Representative

Deadline for Applications

October 22, 2026

Hardship Level

E (most hardship)

Family Type

Non FamilyDanger Pay

Residential location (if applicable)

Grade

DI1

Staff Member / Affiliate Type

Professional

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

Target Start Date

2026-10-08

Standard Job Description

Representative

• Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
• As the High Commissioner's senior representative in the country, the Representative provides managerial leadership and oversight to ensure UNHCR's effective performance in the country of her/his assignment. The incumbent usually manages a budget of USD 6 million and above.

Reporting to the Director of the Bureau, the Representative is responsible and accountable for translating organizational and Bureau-wide objectives and policies into effective programmes. Through a continuous process of situational analysis, the Representative works with his/her team to identify strategic objectives and develop coherent, consistent and effective responses to the challenges faced. He/she is responsible for ensuring the adequate provision of technical support and guidance to the office to enable them to fulfil their accountabilities, including those outlined in the Terms of Reference of UNHCR offices as well as the Age, Gender and Diversity Accountability Framework.

The Representative works to ensure that UNHCR is widely perceived as an effective and trusted partner. S/he is responsible for creating effective networks, relationships, partnerships, and synergies with governments, NGOs, relevant regional political and other fora, civil society, forcibly displaced and stateless persons and other key strategic partners and actors. He/she lends visibility to important strategic issues, promotes concerted action and the commitment of sufficient resources and expertise to address important matters of concern to UNHCR. UNHCR is well integrated into the UN Resident Coordinator System.

In a complex and demanding political and operational environment, the Representative strives to build a dynamic and sufficiently capacitated team. S/he devolves appropriate authorities, facilitates the sharing of expertise and best practice and creates a climate of collaboration, which aims to empower and motivate colleagues to approach challenges with insight and innovation and to work toward achieving measurable and effective results. The Representative is responsible to ensure a vibrant Multi-Functional Team approach is established and employed at different stages of the operations management cycle, including in programme monitoring, and engaging the participation of relevant functions within the operation. S/he has a responsibility to inform the Bureau and other relevant parties at Headquarters of key political and operational developments in a timely manner.

The comports and actions of the Representative must always reflect the core values and principles embodied in UNHCR's mandate. A failure on the part of the Representative to adhere to these standards would have negative implications for UNHCR's credibility, operations and, ultimately, the protection and well-being of forcibly displaced and stateless persons to the Office.

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
• Strategic Direction
• - Stay abreast of the challenges posed by the local political context.
• - Manage a consultative process within the country operations and with external partners.
• - Develop and implement a comprehensive communications strategy that generates political and financial support for UNHCR's operations. Mobilize financial support for UNHCR corporate priorities as well for country specific projects.

• Operations
• - Implement a results-oriented approach, engaging a robust Multi-Functional Team, for assessing, designing, delivering and monitoring the country operation.
• - Ensure that the protection strategy is fully integrated into the country operations plan and that necessary resources are allocated to it.
• - Ensure the country operation's adherence to UNHCR's policy on Age, Gender and Diversity Mainstreaming (AGDM).
• - Ensure the country operation plans are consistent with the regional and global strategic priorities; manage a participatory process, with stakeholders, to apply UNHCR's standards and indicators in assessing and measuring the performance of the country operations.
• - Promote accession to the Convention and Protocol and ensure the application of protection standards in the treatment of forcibly displaced and stateless persons, especially women and children.
• - Ensure forcibly displaced and stateless persons , especially women and children, have access to relevant information; ensure that cases of sexual violence and abuse against girls and boys are reported and dealt with expeditiously.
• - Ensure the engagement of UNHCR in the UNCT, UN common programming, planning and funding activities and to actively contribute in the establishment of the CCA/UNDAF and the consequent joint implementation activities.
• - Participate in the Cluster approach, ensure UNHCR's Cluster Lead role and implement other IASC and inter-agency/UN policies.
• - Ensure that risks to the operation's objectives are regularly assessed, priority risks are identified and risk treatments for the priority risks form an integral part of the operations plans.

• Resource Management
• - Ensure that staff and financial resources are commensurate with operational objectives.
• - Ensure effective and efficient management of resources within the rules and procedures of UNHCR.
• - Establish and manage local administrative mechanisms such as a Local Contracts (or Purchasing) Committee, Local Asset Management Board and APPC.
• - Ensure local compliance with UNHCR's human resources (HR) policies including on gender, disabilities, diversity, ethics and HIV/AIDS.
• - Manage a process of recruitment, assignment and reassignment of local staff for the country operation, in accordance UN/UNHCR rules and procedures.
• - Where necessary, identify the most appropriate affiliate workforce and optimize its use.
• - In coordination with the Global Learning Centre, ensure that the learning needs of UNHCR's workforce in the country are identified, assessed and addressed.
• - Exercise effective managerial oversight, direction, guidance and support and conduct regular performance appraisals and coaching.

• Security
• - In close collaboration with the Designated Official (DO), UNDSS and UN country team/Security Management Team (SMT), gather and analyse information on the local security situation and play an active role in the inter-agency security and contingency planning processes.
• - Ensure that appropriate security measures are in place to protect staff, and that the country operation complies with UN MOSS/MORSS staff security rules, guidelines and procedures.
• - Represent UNHCR in the UNCT/Humanitarian Country Team and other inter-agency fora.
• - Decide on the country strategy and priorities, country operations plans, and approve the country operation's protection strategy.
• - Enforce local compliance with UNHCR¿s global protection, programme, finance and human resources and security policies and standards.
• - Negotiate and sign local agreements with implementing and operational partners.
• - Authorize payments as per the organization's Delegation of Authority Plan (DOAP) and in accordance with UN/UNHCR rules and procedures.
• - Modify operational projects and reallocate funds