JOB DESCRIPTION

D

Non Family with Residential Location

Non Family with Residential Location

Bangkok, Thailand

PR5

Professional

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2025-07-23

August 8, 2025

Deputy Representative

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
Direct supervision and guidance is received from the Representative. Advice and operational support may also be provided by the Director/Deputy Director of the Bureau and by other senior staff in the Bureau and in the support Divisions at Headquarters. The incumbent will also refer to policies, standards, rules and regulations which are in force within UNHCR.

Regular contacts with the Representative and staff at Headquarters and in the field, to consult, discuss operational issues, and to seek common grounds for solutions on activities and programmes of importance to UNHCR and with persons on matters of great importance to UNHCR’s programmes. These contacts may include heads of national/ international organizations, embassies, UN agencies, and high officials/ ministers in the national government. UNHCR is well integrated into the UN Resident Coordinator System.

Decisions taken directly influence the design and operation of all of UNHCR’s activities in the country of accreditation. Proposals will have a substantive effect on UNHCR’s policy on a wide range of issues in the country programmes. Errors lead to significant damage to UNHC’s major objectives in terms of time, quality, and money in the country and will have a major negative impact on the safety of refugees and other forcibly displaced and stateless persons. The Office’s overall credibility and the safety of its staff may also suffer.

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
– Provide legal protection advice and guidance on matters of doctrine and policy to Representative, the Heads of Offices and protection staff in the country.
– Provide advice and support to offices in the country operation on specific issues/problems faced related to asylum, refugee protection and assistance, including access to territory, access to RSD and asylum procedures, non-refoulement adequate reception and the implementation of durable solutions, including developing a Protection Management Framework for each national office.
– Provide legal and programme related advice and guidance to offices in the country on developing and maintaining fair and effective asylum regimes in accordance with international standards and norms, especially with regard to national asylum/refugee legislation and the building of local protection capacity.
– Provide legal and programme related advice and guidance on matters relating to the issue of asylum and migration to the Representative and offices in the country with particular emphasis on the problems of trafficking and smuggling.
– Provide guidance and leadership related to the implementation of the Age, Gender Diversity Mainstreaming (AGDM) Participatory Assessments in sub-region and ensure the follow up on any identified gaps related to the reception and integration systems and structures in the region with relevant stakeholders.
– Keep abreast of and analyse trends and key issues related to legal protection and assistance in the country, including preparing strategy and position papers with policy recommendations on specific protection, assistance and durable solutions related issues relevant to the country.
– Directly supervise Protection and Programme sections and develop operations plan in accordance with the organizational policies and operational strategies.
– Assist the Representative in the promotion of UNHCR strategic goals and objectives in the country, monitoring of the overall progress towards achieving them and in managing the Representation country office.
– 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.
– Serve as OIC of the Country Office when the Representative is on mission or leave.
– Any other duties as may be required or assigned by the Representative.
– Represent UNHCR in the meetings and fora related to the functions.
– Enforce local compliance with UNHCR’s global protection, programme, finance and human resources and security policies and standards.
– 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, within the approved budgets and in respect of donor earmarking.

– Lead risk assessments and discussions with team(s) to proactively manage risks and seize opportunities impacting objectives. Ensure that risk management principles are integrated in decision-making both at strategic and operational levels. Allocate resources for planned treatments with resource requirements in Strategic Plans. Ensure that risks are managed to acceptable levels and escalate, as needed. If a Risk Owner, designate the Risk Focal Point and certify that the annual risk review is completed and ensure that the risk register is updated during the year, as needed.
– Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications
Education & Professional Work Experience
Years of Experience / Degree Level
For P5 – 12 years relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or 11 years relevant experience with Graduate degree; or 10 years relevant experience with Doctorate degree

Field(s) of Education
Business Administration; International Relations; Law;
Political Science; Social Science; Human Resources Management;
or other relevant field.

Certificates and/or Licenses
HCR Learning Prog; HCR Managing Operatns Lrng Prg;
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
– High level of skill in management of broad programmes, political decision making and negotiating.
Desirable
– Completion of UNHCR training programmes, such as Protection Learning Programme, Operations Management Learning Programme.
– Knowledge of geo-political realities and their socio-cultural implications.

Functional Skills
*MG-Field Operations Management
*UN-UN/UNHCR Inter-agency Policies, Standards, Programmes, and Partnerships
*UN-UN/UNHCR Mandate and Global Strategic Priorities
*PG-Programme Management (programme cycles and reporting standards)
UN-Analysis of geo-political realities and their socio-cultural implications
*MG-Political Decision Making
(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.

The ideal candidate for the Deputy Representative role brings a solid and diverse background in implementing UNHCR’s protection mandate and managing complex operations. The incumbent will support the Representative in driving the strategic direction, ensuring strong program and operations management, effective coordination, and principled engagement with a broad range of actors. The role requires an individual with proven leadership, program and operational management experience, particularly in politically sensitive and high-risk contexts such as Myanmar.

Strategic Leadership and Operational Planning: The candidate should demonstrate extensive experience in developing and operationalizing multi-year, results-based strategies, including protection and solutions frameworks for IDPs and stateless populations. Experience in a Planning Coordinator role and in operational risk management is highly desirable. The candidate will support the Representative in promoting and monitoring progress towards UNHCR’s strategic goals, including through the supervision programme section and development of operations plans in line with global policies and operational priorities.

Operationalizing Protection and Inclusion: Demonstrated ability to design and lead diverse protection responses, including protection monitoring and analysis, GBV, child protection, community-based protection, and solutions programming, is critical. The candidate should ensure the mainstreaming of Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) and lead participatory assessments, with follow-up on identified gaps. Experience working in protracted displacement contexts and delivering protection in humanitarian emergencies is vital.

Inter-Agency Coordination and Representation: The ideal candidate has experience leading or supporting UNHCR’s coordination responsibilities under the IASC framework for protection, shelter, NFI, and CCCM clusters. A strong understanding of inter-agency coordination and participation in UN Country Team and Security Management Team structures is expected. The candidate will also represent UNHCR in high-level meetings and forums, advocating effectively for protection and durable solutions; and be prepared to serve as Officer-in-Charge (OIC) in the absence of the Representative.

Stakeholder Engagement, Partnerships, and Compliance: Strong diplomatic and communication skills are necessary to engage with national authorities, donors, and a wide range of stakeholders in politically sensitive environments. The candidate should demonstrate the ability to frame compelling narratives on protection and solutions, mobilize support, and reinforce national protection capacities. Experience in donor relations, compliance with global protection and programme policies, and oversight of financial and administrative functions in line with UNHCR’s Delegation of Authority Plan (DOAP) are essential.

Leadership, Cross-functional Oversight, and Security Management: Beyond programme management, the incumbent is expected to supervise and provide strategic guidance across key operational support functions, including supply, administration, finance, HR and information management. As such, the candidate must possess solid working knowledge in these domains to ensure operational efficiency, compliance, and timely delivery of assistance. Experience in overseeing cross-functional teams and coordinating planning, budgeting, and monitoring processes is essential. The candidate must also ensure full compliance with UN security standards.

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Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit this link:

https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

Nature of Position:

The security and protection situation in Myanmar continues to deteriorate with heightened tensions and clashes among armed actors that has spread to two-thirds of the country’s territory, generating 3.2 million new displacements since the military take-over in February 2021 and bringing the total number of persons of concern to UNHCR in Myanmar to  3.5 million (as of June 2025). The country is also vulnerable to natural disaster, including floods and earthquake. The recent earthquake in March 2025 affected 58 out of the total 330 townships in Myanmar, impacting more than 6.3 million people, which as a result UNHCR declared Level 2 emergency. At the same time, facilitating conditions in the return areas in northern Rakhine to make them conducive for the voluntary repatriation of refugees from Bangladesh remains a key priority for UNHCR, to be pursued once the security situation permits and returns can take place in safety and dignity.

The operational challenges continue to proliferate, with increasing political complexities, sharpening logistical constraints, scrutiny by the de-facto authority and limited humanitarian space. Yet, UNHCR operation in Myanmar continues to deliver critical protection and assistance services. UNHCR leads both Protection Cluster and combined CCCM/Shelter/NFI Cluster, as well as co-chairs three area-based coordination platforms that links humanitarian and development interventions in northern Rakhine State, north-east and south-east of the country.

Deputy Representative supports the Representative in implementation of UNHCR’s multi-year strategies, and in particular operationalizing UNHCR’s mandate and protection priorities to serve displaced and stateless people. The operation’s three-year strategic cycle commenced in January 2025.  The incumber serves as the operation’s Planning Coordinator and Risk Focal Point, and leads the strategy development, review and implementation process by involving all units in Yangon and Field Offices. He/she oversees the program, inter-agency coordination, Admin/HR, Project Control, and information management functions. In absence of Representative, the Deputy Representative represents UNHCR in various senior-level UN, inter-agency and diplomatic platforms, including UN Country Team, Humanitarian Country Team and Security Management Team.

Living and Working Conditions:

After the military take-over in February 2021 and the ensuing conflict, almost all locations in Myanmar, including Yangon, were classified as high-risk. As of June 2025,  non-family status has been maintained in all duty stations.  The R&R cycles vary between four to six -weeks, and Danger Pay is applicable in some locations. Martiallaw and curfews are imposed in many parts of the country. The curfew for Yangon is from 01.00 am until 03.00 am. Furthermore, Yangon is currently a Category D duty station.

All staff members who apply for positions in Myanmar are encouraged to attend the duty of care webinars during which security, medical, and staff welfare issues are explained and where they have opportunity to ask questions. The applicants have a possibility to withdraw the application following the duty of care webinar.

The current political turmoil, coupled with sanctions imposed by the USA and several western governments, is impacting supply chains, banking systems and markets. Commodity prices (food, petrol, construction materials) have risen across the country, with significant increases for some basic commodities such as rice and oil. The Banking system is reasonably working in Yangon and larger cities such as Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw but there are limitations in smaller cities due to frequent electricity and internet disruption. Also, there is shortage of hard currency in the country: even if staff open USD accounts, they will not be able to withdraw USD but rather get local currency at an exchange rate lower than the UN Exchange Rate. Staff are, therefore,  encouraged to bring enough hard currency before coming to the country  and also has the option of getting a portion of their salary locally in USD .

The current situation has also impacted UNHCR partners’ abilities to implement humanitarian activities. Communication and access to information are increasingly challenging, and frequent internet disruptions and electricity cuts continue across the country including Yangon.

The city has some reasonable hospitals but generally the medical services remain patchy, and many expatriates travel to nearby Bangkok for treatment. Availability of health services and access to medical professionals, health facilities and pharmaceuticals has been negatively affected by the current security situation. Incumbent therefore is required to be in good health condition given the general lack of medical facilities in the country.

Cyclones and flooding are a regular occurrence in many parts of Myanmar including Yangon. Myanmar is also prone to earthquake. Other health hazards include injuries from road traffic accidents; food and water-borne diseases (such as typhoid fever, cholera, leptospirosis and hepatitis A, as well as vector-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever). Yangon has hot and dry weather from October to May and hot and humid weather from June to September.

Getting visa for Myanmar is a challenge. In normal circumstances, the visa process takes 8 weeks to several months due to the changing procedures and requirements of the  counterpart ministries and general political climate. In most cases, the incumbent will be required to start his/her assignment under a teleworking arrangement pending the issuance of the visa – either from his/her home leave location or the previous duty station. Staff reassignment entitlements associated with this position will be released to staff only after his/her arrival at the duty station. The salary calculation will be kept at the level of previous duty station or the place of home leave until they reach the duty station. The incumbent requires abilities to effectively manage teams remotely, work independently and in a different time zone, respecting Myanmar’s official working hours. As per the new Policy on Flexible Work, teleworking outside the country of the official duty station could impact salaries/benefits and applicants need to get clear information about the related entitlements prior to applying.

Although the designated Residential Location for staff assigned in Myanmar is Bangkok, it is important to note that the Thai Government does not permit the installation of staff and their eligible family members who are not directly assigned to Thailand. Therefore, UNHCR office is not in the position to facilitate the visa processing for Thailand. If colleagues are interested in settling with their family members in Bangkok, they can privately explore alternative options such as obtaining a student and guardian visas.

Additional Qualifications

Skills

MG-Field Operations Management, MG-Political Decision Making, PG-Programme Management (programme cycles and reporting standards), UN-Analysis of geo-political realities and their socio-cultural implications, UN-UN/UNHCR Inter-agency Policies, Standards, Programmes, and Partnerships, UN-UN/UNHCR Mandate and Global Strategic Priorities

Bachelor of Arts: Business Administration, Bachelor of Arts: Human Resources Management, Bachelor of Arts: International Relations, Bachelor of Arts: Law, Bachelor of Arts: Political Science, Bachelor of Arts: Social Science

Certifications

HCR Learning Program – UNHCR, Programme Management (PM) 1 – UNHCR

Competencies

Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Judgement & decision making, Leadership, Managing performance, Managing resource, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Stakeholder management, Strategic planning & visions, Teamwork & collaboration

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

Compendium

Add. 2 to the Bi-Annual 2025 Compendium – Part B

Additional Information

This position doesn”t require a functional clearance