TERMS OF REFERENCE

This is a national position offered under a National UNOPS contract at LICA 5 level. Candidates applying to the position must be nationals of Panama or non-Panamanian residing in the country with a valid work and residency permit attached to the application. Candidates must comply with all eligibility requirements for employment in line with the prevailing legislative prerequisites in the country.
Please note that this position is offered for an initial period until 31 Dec 2025, with possible extension subject to budget, good performance and operational needs.
The United Nations is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The United Nations recruits and employs staff regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds or disabilities. Reasonable accommodation for applicants with disabilities may be provided to support participation in the recruitment process when requested and indicated in the application.
Levels of language knowledge:
A1-beginner,
A2-elementary,
B1-lower intermediate,
B2-upper intermediate,
C1-advanced/proficient,
C2-fluent
Candidates may be required to sit for a written test.
A competitive compensation and benefits package is offered. For information on United Nations salaries, allowances and benefits, visit the International Civil Service Commission web portal at http://icsc.un.org as well as https://careers.un.org/payandbenefits?language=en-
The Darién region of Panama, located along the border with Colombia, is a remote and ecologically sensitive area that has become a critical transit zone for refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants. Its dense jungle, limited infrastructure, and complex humanitarian landscape present significant challenges for humanitarian operations. In this context, UNHCR’s presence in the region is essential to ensuring that persons of concern receive timely protection and assistance.
To support its operations in Darién, UNHCR is seeking a Senior Field Assistant (LICA5) under UNOPS arrangement who will play a key role in facilitating field activities and strengthening coordination with local authorities, implementing partners, and affected communities. The position requires a proactive and adaptable individual capable of working in dynamic and often unpredictable conditions. The Senior Field Assistant will be responsible for monitoring the implementation of UNHCR programs, including the delivery of assistance and infrastructure support, and will assist in the reception, registration, and follow-up of persons of concern. The role also involves acting as an interpreter and liaison with local communities, collecting and reporting data relevant to the protection and well-being of displaced populations, and supporting administrative tasks such as preparing reports and organizing field missions.
In addition, the Senior Field Assistant will maintain regular contact with local authorities and partners to ensure coordinated responses, respond to routine queries, and escalate unresolved issues to supervisors. The position also contributes to identifying protection risks and supporting appropriate interventions to uphold the safety and dignity of persons of concern.

Fields of Education, Certificates:

• Development Studies or Degree in Human Rights or Community Development / Social Work is desirable
• Social Sciences or Political Science or Sociology or Public Administration or Law is desirable

Essential Job Experience

• Experience working directly with communities, particularly in humanitarian, development, or protection contexts.
• Proven ability to support field-based activities such as registration, distribution of assistance, and infrastructure monitoring.
• Field experience in remote or underserved areas, ideally in regions affected by displacement, migration, or limited institutional presence.
• Demonstrated capacity to liaise with local authorities, civil society organizations, and implementing partners to coordinate service delivery and protection responses.
• Familiarity with community-based protection principles, including age, gender, and diversity (AGD) approaches.
• Experience in collecting, analyzing, and reporting data relevant to humanitarian operations.
• Ability to facilitate communication between affected populations and humanitarian actors, including through interpretation and community engagement.
• Experience supporting administrative and logistical aspects of field missions, including reporting and coordination..

Desirable:

• Experience working with refugees, asylum seekers, stateless persons, or other persons of concern to UNHCR.
• Knowledge of the protection landscape in Panama or similar contexts in Latin America.
• Experience in emergency response or working in transit and border areas.
• Completion of UNHCR learning programmes or relevant humanitarian training.

Languages:

• Mandatory: Fluency in English and Spanish

STANDARD JOB DESCRIPTION

Senior Field Assistant
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Senior Field Assistant is normally supervised by the (Senior) Field Officer/Associate and performs a variety of functions related to Field activities within the office. The supervisor defines work processes and provides regular advice and guidance.
The incumbent keeps frequent internal contacts with staff members in the same duty station to exchange information and with the external contacts generally with officials of national and international institutions, leaders of the refugee community, local population and/or Implementing Partners (IPs) on routine subject matters under the direction of the supervisor.
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

• Assist in monitoring the implementation of UNHCR programme including the delivery of all assistance items and monitoring of infrastructure.
• Assist in administrative tasks as required such as preparation of reports and meeting authorized personnel and assisting them during field missions.
• Act as interpreter in the exchange of routine information, contribute to related liaison activities and respond directly to routine queries.
• Collect data and other information relevant to UNHCR and report to the supervisor accordingly.
• Keep regular contacts with local authorities and implementing partners as requested by supervisor.
• In coordination with implementing partners, assist in the reception, registration and provision of assistance to persons of concern to UNHCR.
• Follow up, on a regular basis, the overall situation of persons of concern in camps and other areas where they have been accommodated and report accordingly.
• Liaise with local authority counterparts, partners and populations of concern.
• Direct incidents and problems to the supervisor when they cannot be resolved at their level.
• 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
G5 - 2 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 1 year relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher
Field(s) of Education
Not applicable
Certificates and/or Licenses
Business Administration Law Political Science
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Not specified
Desirable
Completion of UNHCR learning programmes or specific training relevant to functions of the position.

Functional Skills

• IT-Computer Literacy

CO-Drafting and Documentation
CL-Multi-stakeholder Communications with Partners, Government & Community
(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.

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

Skills
CL-Multi-stakeholder Communications with Partners, Government & Community, CO-Drafting and Documentation, IT-Computer Literacy
Education
Certifications
HCR Learning Program - UNHCR
Work Experience

• Assist in monitoring the implementation of UNHCR programme including the delivery of all assistance items and monitoring of infrastructure.
• Assist in administrative tasks as required such as preparation of reports and meeting authorized personnel and assisting them during field missions.
• Act as interpreter in the exchange of routine information, contribute to related liaison activities and respond directly to routine queries.
• Collect data and other information relevant to UNHCR and report to the supervisor accordingly.
• Keep regular contacts with local authorities and implementing partners as requested by supervisor.
• In coordination with implementing partners, assist in the reception, registration and provision of assistance to persons of concern to UNHCR.
• Follow up, on a regular basis, the overall situation of persons of concern in camps and other areas where they have been accommodated and report accordingly.
• Liaise with local authority counterparts, partners and populations of concern.
• Direct incidents and problems to the supervisor when they cannot be resolved at their level.
• 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