Senior Government Liaison Assistant at UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency

بورتسودان, Red Sea State, Sudan -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

08 Feb, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

10 Nov, 25

Experience

2 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Cross-Cultural Communication, Drafting and Documentation, Networking, Political Awareness, Stakeholder Management, Teamwork and Collaboration

Industry

International Affairs

Description

Deadline for Applications November 15, 2025 Hardship Level E (most hardship) Family Type Non Family with Residential Location Family Type Non Family with Residential LocationDanger Pay Residential location (if applicable) Nairobi (CO), Kenya Grade GS5 Staff Member / Affiliate Type General Service Reason Regular > Regular Assignment Target Start Date 2026-01-01 Standard Job Description Senior Government Liaison Assistant Organizational Setting and Work Relationships The Senior Government Liaison Assistant is a member of the Government Liaison Unit. S/he normally reports to the (Senior) Government Liaison Officer. The incumbent receives regular guidance and advice from the supervisor. S/he participates in all meetings/working groups related to the Government and to provide support on coordination work on common processes. Under the supervision of the (Senior) Government Liaison Officer, the responsibilities of the Senior Government Liaison Assistant is to give, obtain and exchange information requiring discussions and explanations both to UNHCR staff members, Government authorities and other external parties on subject matters which may be of importance to the Organization. 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 - Draft routine correspondence and reports, prepare tables and draft corresponding text, prepare background material for use in discussions and briefing sessions. - Collect, register and maintain information on the Government, local and international developments which may have a political or operational impact on the office's relationship with the Government, including latest developments with regard to the implementation of the GCR, UN reform etc. - Maintain close working relations with the local authorities, governmental and non-governmental implementing partners and other external parties, providing co-operation and guidance if necessary. - Collect and maintain information on statistics in regard to persons of concern. - Assist the supervisor in preparation and facilitation of workshops, trainings, seminars and other meetings. - Liaise directly with Government partners to provide requested information and follow-up on pending issues. - Manage external queries and information flows by identifying and anticipating required action. - Prepare reports and correspondence related to office's contacts and activities. - Manage budget, when requested, including tracking expenditures. - Act as interpreter and translator when needed. - 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 Years of Experience / Degree Level For 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 Not specified. Relevant Job Experience Essential Not specified. Desirable Good knowledge of UNHCR operations and good political awareness. Functional Skills CO-Cross-cultural communication CO-Drafting and Documentation SO-Networking (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. Desired Candidate Profile Nature of the Position: The incumbent of this position reports to the Assistant Government Liaison Officer and will be responsible for the routine follow up on Protocol related issues with the relevant government authorities and other related stakeholders. The incumbent should be a well-rounded self-motivated individual and is able supervise colleagues in the absence of the Supervisor. The incumbent is required to stay abreast of political developments in the country and the region that may have an impact on the operation of UNHCR in Sudan. The Protocol Unit and due to the Sudan crisis has come under increased pressure to provide operation wide support to ensure the timely movement of personnel into, within and out of the country. The Unit is responsible to ensure that the legal status of staff members within the country is always maintained. In an ever-evolving environment where new policies and procedures are introduced and developed, the Unit requires a robust workforce that can rise to the challenge and facilitate the work, movement and necessary government documents to support UNHCR’s mandate. Challenges resulting from additional government policies and restrictions create a high workload, thus requiring well-trained personnel to always equip the Protocol Unit to ensure the smooth operation of the organization. UNHCR’s critical work demands the continuous support of the Protocol Unit and its staff, hence the need for dedicated, reliable and always available staff who can act as back-up during vacations and other absences of colleagues to ensure that the service-level provided to the organization is not compromised. The incumbent must possess the flexibility and ability to adapt to the nature of the Unit’s fast-paced work environment. Desired Candidate Profile: The incumbent will be responsible for the routine follow up on Protocol related issues with the relevant government authorities and other related stakeholders. The incumbent should be self-motivated and can follow up on Protocol related issues with the minimum required supervision if needed and can work well within a team environment and under pressure. He/she will be supervised by the Assistant Government Liaison Officer and will also act as a backup whenever required. The incumbent will have a minimum of three years of protocol experience and should possess leadership skills to enable Him/ Her to act as a backup for the Head of Unit. The incumbent should possess thorough operational experience, a solid understanding of UNHCR roles and responsibilities in refugees and IDPs response. He/she will be expected to have demonstrated good experience in working within teams as well as fostering a collaborative work environment. The incumbent should exhibit a proven ability to analyze complex situations, identify key issues and develop innovative solutions. The incumbent should possess excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to engage with a wide range of stake holders including Government officials and has previous experience in Protocol related areas with embassies, UN agencies and other relevant entities. Strong IT and communication skills including written and verbal proficiency in English. Additional Assets: 1. Experience in the UN system is desirable. 2. Previous experience with Government Liaison. 3. Strong Microsoft skills and computer knowledge. 4. Filling and archiving experience. Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level): , , Desired languages , , Operational context Occupational Safety and Health Considerations: Nature of Position: Living and Working Conditions: Additional Qualifications Skills CO-Cross-cultural communication, CO-Drafting and Documentation, SO-Networking Education Certifications Work Experience Competencies Accountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Organizational awareness, Planning & organizing, Political awareness, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration UNHCR Salary Calculator https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales Compendium Additional Information Female candidates are encouraged to apply. Functional clearance This position doesn't require a functional clearance Important notice: Please note that UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of its recruitment process (application, interview, meeting, travelling, processing or training). Read about how to avoid scams and fraudulent job offers. Please note that applications are only accepted via the UNHCR online recruitment platform. CVs and/or application requests sent via email will not be answered, reviewed nor considered. For external applicants: We would like to call your attention on the eligibility of International Professional (P) category: According to our Recruitment and Assignments Policy, P staff members will not normally serve in the country of their nationality, and the first regular appointment in the P category must be outside the staff member's country of nationality. In practical terms this means that you are not eligible to apply for International Professional vacancies advertised in the country where you are national of. In case of technical difficulties when applying, external applicants (not current UNHCR workforce members) can write to recruitmentcase@unhcr.org. For former UNHCR Colleagues: Former UNHCR employees who are on mandatory break-in service or have separated from UNHCR after 1 October 2022 should create an account through this platform. Once you fill in your basic personal information (employee ID, birth date, name, email address), Workday will identify you as prior personnel and merge your employee account with your external applicant account. The UNHCR workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages and opinions. UNHCR seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. Applications are encouraged from all qualified candidates without distinction on grounds of race, colour, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation and gender identity. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, takes the lead in protecting people forced to flee wars and persecution around the world, providing life-saving aid including shelter, food and water to ensure their basic safety, rights and dignity. With 18,879 women and men working in 137 countries, we work tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of 89.3 million forcibly displaced people worldwide. Our dedicated and professional staff work around the clock in roles including legal protection, community services, public affairs, health and more. Despite the challenges they can face, our staff are proud to work for UNHCR and determined to make a positive impact. Why a career with UNHCR? Our dedicated staff work to protect and assist people fleeing conflict and persecution at a time when global forced displacement is at a record high. Our colleagues bring a wide range of specialized skills, including expertise in legal protection, administration, community services, public affairs, health and other disciplines. Disability inclusion If you are a person with a disability and you expect you may face challenges during the recruitment process, you can indicate it in your application form. There are options to select any health conditions you may have and outline any necessary adjustments related to disabilities during the recruitment phases. Providing this information is optional. It will be treated as strictly confidential and used only for the purpose of finding out how to better assist you during the recruitment process. Adjustments for candidates with disabilities will be provided as best as possible and as needed upon request. All candidates will be assessed based on meeting the requirements for each vacancy in relation to experience, skills, and education.

Responsibilities

The Senior Government Liaison Assistant is responsible for providing support on coordination work related to government interactions and maintaining relationships with local authorities and external parties. The role includes drafting correspondence, collecting information on government developments, and assisting in workshops and meetings.