UNOPS Senior External Relations Associate at UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency

Quito, , Ecuador -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

03 Oct, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

05 Jul, 26

Experience

2 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

External Relations, Advocacy, Journalism, Multimedia Storytelling, Project Management, Marketing, Partnership Development, Stakeholder Management, Political Awareness, International Protection, Asylum Procedures, Event Management, Technical Writing, Inter-agency Coordination, Policy Analysis, Reporting

Industry

International Affairs

Description

Deadline for Applications July 9, 2026 Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based) A (least hardship) Family Type (not applicable for home-based) Family Staff Member / Affiliate Type UNOPS LICA7 Target Start Date 2026-08-01 Terms of Reference TERMS OF REFERENCE (Individual Contractor Agreement) Title: UNOPS Senior External Relations Associate Project: ACNUR – Fortalecimiento del Proceso para la Determinación de la Condición de Refugiados en el Ecuador Duty station: Quito, Ecuador Section/Unit: Subsecretaria de Protección Internacional del Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores y Movilidad Humana SPIAI Contract/Level: Local Support, LICA 7 Duration: 01 August –31 December 2026 Supervisor: Subsecretario de Protección Internacional y Atención a Inmigrantes - MREMH/ Assistant Protection Officer - ACNUR 1. General Background UNHCR is the United Nations Refugee Agency. Since 2000, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has been operating in Ecuador, supporting the Government in protecting the country's refugee population. Ecuador hosts the largest refugee population in Latin America. According to statistics provided by the Directorate for International Protection, approximately 81,000 individuals have been recognized as refugees. The vast majority of asylum seekers are Venezuelan and Colombian nationals. Ecuador is a State Party to the 1951 Geneva Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees (since 1955) and to the 1967 Protocol relating to the 1951 Geneva Convention (since 1969). Ecuador is also a State Party to the principal international and regional human rights instruments recognizing the right to seek asylum. In addition, Ecuador acceded to the 1954 Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons (since 1970) and, in 2012, joined the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. UNHCR's operation in Ecuador began in 2000 as part of the organization's strategy to protect and assist victims of the Colombian conflict. The operation aims to support the Government of Ecuador in: (i) strengthening protection mechanisms; (ii) developing the national asylum system; and (iii) identifying durable solutions for refugees. The operation is coordinated at the national level through the Country Office in Quito. In addition, UNHCR maintains Field Offices in Guayaquil and Tulcán; Field Units in Esmeraldas, Lago Agrio, and Manta; and Field Presence in Ibarra and Cuenca. Within this context, UNHCR and the Directorate for International Protection of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility have developed a project to strengthen the Refugee Status Determination (RSD) process in Ecuador. The project aims to establish efficient procedures that enable the timely and appropriate resolution of individual cases, improve decision-making in accordance with due process, and further consolidate the national refugee status determination system. 2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment The Senior External Relations Associate will provide specialized technical support to the Undersecretariat of International Protection and Assistance to Immigrants- SPIAI to strengthen institutional coordination with international organizations, regional mechanisms and inter-agency coordination platforms on matters related to international protection, asylum, refugee protection, statelessness, mixed movements and migration, with particular attention to cooperation initiatives developed within the framework of the partnership between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility and UNHCR. The incumbent will support the Government of Ecuador in strengthening its engagement with international organizations, regional consultative processes and multilateral coordination mechanisms, contributing to policy coherence, effective inter-institutional coordination, information exchange and the identification of opportunities for technical cooperation and international support in the areas of international protection and migration. The incumbent will support the preparation of country positions, technical briefs, speaking points, reports and background documents for bilateral and multilateral meetings, while ensuring follow-up to international commitments and cooperation initiatives relevant to Ecuador's asylum system, international protection framework and migration policies. The position will also contribute to identifying international standards, comparative experiences and good practices that may strengthen the national asylum system and broader international protection framework. The incumbent will work under the day-to-day supervision of the Undersecretariat of International Protection and Assistance to Immigrants- SPIAI. In order to ensure alignment with the objectives of the UNHCR-supported project, the incumbent will maintain regular technical coordination with the designated UNHCR focal point, including periodic planning, progress review and reporting on activities implemented under the project framework. 3. Duties Under the day-to-day supervision of the Undersecretariat of International Protection and Assistance to Immigrants (SPIAI), and in close technical coordination with UNHCR's Protection Unit, the incumbent will perform the following duties: - Serve as a technical focal point for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Human Mobility in its engagement with international organizations, regional coordination mechanisms and inter-agency platforms on issues related to international protection, asylum, refugee protection, statelessness, and mixed movements. - Facilitate coordination between the Government of Ecuador and international organizations, regional consultative processes, inter-agency coordination mechanisms and other relevant stakeholders on issues related to international protection and mix movements. - Support the preparation of country positions, technical briefs, speaking points, background notes, reports and interventions for bilateral and multilateral meetings. - Monitor commitments arising from international and regional forums, ensuring appropriate follow-up and coordination with the relevant national institutions. - Prepare analytical reports on international standards, comparative experiences and good practices related to refugee protection, asylum procedures, statelessness, mixed movements and migration governance. - Identify opportunities for technical cooperation, capacity strengthening and policy dialogue with international organizations and development partners. - Contribute to the preparation of briefing materials for senior government authorities participating in regional and international meetings. - Support the organization and technical coordination of official missions, bilateral meetings, workshops and high-level visits involving international organizations, cooperation partners and government counterparts. - Coordinate the collection, consolidation and analysis of information requested by international organizations, regional mechanisms and cooperation partners. - Support the preparation and review of cooperation initiatives, work plans, concept notes and technical documents related to international protection and migration. - Promote information sharing and coordination among relevant governmental entities and international partners to strengthen the implementation of protection-related initiatives and avoid duplication of efforts. - Maintain updated records of international commitments, cooperation initiatives and follow-up actions related to Ecuador's participation in regional and international protection mechanisms. - Maintain regular technical coordination between SPIAI and UNHCR regarding project implementation, progress against agreed work plans, identification of technical priorities, and follow-up to activities implemented under the cooperation framework. - Perform other related duties as required. - 4. Qualifications and Experience a. Years of Experience - 4 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher - a. Field(s) of Education - Not applicable. b. Certificates and/or Licenses - Political or Social Sciences, International Relations, Journalism, Communication - c. Relevant Job Experience Essential - Not applicable. Desirable - Experience with event management. Demonstrated ability to work against tight deadlines. d. Functional Skills - MS-Advocacy; - CO-Journalism (incl. print, broadcast, photography, video ) - CO-Multimedia storytelling - ER-External Relations in UNHCR or other humanitarian agencies - EX-Experience in an international, decentralized and/or multinational environment - MG-Project Management - FR-Marketing - MG- Partnership Development e. Language Requirements - Knowledge of English is desirable 5. Competency Requirements a. Core Competencies - Accountability - Communication - Organizational Awareness - Teamwork & Collaboration - Commitment to Continuous Learning - Client & Result Orientation b. Managerial Competencies: - Managing Resources - Empowering and Building Trust c. Cross-Functional Competencies - Innovation and Creativity - Political Awareness - Stakeholder Management 5. Submission of applications A. English Desirable. Level intermediate. B. Foreign candidates, to be considered eligible for this position, must have a temporary or permanent residence in Ecuador that allows them to carry out work activities in the country. C. If recommended, the candidate must submit a current and updated RUC Unique Taxpayer Registry and a voluntary contribution certificate to the Ecuadorian Institute of Social Security IESS. Voluntary IESS securities will be covered by the staff member. The salary offered is in net terms. D. If you wish to be considered for this vacancy, please submit your application according to the following instructions: i. CANDIDATES WITH ACCESS TO THE WORKDAY: In order to apply, you must first create your profile in the WORKDAY system. ii. EXTERNAL CANIDATES: Candidates who do NOT have access to the WORKDAY system should submit their application through UNHCR's official site for applications: https://www.unhcr.org/careers.html WHEN CREATING A CANDIDATE PROFILE IN WORKDAY, PLEASE USE CAPSLOCKS FOR LAST NAME AND NO SPECIAL CHARACTERS (Ñ OR ACCENTS) CVs WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED BY EMAIL. ONLY THOSE APPLICATIONS SENT THROUGH THE SYSTEM WILL BE CONSIDERED. NOTE UNHCR is committed to diversity and welcomes applications from qualified candidates regardless of disability, gender identity, marital or civil partnership status, race, color or ethnic and national origins, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, training or any other fees). Standard Job Description Required Languages , , Desired Languages , , Additional Qualifications Skills Education Certifications Work Experience Other information This position doesn't require a functional clearance Remote No 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

Provide technical support to the Undersecretariat of International Protection to strengthen coordination with international organizations and regional mechanisms regarding asylum and refugee protection. Prepare technical briefs, country positions, and reports while monitoring international commitments and identifying cooperation opportunities.