A (least hardship) Family UNOPS LICA4 2025-01-01 September 17, 2024 UNHCR´s National Office at Uruguay is located in Montevideo, and is part of the Multi-country Office in Argentina (MCO ARG) that covers Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay, mainly countries of destination for refugees and migrants with need for immediate humanitarian assistance, protection intervention and, at the later stage, for various types of durable solutions.

In Uruguay, UNHCR supports asylum and regularization, preventing refoulement. Collaborating with local counterparts, the programming emphasizes inclusion, health, education, and labor market integration. Long-term goals involve creating complementary pathways through labor mobility and sustainable resettlement.

At the end of 2023, the Refugee Commission (CORE) approved a Diagnosis with conclusions and recommendations regarding the challenges faced by the asylum system in Uruguay. To address these challenges, CORE also approved guidelines for a Strengthening Project for CORE and its Permanent Secretariat (2024 - 2025). In December 2023, during the Global Refugee Forum (GRF), Uruguay committed to: “Strengthen its asylum/refugee system to adapt to large-scale mixed movements as soon as possible. This process will involve: 1) working on the reform of normative and administrative frameworks to ensure enhanced synergy between the refugee status determination system and migration regulations; 2) strengthening the administrative framework for refugee protection to achieve: a) preservation of data quality and system integrity through digital registration with biometric variables and the use of digital tools for managing individual cases; b) ensuring interoperability of various state databases for refugee and asylum seeker registration and documentation; c) developing and reinforcing differentiated procedures for refugee status determination.” Uruguay committed to optimizing existing resources for the asylum/refugee system and relying on technical and financial contributions from UNHCR and interested donor countries. Additionally, during the GRF, Uruguay committed to developing pilot projects for the socio-economic, cultural, and legal inclusion of refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants. These projects aim to ensure early stabilization and local integration through inclusion, support for host communities, and the involvement of supportive cities and development actors. Furthermore, in May 2024, CORE approved a program for “Prima Facie Recognition of Refugee Status” as part of a comprehensive strategy to begin implementing measures to reduce the backlog of existing asylum applications. Similarly, a decree was approved for a “Residence by Roots Program,” based on criteria related to labor, family, and educational ties, targeting asylum seekers who entered the country at the border and have been continuously present for more than six (6) months until the decree’s effective date. The program is based on the consensus of the “Declaration on Migration and Protection from Los Angeles” (2022), which aims to open regular pathways for residence, including family reunification and regularization programs, to promote safer and more orderly migration. The National Migration Directorate (DNM) must take necessary measures to implement this program within 90 days of the decree’s publication. Since the beneficiaries are individuals with pending asylum (refugee) applications, the program will necessarily require strengthening both the capacities of CORE’s Permanent Secretariat and the DNM. Thus, the residence by roots program and the asylum capacity program are intended to be implemented together. As a result of these advancements, Uruguayan authorities are currently progressing with the implementation of the following initiatives to strengthen the asylum and migration system: 1) Residence by roots programme; 2) Prima Facie Recognition of Refugee Status Program; 3) Asylum Capacity Enhancement Program; 4) Inclusion Initiatives.

The Administrative Assistant will report to the Head of National Office with frequent contacts and liaison with the MCO Argentina Administrative Unit and Supply Unit.
The incumbent will perform routine administrative and finance tasks, general services activities, process travel requests as well as coordinate logistics and supply as requested, among other daily routine activities.
The ideal candidate should have excellent interpersonal skills, be client-oriented and have proven administrative experience. The ability to work in Spanish and English is essential.
Experience in the logistics, supply and finance areas is an asset, as well as experience working at government and/or international organizations.
The successful candidate must be willing and able to work in dynamic, multicultural and fast-evolving environments, promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion.

• 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
G4 - 1 year relevant experience with High School Diploma; or Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Field(s) of Education
Not applicable.

Certificates and/or Licenses
Business Administration, Finance, Office Management,
Human Resources or other related field
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Not specified

Desirable
Not specified

Functional Skills

• IT-Computer Literacy

UN-UN/UNHCR Administrative Rules, Regulations and Procedures
IT-Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
(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. English Spanish IT-Computer Literacy, IT-Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), UN-UN/UNHCR Administrative Rules, Regulations and Procedures Business Administration - Other, Finance - Other, HCR Learning Program - UNHCR, Human Resources - Other, Office Management - Other This position doesn't require a functional clearance No