The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is recruiting talented and dedicated Protection Officers and Humanitarian Professionals Worldwide, Community Services Specialists, Public Affairs Officers, Health Experts, Legal Professionals, and other humanitarian staff to support its life-saving operations across the globe.
As the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR works in more than 130 countries, protecting refugees, asylum-seekers, internally displaced persons (IDPs), stateless people, and communities affected by conflict and persecution. If you are passionate about humanitarian action, international development, refugee protection, and human rights, this is an excellent opportunity to build a meaningful global career with one of the world’s leading humanitarian organizations.
About UNHCR Careers
UNHCR employs thousands of professionals working in emergency response, refugee protection, legal assistance, public health, education, logistics, communications, finance, administration, information management, and many other fields.
Staff members work in headquarters, regional offices, country offices, and emergency operations, delivering life-saving assistance while helping displaced people rebuild their lives.
The organization offers a wide range of international and national career opportunities through various contract types, providing professionals with the chance to make a lasting impact on vulnerable communities worldwide.
Available Career Opportunities
UNHCR regularly recruits professionals across multiple sectors, including:
- Protection Officers
- Humanitarian Affairs Officers
- Community Services Officers
- Legal Officers
- Programme Officers
- Project Management Specialists
- Public Information Officers
- Communications Officers
- Public Affairs Specialists
- Health Officers
- Mental Health Specialists
- Education Officers
- Livelihoods Officers
- Shelter Officers
- Supply Chain Specialists
- Logistics Officers
- Procurement Officers
- Human Resources Professionals
- Finance Officers
- Information Management Officers
- Data Analysts
- Registration Officers
- Security Professionals
- Administration Officers
- ICT Specialists
- Monitoring and Evaluation Experts
- External Relations Officers
- Partnership Officers
- Emergency Response Coordinators
- Field Officers
- Senior Humanitarian Advisors
New vacancies are published regularly across UNHCR operations worldwide.
Key Responsibilities
Depending on the role, successful candidates may:
- Protect refugees and displaced communities.
- Deliver humanitarian assistance during emergencies.
- Coordinate refugee protection activities.
- Conduct legal protection assessments.
- Support community-based protection initiatives.
- Develop humanitarian programmes and projects.
- Coordinate with governments and partner organizations.
- Monitor humanitarian operations.
- Manage refugee registration and documentation.
- Support public health and education programmes.
- Prepare technical reports and policy documents.
- Strengthen partnerships with humanitarian agencies.
- Contribute to emergency preparedness and response.
- Advocate for refugee rights and international protection.
Who UNHCR Is Looking For
UNHCR seeks professionals who:
- Are passionate about humanitarian work.
- Demonstrate integrity and professionalism.
- Thrive in multicultural environments.
- Are willing to work in hardship duty stations.
- Can adapt to rapidly changing emergency situations.
- Possess strong communication and teamwork skills.
- Are innovative problem-solvers.
- Are committed to protecting vulnerable populations.
- Can deliver results under pressure.
Eligibility Requirements
Requirements vary by position, but applicants are generally expected to have:
- An undergraduate degree or higher from a recognized institution for international professional positions.
- Secondary education for certain General Service or Field Service positions.
- Relevant professional experience related to the advertised role.
- Excellent English language proficiency.
- Knowledge of another UN language such as French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, or Chinese may be an advantage.
- Strong technical and analytical skills.
- Experience working in humanitarian, development, refugee, migration, legal, public health, or international relations sectors is highly desirable.
Areas of Expertise
UNHCR welcomes applications from professionals in fields including:
- Humanitarian Affairs
- Refugee Protection
- International Law
- Human Rights
- Public Health
- Medicine
- Nursing
- Social Work
- Psychology
- International Development
- Political Science
- Economics
- Project Management
- Communications
- Journalism
- Information Technology
- Data Science
- Supply Chain Management
- Logistics
- Finance
- Human Resources
- Administration
- Monitoring and Evaluation
Diversity and Inclusion
UNHCR is committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workforce. Applications are encouraged from qualified candidates regardless of nationality, gender, disability, race, religion, or cultural background.
The organization also provides reasonable accommodations during the recruitment process for candidates with disabilities and promotes equal employment opportunities across all operations.
Why Join UNHCR?
Working at UNHCR provides professionals with the opportunity to:
- Protect refugees and displaced people worldwide.
- Build an international humanitarian career.
- Gain experience in complex emergency operations.
- Collaborate with global humanitarian experts.
- Work in multicultural environments.
- Contribute to sustainable solutions for displaced communities.
- Support life-saving humanitarian programmes.
- Develop leadership and technical expertise within the United Nations system.
Recruitment Process
Most UNHCR vacancies are advertised through the official online recruitment platform.
The recruitment process generally includes:
- Online application.
- Application review and shortlisting.
- Written assessment (where applicable).
- Competency-based interview.
- Reference checks.
- Final selection and offer.
Only shortlisted candidates are contacted for further stages of the recruitment process.
Important Notice
UNHCR does not charge any fees at any stage of recruitment, including application submission, interviews, medical examinations, training, visa processing, or travel arrangements. Applicants should remain vigilant against fraudulent job offers and recruitment scams.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should regularly visit the official UNHCR careers portal to explore available vacancies, review eligibility requirements, and submit online applications. Since new opportunities are posted frequently, applicants are encouraged to monitor the recruitment platform and apply for positions that match their qualifications and experience.
About UNHCR
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is the UN agency mandated to protect refugees, asylum-seekers, internally displaced persons, and stateless people around the world. Operating in more than 130 countries, UNHCR provides emergency assistance, legal protection, shelter, healthcare, education, and long-term solutions for millions of people forced to flee conflict and persecution.
Organization: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Opportunity Type: International Careers and Humanitarian Jobs
Location: Worldwide
Application Status: Applications Open
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