Senior External Relations Assistant

Deadline for Applications

June 2, 2026

Hardship Level

A (least hardship)

Family Type

Family

Residential location (if applicable)

Grade

GS5

Staff Member / Affiliate Type

General Service

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

Target Start Date

2026-06-01

Standard Job Description

Senior External Relations Assistant

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Senior External Relations Assistant normally functions under the direct supervision of External Relations Officer or another professional staff depending on staffing structure of the Office. The incumbent assists in the management of external relations activities of the Office. He/she plays a key role in organising the visits of foreign delegations, donors, press and media, providing regular briefings and drafting reports/materials for external partners. He/she may also receive advice and operational support from the External Relations/Public Information Units at the Country Office /HQ.

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 briefing notes, press releases, bulletins, reports, newsletters and prepare any other public information material, as required
- Facilitate and accompany visits of foreign delegations, partner NGOs, donors and the media to refugee camps
- Draft and translate routine correspondence and texts.
- Assist with developing and implementing UNHCR's social media strategy conceptualize and pitch stories for UNHCR's global website.
- Ensure that public information materials including fact sheets, information brochures, briefing materials from the Branch Office, etc. are available.
- Organize visibility events (e.g. World Refugee Day) and liaise with partners, refugees and local communities on implementation.
- May be required to assist in compilation of weekly, monthly, annual/quarterly thematic reports, situations reports etc.
- Review media daily and ensure the office is kept informed of local developments.
- Provide information on UNHCR's activities to external partners.
- Respond to non-complex media queries and incoming correspondence.

- 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
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
International Relations, Journalism Political Science
Communication Media
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Not specified

Desirable
Previous experience in UN/UNHCR.
Completion of UNHCR learning programmes or specific training relevant to functions of position.
Knowledge of another relevant UN language.
HQ and Field experience with UNHCR or with other humanitarian organizations

Functional Skills
TI-Interpretation
IT-Computer Literacy
CO-Drafting and Documentation
(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 Government of the Republic of Korea (RoK) is a longstanding and strategically significant partner for UNHCR, with its first contribution dating back to 1979. Having transitioned from an aid recipient to a major provider of Official Development Assistance (ODA), the RoK has demonstrated a strong commitment to global responsibility sharing. Over the past decade, the Korean Government has notably strengthened the strategic coherence of its development cooperation framework while steadily expanding the scale and scope of its humanitarian assistance. Its accession to UNHCR’s USD 20 Million Club in 2016 and its sustained membership since underscores the RoK’s growing leadership role in advancing international protection and supporting lifesaving humanitarian responses worldwide.

The Senior External Relations Assistant will work under the supervision of the Representative, to carry out the specific functions detailed below in addition to the duties outlined in the Job Description:

- Work collaboratively with colleagues across Country Office (CO) and Private Sector Partnerships (PSP) to secure timely information relevant to matters requiring senior management’s action and decisions on strategic partnerships
- Engage with the National Assembly on UNHCR advocacy in coordination between relevant teams, and support for meetings with Members of the National Assembly and senior political stakeholders.
- Support development and execution of partnership engagement strategies, and support the engagement with partners through coordination and follow-up
- Act as the focal point for UNHCR’s high-level missions and visits to the Republic of Korea, coordinating office-wide inputs and ensuring timely preparation and follow-up.
- Monitor and analyze political and operational developments and conduct targeted research to ensure the office is regularly informed of issues that may impact UNHCR’s work.
- Perform other related duties as required.

Key Competencies
- Demonstrated expertise in facilitating cross-functional coordination.
- Proven ability to develop and implement effective advocacy strategies in line with the organizational goals .
- Established track record in providing strategic and advocacy support that resulted in concrete policy changes.
- Experience collaborating with the National Assembly and government stakeholders in the Republic of Korea.
- Solid understanding of Republic of Korea’s ODA policies and landscape is desirable.
- Prior experience with the UN or within the humanitarian/development sector is an asset.
- Excellent written communication skills and proficiency in preparing briefing materials.
- Fluency in both Korean and English is required.


Additional Information:
Only short-listed candidates will be notified. The recruitment process might include a written test and/or oral interview for this job opening. No late applications will be accepted.

UNHCR does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, training or any other fees).

UNHCR does not sponsor work visa or work permit and applicant who is not Korean national should already have their status confirmed that they are able to secure a work visa at the time of the application.

Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):

Korean

,

English

,

Desired languages

,

,

Operational context

Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:

Nature of Position:

Living and Working Conditions:

 

Additional Qualifications

Skills

CO-Drafting and Documentation, IT-Computer Literacy, TI-Interpretation

Education

Certifications

Communication - Other, International Relations - Other, Journalism - Other, Media - Other, Political Science - Other

Work Experience

Competencies

Accountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Organizational awareness, Teamwork & collaboration

UNHCR Salary Calculator

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Compendium

Additional Information

Functional clearance

This position doesn't require a functional clearance