Deadline for Applications November 19, 2026 Hardship Level H (no hardship) Family Type Family Residential location (if applicable) Grade GS7 Staff Member / Affiliate Type General Service Reason Regular > Regular Assignment Target Start Date 2027-01-01 Standard Job Description Senior Government Liaison Associate Organizational Setting and Work Relationships The Senior Government Liaison Associate 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 Associate 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. The incumbent may supervise some support staff. 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 - Assist the supervisor in the establishment of close working relations with officials in various ministries especially Ministry of Foreign Affairs. - Monitor evolving issues concerning asylum seekers, stateless persons and refugees within the Area of Responsibility (AoR). - Analyse news and political activities and their implication to the Operation. Report on 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. - Inform the supervisor and/or other senior managers (as applicable) on a continuing basis of relevant information on the outcome of discussions with government authorities on various issues. - Provide support to senior management in dealing with the challenges posed by the political context, developments with the Government and issues related to humanitarian and development processes. - Accompany the Representative/Deputy Representative/Head of Office and Headquarters visitors on missions and meetings. - Assist in preparation for different visits and missions to the Operation. - Draft correspondence, reports and assists in the drafting of briefing notes, background material, talking points, facts sheets as required. - Manage budget, when requested, including tracking expenditures. - Initiate upon request of the supervisor the contact with the relevant external parties on various issues. - Coordinate with different units in the office that information presented to government authorities is duly verified and endorsed by the supervisor. - 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 G7 - 4 years relevant experience with High School Diploma; or 2 years relevant work experience with Bachelor or equivalent or higher Field(s) of Education Not applicable. Certificates and/or Licenses Political/Social Science; Business Administration; or other relevant field; (Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential) 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 The full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation on 24 February 2022 triggered one of the fastest-growing displacement and humanitarian crises on record, forcing millions of people into internal displacement and across borders in search of safety. Since the onset of the crisis, more than 220,000 refugees have been granted temporary protection in Romania, according to data from the Government of Romania. Romania also had by November 2026, 1,732 asylum-seekers, 4,582 beneficiaries of international protection, as well as 254 stateless persons. UNHCR, together with other UN agencies and non-governmental organizations, has supported the Government of Romania’s response to the displacement crisis through inter-agency coordination of the Regional Refugee Response Plan, which is in place until the end of 2026, in line with the Refugee Coordination Model. It has also implemented wide programming in support of the national response in a range of areas. Due to funding constraints, these programmes have in 2026 been reduced to legal assistance, livelihoods and economic inclusion and evidence-based advocacy. UNHCR also undertakes capacity strengthening activities with authorities involved in the Romanian asylum system and advocates with authorities at the national and local levels on issues of relating to the protection and integration of forcibly displaced and stateless persons in Romania. UNHCR in Romania addresses the needs of refugees through its Country Office and the Romexpo Community Centre in Bucharest and a field presence at the Emergency Transit Centre (ETC) in Timisoara for refugees that are relocated from asylum countries on their way to resettlement in third countries, as well as through collaboration with a network of Refugee Led Organizations and Community Based Organizations. UNHCR remains committed to supporting refugees and stateless persons through continued engagement from its presence in Romania. Desired Candidate Profile (Essential and Desirable Attributes): The successful candidate must have experience in effectively engaging with State and Government institutions, local governments, NGOs and refugee organizations. S/he should have proven diplomatic, advocacy and interpersonal, and stakeholder management skills and be able to represent UNHCR at required level in discussions with external stakeholders at appropriate level. Fluency in Romanian and a solid grasp of the local institutional and civic landscape are essential. Languages: Fluency in English and Romanian, with strong drafting skills in both languages, is required. Knowledge of any other UN language is considered an asset. The recruitment process might include a written test and/or oral interview for this job opening. Recruitment as UNHCR staff member is subject to successful reference checks, and integrity clearances. Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level): Romanian , English , 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 Business Administration - Other, Political Science - Other, Social Sciences - Other Work Experience Competencies Accountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Negotiation & conflict resolution, Organizational awareness, Political awareness, Stakeholder management, Teamwork & collaboration UNHCR Salary Calculator https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales Compendium Additional Information Functional clearance This position doesn't require a functional clearance If you are a former UNHCR international staff member who held a fixed-term or indefinite appointment, you can apply to regular positions in the international professional category as candidate with UNHCR-experience (within 2 years following separation for males and 5 years for females). To apply to vacancies, please create a new account (“Sign In” on the top left corner >> Create account) or sign into your account, if you have already registered via the external career site. Once successfully registered/signed in, you can start filling in your data and apply for vacancies. If you are former UNHCR locally recruited staff member who held a fixed-term or indefinite appointment, you can apply to regular positions in your staff category as candidate with UNHCR-experience (within 2 years following separation for males and 5 years for females). To apply to vacancies, please create a new account (“Sign In” on the top left corner >> Create account) or sign into your account, if you have already registered via the external career site. Once successfully registered/signed in, you can start filling in your data and apply for vacancies. If you do not fall under any of the above categories, please use the External Career site for applying to vacancies. Technical notes: 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. If you were notified about unsuccessful application, please follow the steps described in the message. While you will not see the list of your employee-time applications in your external account, you will be duly notified if any action is required from your side and/or when the recruitment process is completed. In case you would like to update your name, address or phone number or you face any technical difficulties when applying, please write to [email protected]. 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 online recruitment platform. CVs and/or application requests sent via email will not be answered, reviewed nor considered. 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.