UNOPS Assistant Field Officer- Field Presence Machala, Ecuador

Deadline for Applications

July 8, 2026

Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based)

A (least hardship)

Family Type (not applicable for home-based)

Family

Staff Member / Affiliate Type

UNOPS LICA8

Target Start Date

2026-08-01

Terms of Reference

Title: UNOPS Assistant Field Officer

Project: “Strengthen social cohesion, prevent violence, and reduce the

risks of recruitment of children, adolescents, and youth through

a combined community–institutional–binational strategy.”

Duty station: Machala, Ecuador

Section/Unit: UNHCR Protection Unit

Contract/Level:Local Support, LICA 8

Duration: From 03 August – 31 December 2026

Supervisor: Maria Gabriela Naranjo – Head of Field Office, Guayaquil

1. General Background

Ecuador is both a destination and transit country for persons in need of international protection. Over the past two decades, Ecuador has hosted more than 81,000 recognized refugees, the majority of whom are Colombians, and has become a major destination and transit country for Venezuelan refugees and migrants. Ecuador currently hosts the fifth-largest Venezuelan population globally, with more than 440,000 individuals.

UNHCR in Ecuador aims to deliver protection, assistance, and solutions to diverse displaced populations, including asylum-seekers and refugees, in close collaboration with national authorities, non-governmental organizations, and local communities. The operation is coordinated through the Country Office in Quito and supported by Field Offices in Guayaquil and Tulcan, as well as Field Units in Esmeraldas, Manta, and Lago Agrio.

Since 2023, increasing insecurity across Ecuador has had significant social and economic impacts on refugees, migrants, and host communities alike, undermining protection and inclusion efforts. The expansion of organized criminal groups, rising homicide rates, and increasing extortion have restricted access to services and undermined social cohesion, particularly in border areas and communities facing heightened vulnerabilities. In this context, children and women are at particular risk of violence and recruitment.

In response to these challenges, UNHCR and UNICEF are implementing the binational project “Strengthen Social Cohesion, Prevent Violence, and Reduce the Risks of Recruitment of Children, Adolescents, and Youth through a Combined Community–Institutional–Binational Strategy”, funded by the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (PBF). The project is implemented in coordination with government institutions, civil society organizations, and community actors along the border between Ecuador and Peru, with a focus on strengthening local protection systems, community-based prevention mechanisms, and institutional coordination in border areas affected by violence, forced displacement, and risks associated with organized crime.

In Ecuador, the project includes activities related to community protection, youth engagement, strengthening local protection mechanisms, institutional coordination, risk analysis, and engagement with local authorities, communities, implementing partners, and humanitarian actors in the province of El Oro, particularly in Machala and Huaquillas.

The Assistant Field Officer, based in Machala, will serve as binational project coordinator, and will support the day-to-day coordination, implementation, monitoring, and follow-up of project activities in Ecuador, in close collaboration with UNHCR, UNICEF, implementing partners, local authorities, community actors, and other relevant stakeholders in Ecuador and Peru. The incumbent will contribute to interagency/inter-institutional coordination efforts (including the project’s steering committee and national technical teams), field-level and binational monitoring of activities implemented by partners, organization of coordination spaces, liaison with authorities and communities, and monitoring of project progress/targets and operational risks.

The Assistant Field Officer will report directly to the Head of Field Office Guayaquil and will maintain close coordination with relevant units within UNHCR Ecuador, UNICEF, implementing partners, local authorities, and binational coordination platforms. The incumbent is expected to maintain regular interaction with government institutions, municipal authorities, protection actors, community organizations, implementing partners, and United Nations agencies, contributing to project planning, monitoring, partner coordination, information management, and reporting processes.

Work activities will be based in Machala, with frequent travel within El Oro Province and other project locations as required, including regular visits to government institutions, implementing partners, and communities participating in the project. Therefore, a minimum of one year of relevant experience in contexts affected by violence, child recruitment is required, including engagement in peacebuilding and social cohesion initiatives.

The attached Vacancy Announcement is issued to hire an Assistant Field Officer for the PBF Project based in Machala, Ecuador.

5. Submission of applications

A. English Mandatory. Level intermediate. (B2)

B. Shortlisted candidates may sit a technical test.

C. 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.

D. If selected the candidate must submit a current and updated RUC Unique Taxpayer Registry. The salary offered is in net terms.

E. If you wish to be considered for this vacancy, please submit your application according to the following instructions:

- CANDIDATES WITH ACCESS TO THE WORKDAY: In order to apply, you must first create your profile in the WORKDAY system.

- EXTERNAL CANDIDATES:

Candidates who do NOT have access to the WORKDAY system must submit their application through UNHCR's official site for applications: https://www.unhcr.org/careers.html

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).

If you are a person with a disability and need additional assistance during the application and/or recruitment process, please contact us by email: ecuquhr@unhcr.org

CVs WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED BY EMAIL. ONLY THOSE APPLICATIONS SENT BY THE SYSTEM WILL BE CONSIDERED.

Standard Job Description

Assistant Field Officer
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships
The Assistant Field Officer is normally supervised by the Senior Field Coordinator or Field Officer or Head of Sub-Office/Field Office depending on the structure of the Office. S/he may receive indirect guidance from other sections and units relevant to the country/regional programme(s). UNHCR Manual, programme and protection objectives, Operations Plans, UN and UNHCR financial/budgetary rules and regulations will guide the work of the incumbent.
The incumbent does not normally have any direct supervisory role. S/he has daily contacts with staff in the various field offices and with the functional units at the Country/Regional Office. S/he also has close liaison with a range of local civilian and military authorities and counterparts in NGOs and UN agencies to discuss matters of common interest.
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
- Assess the needs of persons of concern in the AoR and formulate project submissions in collaboration with district authorities and implementing partners.
- Promote and monitor the implementation of assistance projects.
- Report regularly on rate of flow of new arrivals and estimate expected influx based on interviews with persons of concern.
- In co-ordination with implementing partners, assist with the reception, registration and provision of assistance to persons of concern to UNHCR.
- Keep track of cases of detention; register applicants for voluntary repatriation and family reunion.
- Assist in the preparation of monthly sectoral reports and submit material for preparation of periodic project monitoring reports and year-end reports.
- Submit recommendation for protection interventions to the designated officer.
- Negotiate with local authority counterparts, partners and populations of concern.

- 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 P1/NOA - 1 year relevant experience with Undergraduate degree; or no experience with Graduate degree; or no experience with Doctorate degree
Field(s) of Education
Law

Political Sciences

or other relevant field.
Certificates and/or Licenses
UNHCR Operations Management Learning Programme
(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)
Relevant Job Experience
Essential
Not specified
Desirable
Field experience.
Knowledge of refugee law.
Good knowledge of UNHCR's programmes.
Functional Skills
PG-UNHCR's Programmes
PG-Stakeholder management and coordination with Implementing Partners (Gov/NGO/Corporate)
PG-Resource planning
IT-Computer Literacy
BU-PeopleSoft EPM/Budget
FI-ERP Financial Management (SAP, Oracle, PeopleSoft, Workday and other)
PG-Programme Management (programme cycles and reporting standards)
PG-Results-Based Management
(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.

Required Languages

English

,

,

Desired Languages

,

,

Additional Qualifications

Skills

BU-PeopleSoft EPM/Budget, FI-ERP Financial Management (SAP, Oracle, PeopleSoft, Workday and other), IT-Computer Literacy, PG-Programme Management (programme cycles and reporting standards), PG-Resource planning, PG-Results-Based Management, PG-Stakeholder management and coordination with Implementing Partners (Gov/NGO/Corporate), PG-UNHCR's Programmes

Education

Bachelor of Arts: Law, Bachelor of Arts: Political Science

Certifications

Programme Management (PM) 1 - UNHCR

Work Experience

Other information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance

Remote

No