Representative in Washington, D.C.

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Deadline for Applications July 7, 2026 Hardship Level H (no hardship) Family Type Family Residential location (if applicable) Grade DI2 Staff Member / Affiliate Type Professional Reason Regular > Regular Assignment Target Start Date 2026-07-01 Standard Job Description Representative in Washington, D.C. Organizational Setting and Work Relationships As the High Commissioner's senior representative in the country, the Representative provides strategic vision, managerial leadership and oversight to ensure UNHCR's effective performance in the country of her/his assignment. As Director of the DC office, the Representative will lead efforts to develop and sustain a robust network of support across the United States, engaging stakeholders from government, civil society, philanthropy, and the private sector to advance UNHCR's mission. The Representative is responsible and accountable for translating the High Commissioner's organizational objectives and policies into an effective advocacy, visibility and programmatic campaign to generate broad political and financial support from across the United States, and among multiple private and public sector stakeholders. Through a continuous process of situational and political analysis, and concerted public outreach the Representative and team identify strategic objectives, opportunities, and challenges and develop coherent, consistent and effective responses in the face of a changing and often challenging political climate. The Representative will be serving as a member of the senior leadership team of the High Commissioner, contributing to organizational global strategy, decision-making, and the advancement of UNHCR's priorities. He/she is responsible for ensuring the adequate direction, technical support and guidance to the office to enable it to fulfil its accountabilities, including those outlined in the Terms of Reference of UNHCR offices. The Representative works to ensure that UNHCR is widely perceived as an effective and trusted partner. S/he is responsible for creating effective networks, relationships, partnerships, and synergies with governments, NGOs, relevant regional political and other fora, civil society, persons of concern and all other key strategic partners and actors. He/she lends visibility to important strategic issues, promotes concerted action and the commitment of sufficient resources and expertise to address matters of concern to UNHCR. The Representative will drive advocacy and fundraising initiatives, leveraging strategic partnerships and outreach to generate political and financial backing for refugee protection and humanitarian action. The Representative is expected to maintain and deepen relationships across the relevant US ecosystem, including the Executive Branch, Congress, state and local authorities, civil society, NGOs, faith-based actors, think tanks, private philanthropy, the private sector, media and other stakeholders able to influence support for refugee protection and humanitarian action. The incumbent must articulate UNHCR's value proposition in terms that resonate with different audiences. In a complex and demanding political and operational environment, marked by significant structural changes to US government entities, and dramatic reductions in US foreign assistance, the Representative strives to build a dynamic, integrated, and sufficiently empowered team that can greatly expand UNHCR's profile, reach, and influence in the United States, including impacts on regional issues. This requires building and sustaining both traditional and non-traditional coalitions that can help generate support for the High Commissioner's priorities. S/he devolves appropriate authorities, facilitates the sharing of expertise and best practice and creates a climate of collaboration, which aims to empower and motivate colleagues to approach challenges with insight and innovation and to work toward identifying ways to engage and build support among sceptical audiences. The Representative leads an integrated team able to combine political analysis, strategic communications, donor engagement, partnership development and evidence-based advocacy, while ensuring timely advice to Country Operations and relevant Headquarters entities on political, funding and reputational developments. The comports and actions of the Representative must at all times reflect the core values and principles embodied in UNHCR's mandate. A failure on the part of the Representative to adhere to these standards would have negative implications for UNHCR's credibility, operations and, ultimately, the protection and well-being of persons of concern to the Office. UNHCR is well integrated into the UN Resident Coordinator System and ensures effective coordination with relevant UN entities and inter-agency partners in the United States, while preserving UNHCR's distinct mandate, protection leadership and institutional positioning. All UNHCR staff members are accountable t

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