The posting
Deadline for Applications
November 18, 2026
Hardship Level
H (no hardship)
Family Type
Family
Residential location (if applicable)
Grade
NOA
Staff Member / Affiliate Type
National Professional Officer
Reason
Regular > Regular Assignment
Target Start Date
2026-11-02
Standard Job Description
Assistant External Relations Officer
Organizational Setting and Work Relationships The incumbent is closely supervised on issues concerning external relations and public information by the External Relations Officer or the Representative who gives regular guidance and advice to the incumbent. Advice and operational support may also be received from other senior staff and support units in a country office/ operation. External contacts are generally with a broad range of officials from national and international institutions, media or general public on matters of importance to the Organization.
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 management in dealing with the challenges posed by the political context, the UN and humanitarian reform, and institutional developments in the area of forced displacement and humanitarian operations. - Assist in planning and organizing communications strategy that generates support for UNHCR s operations from external partners (e.g. the general public, governments, partners, the media, academia and forcibly displaced and stateless persons). - Assist in the dialogue with donors and embassies and provide accurate information by organizing regular briefings, bilateral meetings and missions. - Assist the management in disseminating information on UNHCR's global funding situation and mobilize additional funds to implement special projects aimed at enhancing the quality of protection for forcibly displaced and stateless persons. - Participate when requested in the inter-agency cooperation and communication strategies, initiatives and tools. - Assist in the management of information flows within the country operations by identifying priority matters, securing, analyzing and disseminating documentation and information to support country operations and corporate communication processes and priorities. - Assist in the drafting of situation reports, briefing notes, background material, talking points, fact sheets, press releases and articles. - Assist in planning and organizing advertisements, exhibitions, training seminars, conferences, meetings, social events and other activities to promote a better understanding of UNHCR's activities and accomplishments by the general public and/or organized groups. - Support the management of media relations by, inter alia, drafting responses to direct queries, draft press releases and organizing regular briefings and visits to country operations. - Organize press briefings for external parties as required. - Organize the distribution of UNHCR publications and the provision of materials to various institutions and individuals. - Produce reports for donor agencies as required.
- 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 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 Political Sciences Social Sciences, International Relations Journalism Communication or other relevant field.
Certificates and/or Licenses Not specified
Relevant Job Experience Essential Excellent knowledge of local institution, politics and culture.
Desirable Completion of UNHCR learning programmes or specific training relevant to functions of the position.
Functional Skills IT-Computer Literacy IT-Web Content Management 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
Title: Assistant External Relations Officer - Reporting Location: Budapest, Hungary Duration: one year, with possibility for extension Contract Type: Fixed-Term Appointment Grade: NO-A Start date: as soon as possible
Desired Candidate Profile:
Essential Attributes
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, with exceptional drafting, editing and quality assurance abilities, including strong attention to detail.
• Demonstrated experience in coordinating, drafting and reviewing high-quality narrative reports and project documentation for institutional donors, including EU-funded programmes.
• Proven ability to analyse, consolidate and present complex operational, protection and programme information from multiple sources into clear, accurate and audience-appropriate reporting products.
• Strong project management and coordination skills, with experience working across functional teams and multiple stakeholders to ensure timely delivery of reporting obligations and project milestones.
• Sound understanding of results-based management, project monitoring and donor compliance requirements, with the ability to ensure consistency between narrative, financial and operational reporting.
Desirable Attributes
• Experience working with UNHCR, another UN entity, or an international organization managing donor-funded humanitarian or development programmes.
• Familiarity with refugee protection, asylum systems and mixed movements contexts in Europe or comparable operational settings.
• Demonstrated knowledge of EU funding instruments, grant management processes and donor regulations.
• Knowledge of Multi-Partner Trust Funds instruments and donor regulations.
• Demonstrated knowledge of UNHCR internal programmes, policies, procedures and corporate systems, with the ability to effectively apply them in project management, reporting and donor-funded programme implementation.
• Experience supporting regional or multi-country programmes involving coordination across geographically dispersed teams.
• Strong analytical skills, including experience using information management and reporting tools to monitor project implementation, identify risks and support evidence-based decision-making.
Language Requirements:
• Knowledge of English (B2) as the UN working language of the duty station is required.
Remuneration:
In case of appointment, a competitive compensation and benefits package is offered.
NO-A salary range: NET HUF 1,207,395 - NET HUF 1,460,387
Benefits:
Annual leave: UNHCR staff members holding a Fixed-Term Appointment will accrue annual leave at the rate of 2.5 working days for each full calendar months of service (i.e. 30 working days per year).
Pension system:
Staff members holding a Fixed-Term Appointment will become participants in the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund (UNJSPF).
Health insurance plan:
Locally recruited staff members in Hungary will be enrolled in the Medical Insurance Plan (MIP). The coverage is also optionally available for eligible family members.
Eligibility: This position is advertised to internal applicants and UNHCR experience applicants.
Internal Candidates: current National Professional Officer staff members holding an indefinite or fixed-term appointment who, at the date of the deadline for application, are serving in the country of the vacancy at the grade of the position or one grade below or above, as well as any candidates serving at higher grades who fulfil the criteria as per the job advertisement.
Candidates with UNHCR experience: - Staff members holding an indefinite or fixed-term appointment who apply for a position in a different category from their current appointment; - Locally recruited staff members who apply: • for a local position two grades above their highest grade held, or • for a local position at a duty station outside their current country of assignment; - Junior Professional Officers (JPOs); and other international professionals similarly funded by member states; - Temporary Appointment holders, provided they have completed at least one year of service; - Members of the affiliate workforce, provided they have completed at least one year of service; - Personnel loaned or seconded from another United Nations organization, international organization, or government entity; - Former UNHCR local and international staff members who held an indefinite or fixed-term appointment, provided they apply within: • two years of separation (male candidates), or • five years of separation (female candidates).
Applicants must be nationals of Hungary or other EU/Schengen country OR in the possession of a valid Hungarian residency and work permit. Temporary and/or sponsored visas are not accepted.
Applications: All applications must be submitted online in Workday. Email applications will not be accepted. Incomplete and late applications will not be accepted. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Shortlisted candidates might be required to sit for a written test and/or oral interview.
The evaluation of applicants will be conducted based on the information submitted during the application. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application.
UNHCR is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, sexual orientation, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. UNHCR seeks to ensure that male and female employees are given equal career opportunities. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality.
UNHCR has a zero-tolerance policy against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA). SEA is unacceptable behavior and prohibited conduct for UNHCR personnel. It constitutes acts of serious misconduct and is therefore grounds for disciplinary measures, including dismissal.
Any concerns or suspicions about a possible case of SEA should be reported immediately to the Inspector General’s Office (IGO) at [email protected] or through the online complain form at https://www.unhcr.org/php/complaints.php or by confidential fax: +41 22 739 73 80.
Required languages (expected Overall ability is at least B2 level):
English
,
,
Desired languages
,
,
Operational context
Occupational Safety and Health Considerations:
To view occupational safety and health considerations for this duty station, please visit this link: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel
Nature of Position:
The UNHCR Representation for Central and South-East Europe (RCSEE) covers nine operations: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Hungary, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Slovenia and Kosovo (under UNSCR 1244 (1999)). As of 1 January 2026, this expanded configuration reflects UNHCR’s broader realignment aimed at strengthening regional coherence, operational efficiency, and strategic engagement across Central and South-East Europe.
Across the region, UNHCR works in complex and diverse protection environments, supporting refugees, including large numbers of people displaced from Ukraine who benefit from Temporary Protection, alongside asylum-seekers and refugees from other countries of origin. UNHCR’s engagement spans a wide range of activities, including protection monitoring, access to territory and asylum procedures, information provision, advocacy, and coordination with national authorities, EU institutions, UN agencies, civil society, and other partners. Efforts also focus on socio-economic inclusion, capacity-building, system strengthening, and ensuring that asylum space is preserved and protection standards are upheld regardless of nationality.
The reconfigured Representation plays a central role in regional coordination, strategic planning, resource mobilization, and external engagement. Effective reporting and information management are critical to ensuring that operational developments, protection trends, achievements, challenges, and funding requirements are accurately documented and communicated to internal and external stakeholders. Given the varied political, legal, and operational contexts across the nine countries, the production of timely, high-quality reporting products is essential to support evidence-based decision-making, donor relations, advocacy efforts, and accountability towards affected populations and partners.
Within this context, the Assistant External Relations Officer - Reporting leads proposal drafting, monitoring, and reporting of funding of EU-funded and other earmarked projects, in line with UNHCR and donor-specific regulatory frameworks, with a particular emphasis on EU-funded programmes. The incumbent contributes to ensuring that reporting, narrative deliverables, and information products comply with donor requirements, as well as UNHCR’s internal policies and procedures.
The position plays a key role in coordinating all functions involved in fundraising and project implementation. Working in close coordination with country offices and functional units across programme, protection, and external relations, the Assistant External Relations Officer - Reporting supports the collection, consolidation, and analysis of project and operational data to feed into key project management tools, including results frameworks, workplans, interim and final reports, and budget revisions. The incumbent contributes to the preparation of high-quality narrative reporting for donors and headquarters, ensuring alignment between financial, operational, and results-based information, and supporting compliance with donor reporting timelines and contractual obligations.
Through a strong project management and compliance-oriented approach, the Assistant External Relations Officer - Reporting contributes to strengthening accountability, evidence-based decision-making, and donor confidence, ensuring that UNHCR’s interventions across the RCSEE region are effectively documented, monitored, and communicated in line with applicable EU rules and regulations and UNHCR standards.
Living and Working Conditions:
Hungary is located in a temperate climate zone having 4 seasons (spring, summer, autumn and winter). Winters are becoming milder with average temperatures around -5 centigrade on average during the daytime. Summers are hot, occasionally reaching around 35 centigrade, especially in July and August.
Accommodation is easy to find; short-, mid- and long-term. The city offers a wide range of hotels, Airbnb, long-term rents, etc. Accommodation can be fixed using the services of property agencies, but online solutions are also numerous.
- Regular medical facilities are available;
- There is a number of international schools in Budapest;
- General sanitary and hygiene conditions are adequate;
- Good local banking facilities are available (use of credit cards, ATMs);
- Communication services (domestic and international) are available on a regular basis;
- Availability of food, furnishings and other necessities is adequate (various grocery stores and markets with fresh food products, shopping centres, etc);
- Public transportation is available;
- Public water supply, electricity and sewerage system are in place;
- Various leisure, recreational and sports facilities are available;
No specific security conditions pertain to Hungary. Budapest is a safe metropolitan city, however as in any other city caution shall be exercised when using public transport to avoid pickpocketing.
Additional Qualifications
Skills
CO-Drafting and Documentation, IT-Computer Literacy, IT-Web Content Management
Education
Bachelor of Arts: Communication, Bachelor of Arts: International Relations, Bachelor of Arts: Journalism, Bachelor of Arts: Political Science, Bachelor of Arts: Social Science
Certifications
Work Experience
Competencies
Accountability, Analytical thinking, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Empowering & building trust, Innovation & creativity, Organizational awareness, Political 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
