Deadline for Applications March 22, 2026 Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based) H (no hardship) Family Type (not applicable for home-based) Family Staff Member / Affiliate Type CONTR Local Entry and Mid-Level Support Target Start Date 2026-04-13 Terms of Reference 1. General Background of Project or Assignment, Operational Context: The UNHCR Representation in Japan carries out protection advocacy, external and donor relations/fundraising, partnerships with the private and public sectors to engage and leverage support for the forcibly displaced globally and domestically, through a whole-of-society approach. UNHCR Japan requires the support of probono volunteer contractor to reinforce our capacity in protection advocacy, external relations, partnerships, and administration. As we seek to broaden our impact and deepen engagement across society in promoting the wellbeing of forcibly displaced people in Japan and globally, probono support enables us to pursue initiatives and partnerships that strengthen our collective reach. It also helps us deepen cooperation with the Government of Japan, expand public engagement, and develop new partnerships beyond traditional stakeholders while maintaining effective and efficient processes. At the same time, volunteers gain the opportunity to experience the full spectrum of UNHCR Japans work, expand their networks, understand how the organization operates, and learn about Japans unique challenges and opportunities in refugee protection and global engagement. To strengthen these functions, UNHCR Japan seeks pro bono Operations Support Assistant (NIL/NIL Contract) who can contribute part time or full time, in one or more functional areas. Each selected candidate will support a specific section (Protection, External Relations/Fundraising/Partnerships, Private Sector Partnerships, or Administration) under the supervision of the relevant manager. 2. Purpose and Scope of Assignment: The Operations Assistant will provide flexible support to UNHCR Japan by contributing to a combination of translation, research, drafting, coordination, and administrative support. The TOR identifies (1) Common responsibilities across all assignments; and (2) Functional-specific responsibilities, depending on the unit where the individual is placed. Common Responsibilities (Applicable to All Candidates) Across all functional tracks, Operations Assistants may:

• Translate documents between English and Japanese, and conduct basic interpretation.
• Draft, edit, proofread, and format written materials.
• Conduct research (legal, policy, market, operational, depending on unit).
• Take meeting minutes and prepare summaries.
• Support event and meeting logistics.
• Handle administrative tasks such as filing, organizing documents, and maintaining trackers.
• Support internal coordination among teams as needed.
• Performing other related duties as assigned. (see further below section below on Responsibilities for Functional-Specific Responsibilities) 3. Required qualifications, language(s) and work experience: Degree:Required: High school degree Required/mandatory:
• Good knowledge of MS Office programs and Internet applications
• Interest in refugee issues (and an educational and/or career background in relevant areas an asset);
• Adhere to the UNHCR code of conduct including confidentiality rules regarding all activities and tasks undertaken;
• This is a local opportunity, and candidates must have the necessary legal status in the country to take up this position.Language: Required: Japanese, English (written/oral) PLEASE TAKE NOTE OF THE FOLLOWING: ***This is a LOCAL, UNPAID opportunity and candidates must have the necessary legal status in the country to take up this position. As such, we ask applicants who are not Japanese nationals to indicate their the status of residence in Japan. ***Remote work may be considered; however, this will depend on the responsibilities and requirements assigned. Full remote work is not acceptable; to this end, applicants must reside within commuting distance of the office in Tokyo. Standard Job Description Required Languages Japanese , English , Desired Languages , , Additional Qualifications Skills Document Organization, Event Logistics, Humanitarian Affairs, Internal Communications, International Exposure, Meeting Notes, Microsoft Office, Office Administration, Office Operations, Organizing, Problem Solving, Proofreading, Researching, Translations Education High school diploma (Required) Certifications Work Experience Other information This position doesn’t require a functional clearance Remote No Important notice: 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 UNHCR online recruitment platform. CVs and/or application requests sent via email will not be answered, reviewed nor considered. For external applicants: We would like to call your attention on the eligibility of International Professional (P) category: According to our Recruitment and Assignments Policy, P staff members will not normally serve in the country of their nationality, and the first regular appointment in the P category must be outside the staff member’s country of nationality. In practical terms this means that you are not eligible to apply for International Professional vacancies advertised in the country where you are national of. In case of technical difficulties when applying, external applicants (not current UNHCR workforce members) can write to recruitmentcase@unhcr.org. For former UNHCR Colleagues: Former UNHCR employees who are on mandatory break-in service or have separated from UNHCR after 1 October 2022 should create an account through this platform. 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. 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.