External Relations Intern at United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) – Bulgaria
Recruiter: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
About United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is a global organization mandated to protect refugees, forcibly displaced communities, and stateless people, and to assist in their voluntary repatriation, local integration, or resettlement. Founded in 1950, UNHCR operates in over 130 countries, working to ensure that everybody has the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge.
Job Summary
This position offers an opportunity to contribute to administrative management within United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)’s important work in international cooperation and sustainable development. Working in Bulgaria, you will collaborate with international colleagues and partners to address global challenges and promote sustainable development. This role provides an excellent opportunity for professional growth while making a meaningful contribution to international cooperation and global peace and security.
Full Job Description
Deadline for Applications March 15, 2026 Hardship Level (not applicable for home-based) H (no hardship) Family Type (not applicable for home-based) Family Staff Member / Affiliate Type Internship Target Start Date 2026-04-10 Terms of Reference The ideal candidate is proactive and can independently perform tasks under supervision and final clearance of the outcomes of his/her work. The candidate may have previous experience in liaising with institutions, conducting formal correspondence, communication with international and foreign diplomatic missions, and civil society representatives. The ideal must have proficient level of English and Bulgarian language and be able to use digital tools such as MS Office, Canva, social media channels such as Facebook and LinkedIn for business purposes. She/he must also be able to work in team environment, and navigate smoothly internal and external communication. Duties and responsibilities
- Support the drafting, design, dissemination and submission of reports, newsletters and prepare any other public information material, as required.
- Facilitate and accompany visits and interactions with foreign delegations, diplomatic missions in Bulgaria, partner NGOs, donors and the media to UNHCRs and partner locations community centers, reception centers.
- Assist in the drafting and translation of routine correspondence and texts.
- Disseminating finalized and cleared official correspondence to the addressees.
- Ensure that public information materials including fact sheets, information brochures, briefing materials are available.
- Support the organization of events (e.g. World Refugee Day) and liaise with partners, refugees and local communities on implementation.
- Assist in compilation of weekly, monthly, annual/quarterly thematic reports, situations reports etc.
- Perform other related duties as required. Minimum qualifications required In order to be considered for an internship, candidates must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Be either a recent graduate (having completed their studies within two years of applying) or a current student in a graduate/undergraduate school programme from a university or higher education facility accredited by IAU/UNESCO ; and
- Have completed at least two years of undergraduate studies in a field relevant or of interest to the work of UNHCR .
- not have exhausted the maximum cumulative internship period with UNHCR, including any prior internships (8 months for full-time and 12 months for part-time) Desirable qualifications and skills
- Required Language is English at C1 level
- MS Office
- Canva
- Social media Facebook and LinkedIn Standard Job Description Required Languages Bulgarian , English , Desired Languages , , Additional Qualifications Skills Education Certifications Work Experience Other information This position doesn’t require a functional clearance Remote No 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 recruitmentcase@unhcr.org. 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.
Key Details
- Job Title: External Relations Intern
- Grade: INTERNSHIP
- Location: Sofia, Bulgaria
- Department: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
- Contract Type: Internship
- Salary Range:$70,000 – $120,000 USD annually
Qualifications
- Not specified in the official posting
Skills
- Not specified in the official posting
Benefits
- Competitive compensation package
- Professional development opportunities
- Comprehensive health and wellness benefits
- Inclusive and collaborative work environment
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted through the official UN careers portal. Female candidates and candidates from underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.
