Photo Assistant bei UNHCR

September 7, 2025

H (no hardship)

FamilyFamily

GS4

General Service

Reason

Regular > Regular Assignment

2025-10-01

Photo Assistant

Organizational Setting and Work Relationships

UNHCR’s Global Communications Service (GCS) leads the narrative on forced displacement, aiming to generate empathy and mobilize action. To advance these strategic objectives, the GCS Photo Unit—based in Madrid—manages and distributes photographic content through UNHCR’s Refugees Media database for both internal and external users.

Under the supervision of the Senior Editor - English and Photo Unit colleagues, the Photo Assistant is responsible for processing photo uploads to Refugees Media, liaising with photographers and colleagues globally to verify image quality and usage, and ensuring that consent documentation and metadata are complete. S/he also supports image research, fulfils photo requests, writes and edits captions and metadata, and assists with administrative tasks related to hiring freelance photographers and other contributors, along with other duties as required.

The Photo Assistant is expected to work independently in processing photo uploads and requests, proactively contacting photographers and users to obtain and verify necessary information.

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

• Respond to internal and external photo usage requests via Refugees Media, assessing image suitability against intended use and UNHCR’s ethical guidelines, and provide feedback, referrals, or further guidance for rejected requests.

• Prioritize and process photo uploads to Refugees Media, coordinating with photographers and colleagues to ensure images meet ethical standards and include required consent, usage details, and complete metadata.

• Research and select images from Refugees Media for use across UNHCR and external communications, considering audience, theme, media format, and other contextual factors.

• Verify and edit captions and metadata for uploaded images in Refugees Media, prioritizing critical content, and prepare captions in advance for major events and key missions covered by photographers.

• Facilitate administrative processes related to hiring and paying freelance photographers and writers, including budget monitoring, drafting terms of reference, and reconciling contracts with invoices, in close coordination with the GCS front office and UNHCR HR/admin teams.

• Support the identification and management of risks and seek to seize opportunities impacting objectives in the area of responsibility. Ensure decision-making is 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 G4 - 1 year relevant experience with High School Diploma; or Bachelor or equivalent or higher

Field(s) of Education

Not applicable

Certificates and/or Licenses

Business Administration                   Media;                     Journalism; Social Science;      

or other relevant field.

(Certificates and Licenses marked with an asterisk* are essential)

Relevant Job Experience

Essential

Experience managing digital photo content, including working with photo libraries, handling metadata and consent, applying ethical standards, and collaborating with photographers and communications teams. Experience in administrative support.

Desirable

Experience managing freelance contributors, such as photographers or writers, including drafting terms of reference and reconciling invoices. Professional experience in photography.

Functional Skills

IT-Computer Literacy

CO-Drafting and Documentation

CO-Cross-cultural communication

CO-Photojournalism, photo editing (Photoshop)

(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.

Competency Requirements

All jobs at UNHCR require six core competencies and may also require managerial competencies and/or cross-functional competencies. The six core competencies are listed below.

Core Competencies

Accountability

Communication

Organizational Awareness

Teamwork & Collaboration

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Client & Result Orientation

Managerial Competencies

Not applicable.

Cross-Functional Competencies

Innovation and Creativity

Technological Awareness

Political Awareness

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.

The ideal incumbent will possess strong written and interpersonal communication skills; meticulous attention to detail and excellent organizational and prioritization skills; proven computer literacy, ideally including knowledge of digital asset management (DAM) systems and Adobe Creative suite, and ability to learn new software tools quickly. Knowledge of UNHCR’s terminology and field operations as well as previous professional photography experience would be an asset.

English

,

,

,

,

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 Photo Unit is part of the Creative Services Section in the Global Communications Service, Division of External Relations (DER) at UNHCR Headquarters. The Photo Team based in Madrid, Spain, helps lead the narrative by providing powerful still imagery of forcibly displaced people and UNHCR's work. The unit commissions, creates and researches high-quality, relevant photography, illustrating UNHCR's priorities and messages. The Photo team ensures the organization has access to high quality, impactful photography for use across UNHCR's global platforms and for placement in global media. The Photo unit creates thematic packages, easily accessed on the multimedia digital asset management system, Refugees Media, for use across UNHCR's numerous channels and products, as well as by partners and media.   
UNHCR uses Refugees Media to archive and facilitate the distribution of photos and other multimedia for all UNHCR staff as well as external users and media outlets. The increased accessibility of images internally and externally means an increase in workload for Photo Unit colleagues who are bringing material into the system, training colleagues on using the platform and approving requests.
The role, based in Madrid, Spain will provide support for the Photo Unit and users of Refugees Media to ensure photo material and requests are handled in a timely manner and in line with UNHCR’s ethical communications guidelines. The person in this job will also be asked to research images for packages, stories, media releases, and special projects, and help with administrative processes associated with hiring freelance photographers. 
The Photo Assistant will be expected to work strategically in support of UNHCR's operational and communications objectives for global priorities. Communications approaches should reflect our core values as an organization that is ethical, trustworthy, outcome-focused and responsive. This will reinforce UNHCR's role as the lead agency that protects refugees, internally displaced and stateless people and mobilizes action to provide solutions.

Living and Working Conditions:

Additional Qualifications

Skills

CO-Cross-cultural communication, CO-Drafting and Documentation, CO-Photojournalism, photo editing (Photoshop), IT-Computer Literacy

Certifications

Data Management - Other, Media - Other, Social Sciences - Other, Technical/Vocational Education and Training - Other

Competencies

Accountability, Client & results orientation, Commitment to continuous learning, Communication, Innovation & creativity, Organizational awareness, Political awareness, Teamwork & collaboration, Technological awareness

https://icsc.un.org/Home/SalaryScales

Compendium

Additional Information

This position doesn't require a functional clearance Jetzt bewerben