Protocol Administration Officer

Grade: IS-2
Deadline: 3 July 2025 (11:59 PM KST)
Job Category: International
Salary: USD 96,200 (plus attractive benefits, that include the following allowances (as applicable)): Relocation, dependency, housing, education assistance and home country travel.

Introduction

The Green Climate Fund is the world’s largest dedicated multilateral climate fund and invests in impactful, innovative, catalytic programs and projects in developing countries across the globe. The GCF has a portfolio of 297 projects across 133 countries, with a total commitment of USD 16.6 billion to date.
In 2023, an additional USD 12.8 billion was pledged, to support our new strategic and programming cycle from 2024-2027; our ambition is to grow to become at least a USD 50 billion fund by 2030. Rooted in the core objectives of impact and efficiency, access and a focus on the most vulnerable, and mobilizing a much higher scale of public and private sector financial flows for climate action we have an unparalleled scale of resources, which, together with our risk appetite and flexibility allows us to bring together different partners and stakeholders in innovative partnerships for profound impact. 
GCF is seeking a top-tier individual with a demonstrable track record of harnessing experience, energy and networks to tackle complex global climate change challenges. You will be committed to making a positive, measurable difference through a mission-driven role, and thrive in a fast-paced, diverse environment.  
You will be able to quickly scan and analyze complex, competing issues and lead significant sized teams to find solutions in evolving contexts, across multiple geographic locations. 
You will be a nurturer of people: recognizing and growing the talent around you, exemplifying values of transparency, respect and innovation.
You will be committed to learning, knowledge-sharing, convening and communicating with partners to work together to ideate, develop and implement climate action initiatives that make a profound difference to people and planet.
You will join a team of talented, committed individuals representing almost 80 nationalities contributing skills and experience from academic, scientific, private, government and nonprofit backgrounds.  Together, we work with governments, communities and civil society, technical agencies, and the private sector across the world.

Interested in more information? 
Learn about working for GCF: https://www.greenclimate.fund/about/careers 
View current vacancies: https://jobs.greenclimate.fund/

About the Green Climate Fund (GCF)
Set up in 2010 by the 194 countries who are Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), GCF takes its responsibility as the world’s largest dedicated multilateral climate fund to heart.  GCF funds transformative climate projects across the developing world, supporting countries in their responses and actions to tackle climate change while fostering sustainable development within their communities. 
Our country-driven approach ensures that our actions are tailored to the unique circumstances and national aspirations of each nation we support. Besides channeling public and private sector investment through a broad range of financing instruments, GCF builds the capacity of developing countries to take climate action through an extensive Readiness Programme ensuring countries are increasingly well-equipped and financed to manage their climate futures.
Headquartered in the Republic of Korea, GCF operates with a diverse and talented workforce of over 300 people. 

Position Objective

The Protocol Administration Officer, reporting to the Manager of General Services within the Department of Corporate Services, will be responsible for advancing the service and performance objectives of the Protocol Administration workstream within General Services (GS).

The Protocol Administration Officer will be accountable for ensuring that:

• The processes that operationalize the sections of the Headquarters Agreement that relate to General Services, including visa, residence, transit, Customs, and diplomatic vehicles, are closely adhered to.
• The relationship with offices of Ministry of Foreign Affairs is continually strengthened and leveraged.
• Issues with Korean Embassies or Korean Immigration, at times urgent, are addressed fairly and timely.

The Protocol Administration Officer will work in a multi-disciplinary team composed of internal and external personnel. Workstreams within General Services with convergent responsibilities include Host Country liaison; personnel onboarding; and office administration.

The Protocol Administration Officer will be expected to lead on this workstream with a level of autonomy commensurate to years of experience and technical specialization. Some travel may be required to oversee the setup of the workstream in regional offices; some out of office hours availability shall be required in support of Board Meetings.

Purpose 

• Apply specialized knowledge to inform the development of workstream administrative guidance  and processes.
• Execute with precision the processes related to visa, residence, transit, Customs and diplomatic vehicles, liaising with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other relevant Ministries, as needed.
• Apply specialized thematic knowledge to advise existing and incoming personnel on matters of sensitivity and importance, such as visa eligibility and the implications for dependents.
• Continually develop and maintain a current understanding of the policies and processes that relate to the Headquarters Agreement, the Guidelines for International Organizations, and relevant immigration and Customs laws.

Engagement

• Transparently and professionally serve as GCF primary contact for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Incheon Immigration Office on protocol administration.
• As primary contact, liaise closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to resolve issues around the applicability of privileges, particularly visa and residence.
• As primary contact for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Incheon Immigration Office, serve in a manner that exemplifies GCF values.
• Accurately and professionally inform internal stakeholders, including new appointees and existing personnel, on the regulations and processes that guide GS-related privileges and services.
• Work collaboratively with the GS Personnel onboarding workstream and, by proactively reporting back and escalating matters in a timely manner, ensure that the GS Manager is kept appraised of potentially contentious developments.
• Work collaboratively with the GS Orientation with Korea workstream to ensure continued support for driver license applications, consulting with the Transport Safety Authority as needed.

Delivery

• Following clear processes, support all requirements for incoming visas, residence registration and identity documentation, Customs clearance, and diplomatic vehicle de/registration.
• Ensure that correspondence with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is generated in accordance with diplomatic customs, and is clear, articulate, professional and adequately tracked and recorded internally.
• Using appropriate software, expertly organize the protocol administration workload.
• Assist with ensuring that all incoming personnel and dependents and all GCF-related guests, as well as all outgoing GCF personnel and dependents, are communicated timely to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• Within the framework of the Headquarters Agreement, assist personnel and GCF guests with resolving challenges with obtaining entry visas from Korean Embassies abroad.  
• On a best effort basis, assist personnel and GCF guests with active issues at border entry points through timely liaison, often outside of office hours, with local Immigration authorities. 
• Prioritize quality over quantity, ensuring a consistently high standard of output and internal customers satisfaction.
• Continually increase and contribute with specialized knowledge through active learning.

Requirements (Education, experience, technical competencies required of the job)

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree) in International Relations, Management, or a relevant field.  A Bachelor’s degree with additional 2 years of relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of the Master’s degree requirement.
• A minimum of four (4) years of relevant experience.
• Certifications in diplomatic protocol are a strong advantage.
• Fluency in English and Korean are essential; knowledge of a United Nations language is an advantage.