Protection Manager – Riohacha at Danish Refugee Council

The Danish Refugee Council is one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, working in more than 40 countries to provide adequate assistance with a rights-based approach to refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons, returnees and migrants.

DRC has been present in Colombia since 2011 and in 2019 it began to upscale its operations due to large influx of migrants and refugees from Venezuela. DRC is currently implementing a protection focused humanitarian response financed by ECHO, UNHCR and IOM in 6 locations in in Colombia (Riohacha, Barranquilla, Medellin, Bogota, Barbacoas and Tibu) and co-leads the national protection working group as well as local protection working groups in Riohacha, Barranquilla, Medellín and Bogotá, under national coordination structure GIFMM (Grupo Interagencial de Flujos Migratorios Mixtos). DRC´s protection programming includes protection monitoring, legal aid, community-based protection, case management and GBV prevention and response.

About the job

DRC is currently looking for a highly qualified Spanish speaking Protection Manager for a 12-month contract (renewable depending on funding and performance) in Riohacha – Colombia

The Protection Manager will be based in Riohacha, La Guajira and be responsible for the overall management and supervision of DRC´s protection activities in La Guajira, including direct supervision of 4 team leaders, as well as overall management of all protection staff. The protection activities in La Guajira are funded by ECHO, IOM and UNHCR. The incumbent will also co-lead the protection working group in La Guajira with UNHCR. The Protection Manager will be directly supervised by the Area Manager based in Riohacha and technically by the Country Protection Coordinator based in Bogota.

Main responsibilities

• Supervise, coordinate, plan and monitor all protection related project activities in the area of responsibility (protection monitoring, legal aid, case management, protection activities in the CAI (transit center) and GBV.
• Supervise and manage 4 team leaders and overall supervision of all protection staff.
• Ensure affective implementation of DRC protection monitoring including drafting of bi- monthly analytical reports and thematic protection reports.
• Ensure effective implementation DRC´s legal aid program in and coordinate with legal aid actors in the area of responsibility.
• Offer technical advice and supervision of the GBV activities.
• Supervise the protection activities in the transit center (CAI) in Maicao.
• Supervise and provide technical guidance for the case management programme.
• Co-lead the local protection working group with UNHCR and lead on advocacy initiatives for the assigned area.
• Liaise and advocate with key humanitarian actors and local State institutions and authorities in the area of responsibility.
• Liaise permanently with the Area Manager and the Country Protection Coordinator to ensure coherence with DRC´s national protection strategy.
• Provide continuous on the job training for protection staff.
• Provide input for monthly, quarterly and annual donor reports and project proposals.
• Ensure effective monitoring and evaluation (MEAL) and donor reporting activities for all protection activities and ensure progress towards project objectives and indicators.
• Supervise the overall protection budget, including financial management and expenses control for the project activities, including compliance with minimum DRC and donor requirements;

Program development and strategy

• Oversee knowledge sharing across teams, and ensure that monitoring and evaluation results are understood and used to improve programs;

Accountability and reporting

• Guided by the DRC Programme Handbook, continuously monitor and develop relevant accountability initiatives within relevant project program as well as strengthening the effort to document the impact of activities;
• Ensure compliance with internal and external reporting requirements including procurement;

People Management.

• Manage project staff members including coaching, ensuring coordination, recruitment, and capacity development;
• Provide on the job training as much as required and adapt trainings/coaching to specific staff needs;

As Manager the post-holder is responsible for the following:

• Accountable for achieving DRC’s strategic goals and objectives within the area of responsibility;
• Accountable for making significant decisions on what the unit does: its purpose, functions and role, and for making commitments and decisions that require the expenditure of significant unit resources.

Roles reporting to this position: Protection Project staff. Reports to: Area Manager – Riohacha Colombia. Technical Line Manager: Country Protection Coordinator

Required experience and competencies
(Candidates who do not meet these requirements will not considered for the position)

• A minimum 5-6 years of experience in humanitarian protection and the implementation of protection programmes.
• Experience in protection information management, in particular protection monitoring.
• Experience and knowledge of mixed-migration and international protection*;*
• Knowledge about the Venezuelan humanitarian crisis;
• Good networking and coordination skills;
• At least 3 years’ experience of people management in the humanitarian sector.
• Excellent people skills and diplomatic in nature.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and to meet deadlines.
• Effective team-player and problem solver;
• Fluent oral and written Spanish and advanced English is required
• Excellent writing and editing skills in Spanish and English;

Desired:

• Experience in in implementing protection activities in Colombia and/or Latin America context.
• Experience in managing legal aid programmes for refugees;
• Experience in protection coordination;
• Knowledge of GBV programming
• Knowledge of AGD and protection mainstreaming;

All DRC roles require the post-holder to master DRC’s core competencies:

• Striving for excellence: Focusing on reaching results while ensuring efficient processes;
• Collaborating: Involving relevant parties and encouraging feedback;
• Taking the lead: Taking ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation;
• Communicating: Listening and speaking effectively and honestly;
• Demonstrating integrity: Acting in line with DRC’s vision and values.

Required education

• Master’s degree in Human Rights, Political Science, Forced Migration, Refugee Law, or any other relevant field.

A relevant combination of academic qualifications and extensive experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

We offer

• Designation of Duty Station: Riohacha – Non family duty station – unaccompanied position.
• Start date: March 2022 / Please indicate in your application your availability.
• Contract Length: Expat contract until March 2023
• Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for expatriate staff. Level: F1 – Manager.