Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, working in more than 40 countries to provide effective assistance and protection to refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons, returnees and other people on the move, as well as vulnerable local populations/host communities. DRC is currently looking for a highly qualified Spanish and English-speaking Protection Manager for a 7-month contract (renewable depending on funding and performance) covering the state of Sinaloa, Mexico to be based in Culiacan. This is an opportunity for an experienced Protection Manager to support DRC’s efforts in response to the internal displacement crisis in Mexico.
Context
Since 2020, DRC has contributed to the humanitarian response to the mixed migration crisis in Mexico, and beginning in 2022, will expand its operation to target those affected by violence-induced internal displacement. Although a proposed legal framework to prevent forced displacement and attend to its effects remains pending at the national level, a number of states have adopted legislation and defined responsibilities for preventing and responding to internal displacement. In Sinaloa, since the adoption of legislation in 2020, state-level authorities have begun to give form to programs to respond to the needs of forcibly displaced persons. DRC intends to accompany the development of the IDP response in Sinaloa through a humanitarian intervention in and around the cities of Culiacan and Mazatlan.
About the Position
The Protection Manager will be based in Culiacan and will develop and implement DRC’s protection response in the state of Sinaloa under the direction of the country-level Protection Coordinator as part of the DRC Mexico Protection Unit. The Protection Manager will manage the activities of the local protection team (protection monitoring, information dissemination, referrals, legal aid and individual protection assistance) while also providing technical assistance to relevant stakeholders and participating in pertinent coordination spaces. Practical aspects of implementation will be coordinated through the Base Manager for Sinaloa with the local Emergency Operations team.
The position will include the coordination and technical line management of four national staff.
Main responsibilities
- Project Management:
- Develop tools, systems and Standard Operating Procedures necessary to implement individual protection assistance, protection mapping, protection monitoring, information dissemination and legal aid activities.
- Coordinate, plan and oversee the implementation of protection activities and fulfillment of relevant indicators and objectives, including relevant monitoring, evaluation and learning processes as well as compliance with reporting requirements, in line with the DRC Programme Handbook.
- Provide inputs for required donor reports.
- Take leadership of the implementation of protection activities in terms of high quality and timely deliveries, narrative reporting and financial overviews and close cooperation with stakeholders.
- Provide overall budget monitoring, financial and expenses control for the project protection activities, including compliance with minimum DRC and donor requirements.
- Capacity-building and Technical Assistance:
- Identify capacity-building needs and develop and impart relevant induction and on-the-job training for all protection staff.
- Undertake recruitment processes necessary to fill protection staffing needs.
- Proactively provide technical assistance to local authorities and other actors involved in the humanitarian response, including specifically on IDP protection issues.
- Field Protection Specialist:
- Promote protection mainstreaming within DRC’s operation in Sinaloa, in coordination with the Base Manager, and guide the development of the field protection program in line with the national protection strategy.
- Participate in strategic exchanges with DRC Mexico’s Protection Unit and contribute to the development of the country-level protection program.
- Regularly provide inputs for protection monitoring reports and related products.
- Ensure the highest quality of the sectoral interventions, and the coherence between all projects, ongoing and proposed, according to the overall strategy.
- Coordination:
- Actively participate in existing formal coordination structures in representation of DRC
- Develop relationships and liaise permanently with local authorities, UNHCR and other protection humanitarian actors in the intervention area.
Required experience and competencies.
- Minimum 4 years of protection experience in an INGO or UN agency, including field experience.
- Proven experience in implementing protection activities in complex emergency contexts.
- Excellent technical knowledge of international standards and practice for IDP response.
- At least 3 years of experience with people management and capacity-building.
- Experience working with national partners, government authorities and UN agencies.
- Experience working with refugees, migrants, asylum-seekers and internally displaced persons.
- Fluency in Spanish and proficiency in English is compulsory.
- Excellent writing and editing skills for external audiences (including governments and donors).
- Experience in producing high-quality technical material (training materials, program tools, proposals, strategic documents etc.).
- Experience in working with monitoring, evaluation and learning in protection programs.
- Excellent reporting and protection analysis skills.
- Highly organized and autonomous, able to multi-task and prioritize workload when necessary.
- Strong diplomatic skills and ability to liaise with diverse stakeholders.
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.
Education
Advanced university degree in law, international relations, political science, or sociology. Knowledge of international human rights law, humanitarian law or refugee law is desirable. A first-level university degree in combination with relevant experience for this position, especially if working with DRC, may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.
We offer
Contract: Expat contract for 7 months (renewable depending on performance and funding)
Salary Level: F2 – Non Management
Designation of Duty Station: Non-Family duty station – Unaccompanied
Start date: 30/05/2022.
Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates; please refer to www.drc.ngo under Vacancies. For questions regarding the vacancy please contact monica.hernandez@drc.ngo or kavita.kapur@drc.ngo.
Application process
All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English or Spanish. Applications sent by email will not be considered.
Closing date for applications: 11/05/2022 at 11.59 PM (GMT-5, Mexico City).