Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, working in more than 40 countries to provide adequate assistance and protection to refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons, returnees, people on the move and local vulnerable population/host communities. DRC is currently looking for a highly qualified Spanish and English-speaking Protection Manager for a 12-month contract (renewable depending on funding and performance) based in Carúpano, Sucre state, Venezuela. This is an opportunity for an experienced Protection Manager to support DRC’s emergency response to the current situation in Venezuela.

About the job

DRC is managing its operations in Venezuela, under the management of DRC Caracas country office and with a field office based in Carúpano, Sucre State. DRC is currently implementing protection monitoring, legal aid, individual protection assistance, information sessions for the promotion of human rights and community-based protection; additionally, the program will be including the protection case management for people exposed to high protection risks, which entails among others psychosocial services. The protection program works in synergy with the economic recovery program, towards durable solutions for people of interest.

The Protection Manager will be in charge of the overall management of the protection program in the area of intervention through the supervision of the protection team. The PM–V-CUP ensures the recruitment and training of staff, the implementation of the activities, the achievement of the expected outputs and outcomes. The Protection Manager oversees all technical project aspects, including the reporting and coordination with relevant inter-agency protection forum in the field. The position will be based in Carúpano, with interventions in other municipalities of Sucre State, for example Guiria, Río Caribe; travels to Caracas could be requested. The Protection Manager reports to the base Manager and is technically supervised by the country Protection Coordinator. The Protection Manager is responsible for the direct supervision of the protection team, which is structured in the unit of protection case management, legal aid, community-based protection, and protection monitoring.

Main responsibilities

Management of the protection program

Plan, coordinate and monitor all protection related activities, including protection monitoring, individual protection assistance, protection case management, community-based protection, legal aid, information dissemination activities.
Ensure work plans for the protection team are developed and approved by the Base Manager.
Support the Base Manager in developing and follow up financial plans and expenses control for the project protection activities.
Collaborate with MEAL for the reporting of the outputs and outcomes, ensuring the progress towards projects objectives and indicators.
Ensure the collection and the systematization of the means of verification in line with MEAL standards and the DRC Data Protection Policy
Comply with and promote local safety regulations

People Management

In collaboration with the Protection Coordinator, ensure the protection team is trained in DRC Protection Standards Operations Procedures and guidelines and monitor the progress in the performance of the staff.
Constantly follow up the protection teams, coaching, giving feedback and supporting them in achieving qualitative results towards capacity development
Provide on the job training as much as required and adapt trainings/coaching to specific staff needs.
Coordination and capacity development protection for local partners when requested.

Accountability and Reporting

Report to the base Manager and Country Protection Coordinator to ensure the achievement of the expected results, coherence with DRC´s national protection strategy and adherence to protection Standards Operations Procedures.
Ensure the elaboration and timely delivery of qualitative progresses reports requested by donors and supervisors.
Ensure the elaboration of protection reports requested by supervisors, including the analysis of protection data generated by the protection activities implemented.
Ensure compliance with internal and external reporting requirements including procurement.
Oversee knowledge sharing across teams and ensure that monitoring and evaluation results are understood and used to improve programs.
Monitor and develop relevant accountability initiatives (e.g Complain and Feedback Mechanism) within relevant project program as well as strengthening the effort to document the impact of activities.

Coordination

Liaise permanently with local authorities and other protection humanitarian actors in the intervention area to ensure protection integrated responses.
Representation of DRC and active participation in sectoral and relevant field protection working groups.
Ensure coordination with relevant protection actors in the area of intervention.
Coordinate with other sectors of DRC, including Economic Recovery
Support in developing alliances and identify new implementing partners.

Program development and strategy

Drive the development and growth of the relevant programs within the DRC program objectives and feed into country-wide strategy development.
Provide inputs for project proposals and revision of protection and country strategy.
Ensure protection analysis is constantly realized, highlighting the protection gaps, trends and changes to improve the quality of the protection activities.

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.
Accountable for people management of direct reports, generally at least 3 employees. This includes hiring & firing, objective setting, probation, performance appraisal, development of staff, managing performance, including poor performance, etc.
Accountable for making sound decisions based on DRC policies, MOPs, standards, and the advice of technical experts in DRC.

Required education.

Master’s degree in Human Rights, Political Science, Refugee Law, or any other relevant field.
Or Bachelor’s degree in relevant fields with at least 6 years’ working experience in similar protection positions.

Required experience and competencies.

Minimum 4-6 years of proven protection international experience in NGO projects.
Proven experience in implementing protection and legal aid activities in complex emergency contexts.
At least 3 years’ experience with people management.
Experience in carrying on humanitarian interventions through and in coordination with implementing partner organizations.
Fluency in Spanish and English is compulsory.
Excellent writing and editing skills for external audiences (including governments and donors).
Experience in producing high-quality technical material (training material, program tools, proposals, strategic documents etc.).
Experience in working with Monitoring, Evaluation and learning in protection programs.
Excellent reporting and protection analysis skills.

Desirable

Calm and diplomatic in nature.
Ability to manage competing priorities and to meet deadlines.
Effective team-player
Problem solver.
Previous experience with DRC in emergency context.

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.

We offer:

Designation of Duty Station: Carupano, Sucre – Venezuela
Start date: March 2024
Contract Length: 6 months renewable depending on funding and performance (national contract) or 12 months (expatriate contract).
Shared guest house – Non accompanied Duty Station (Expatriate Contract).
Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for expatriate staff. Level: F2 – Management (Expat Contract).

Application process: Applications must be submitted through this page by clicking Apply button. All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four 2 pages) in English. No application sent by email will be accepted. For information about the position, please contact DRC Venezuela HR Team Leader asdrick.ruiz@drc.ngo

Closing date for applications: January 9th, 2024. Please note that the applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.