Protection Manager (Protection Technical Lead) At Danish Refugee Council

Who are we?

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfillment of the wish to return home.

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956, and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced.

All of our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.

DRC has been operating in the Middle East (ME) region for over a decade, running a combination of emergency, livelihood, protection and advocacy programmes through Country Offices (COs) in Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey with a Regional Office (RO) in Amman.

DRC Yemen’s response

Throughout its nine field offices and a workforce of 450 staff, DRC upholds its main programmatic objectives to provide immediate and life sustaining assistance, to strengthen the protective environment, and to reduce displacement related risks and vulnerabilities by promoting self-reliance at household and community level.

About the job

Overall purpose of the role:

The Protection Manager is responsible for the strategic development and technical supervision of DRC’s protection programming through technical guidance, support, oversight, strategy development, resources, capacity development, and representation. The Protection Manager will provide supportive supervision to a team of two protection specialists and one IM specialist. The Protection Manager is ultimately responsible for the overall quality and impact of the programme

Main responsibilities :

Programme Strategy & Development

• Lead the contextual revision and rollout of the DRC Yemen protection strategy, aligned with the DRC Yemen Strategic Plan and Global Strategy and responsive to the changing context in Yemen
• Lead the technical design and review of protection related concept notes, logical frameworks, budgets and full proposals in coordination with the HoP and area teams, and Grants team
• Map donor priorities within Protection sector and identify new fundraising opportunities
• Lead on developing and strengthening methods and tools for country-level protection analysis, including assessments and activity-based data collection, to inform evidence-based program design and implementation
• Propose innovative project design ideas and explore their feasibility.
• Foster and ensure integration of Protection activities with other DRC sectors, particularly Economic Recovery, Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding (HDP), and CCCM
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge and understanding of the evolving context in Yemen, the specific dynamics impacting the protection environment, and protection risk patterns across the country and specific to particular areas.
• Maintain close working relationships with DRC Regional and HQ counterparts to ensure that DRC Yemen’s programmatic priorities align with and respond to regional and global priorities.

Quality Assurance and Learning

• Ensure DRC Yemen’s protection program is relevant to the evolving context, in-line with global protection sector standards and DRC’s relevant guidance, and that it is consistent across all areas of operation
• Ensure all Protection tools, SoPs and guidelines are in place for all activities and regularly updated, provide sound and coordinated revision when needed, and ensure all relevant staff are trained and are implementing as per the standards.
• Lead in developing approaches and tools and ensuring relevant staff are trained to mainstream protection and age, gender and diversity throughout the protection programme, and support mainstreaming in other sectors
• Facilitate contextual and programmatic learning processes related to protection, and ensure learning is documented and shared with relevant colleagues
• Regularly visit programme activities and provide support and feedback to staff and implementing partners on programme approaches and methodological issues.
• Provide oversight and monitoring of overall sector budget, in coordination with PMs and Area Managers or Base Managers, monitoring for timely sector-level spend, and initiate corrective action, including internal and donor budget realignments
• Provide oversight of overall protection program implementation progress and quality; identification, resolution and/or escalation of issues affecting implementation;
• Support the MEAL department in rolling out qualitative and quantitative monitoring and evaluation approaches aiming to build contextually grounded learning into programme activities; as well as developing harmonized tools and databases to monitor and track efficiency and quality of programming and improve information management

Human Resources and Staff Development

• Oversee the development of harmonized job descriptions and structures for protection teams across all areas and support recruitment of technical protection staff
• Provide technical supervision and guidance to country-level Protection Specialists, and to area-level Protection Managers
• Identify technical gaps and support capacity building for protection teams, and contribute to setting performance objectives and performance appraisals of Protection Managers and Specialists
• When necessary, and with approval of HoP, provide stop-gap support in absence of Protection Managers

External Representation, Coordination and Partnerships

• Represent DRC in relevant coordination forums and technical groups, and provide high quality technical inputs to maintain DRC’s reputation as one of the leading protection actors in Yemen
• Directly attend the national level protection-related coordination meetings and supervise DRC’s representation at the sub-national level
• Act as the main sector-level point of contact with donors as requested by HoP, including providing protection program updates and support donor visits to the field
• Liaise with local, regional, and national government authorities and relevant stakeholders
• Identify opportunities for partnerships and develop collaborative relationships with local and national civil society actors towards achieving sustainable protection outcomes
• Take active role in sharing DRC’s protection advocacy messages in relevant coordination forums.

Grants Management

• Work closely with the Head of Programme and the Grants Manager to secure strategic funding opportunities and develop proposals based on identified gaps and needs
• In coordination with the Grants Department produce quality reports to ensure accurate, coherent and timely reporting

Team Management

• Provide supportive supervision to the country protection team including Protection Specialists and Protection IM Officer.
• Provide technical supervision and guidance to all protection program leads across the areas.

Other

• Ensure adherence to DRC’s Age, Gender, and Diversity policy and AGD programmatic minimum standards
• Ensure compliance with zero-tolerance to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse policy
• Ensure documentation and consolidation of success stories, in coordination with DRC’s communications team, which can be communicated externally and to ensure that DRC is able to articulate and document relevant best practice.
• Ensure compliance with DRC guidelines and policies on HR, admin, finance, and supply chain in accordance with the Operational Handbook
• Perform other relevant tasks as requested by and in discussion with the Head of Programme

About you

Experience and technical competencies

• Minimum 5 years of experience in humanitarian protection programming at international level in conflict-related internal displacement contexts; experience in mixed migration programming would be an advantage
• Strong knowledge of global protection sector standards in DRC’s core specializations (protection monitoring, GBV prevention and response, child protection, protection case management (adult/non-GBV), community-based protection, legal aid, psychosocial support); priority given to protection monitoring, case management, legal aid, and CBP
• Significant knowledge of International Human Rights Law, International Humanitarian Law;
• Strong familiarity with the Results-Based Protection (RBP) approach, Protection Analytical Framework (PAF), and Protection Information Management PIM) standards; approaches and tools to mainstream protection and age, gender and diversity
• Proven communication, interpersonal, representation, negotiation and diplomacy skills;
• Proven strong analytical and communication skills;
• Strategic thinker with the ability to quickly develop good insight and understanding of the conflict, the human rights situation and the political environment of the program country;
• Sound understanding of humanitarian architecture;
• Cultural sensitivity and adaptability;
• Experience with managing teams with diverse backgrounds and providing technical guidance and training
• Able to manage high work load, stress and be flexible
• Strong commitment to humanitarian and protection principles, and to DRC’s values
• Experience in the Middle East Context highly desirable

Education:

• Master degree or higher education relevant to humanitarian work: preferably in law, social sciences or humanitarian aid

Languages:

• Fluency in written and spoken English
• Arabic (basic) considered as advantage

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies:

Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.

Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.

Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.

Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.

Demonstrating integrity: You uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to our values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

We offer

Contract length: one year contract

Band: F Manager, reports to Head of Programme

Designation of Duty Station: Non-Family Duty Station

Start date: ASAP

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates; please refer to drc.ngo under Vacancies.