Protection Manager (Santa Barbara del Zulia) At Danish Refugee Council

Protection Manager

The Danish Refugee Council is one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, working in over 40 countries to provide appropriate assistance and protection to refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons, returnees, people on the move and vulnerable local population/host communities. DRC is currently seeking a highly qualified Protection Manager based in Santa Barbara del Zulia, Venezuela.

About the work:

DRC is managing its operations in Venezuela, led by the country office in Caracas and four field offices located in the states of Sucre, Apure and Zulia. DRC Venezuela is implementing activities such as protection monitoring, legal assistance, individual protection assistance for PWSN, briefings for PoC, prevention of human trafficking, rehabilitation of health infrastructure and food security.

The Protection Manager will be responsible for training and capacity development of DRC protection staff, as well as managing protection operations on the ground. The Protection Manager will also oversee all technical project reporting and coordinate with the relevant inter-agency protection forum on the ground. The position will be based in Santa Barbara del Zulia.

Main responsibilities

• Project management and implementation – protection activities.
• Coordinate, plan and oversee all protection-related activities, protection oversight management and legal assistance actions in an emergency context, including individual protection assistance for PWSN, protection mapping and information dissemination activities.
• Maintain permanent liaison with local authorities, UNHCR and other humanitarian protection actors in the intervention area.
• Ensure the highest quality of sectoral interventions and coherence between all ongoing and proposed projects in accordance with the overall strategy.
• Take the lead on project programmes in terms of timely and high quality delivery, narrative reporting and financial summaries, close cooperation with donors, government counterparts and the on-site coordination mechanism and in synergy with other DRC interventions in the area.
• Formalize and develop operational tools and training modules related to the project.
• Provide inputs for monthly protection monitoring snapshots and quarterly protection monitoring reports.
• Provide inputs for required donor reporting.
• Provide overall budget tracking, financial and expenditure control for project protection activities, including compliance with minimum DRC and donor requirements.

Program development and strategy

• DRC representation and participation in relevant sectoral and field working groups.
• Oversee knowledge sharing across teams and ensure that monitoring and evaluation results are understood and used to improve programs.
• Drive the development and growth of relevant programs within the DRC program objectives and contribute to the development of country-wide strategies.

Accountability and reporting

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

People Management .

• Lead and manage safeguarding staff, including coaching, ensuring coordination, recruitment and capacity development.
• Provide on-the-job training as needed and tailor training to specific staff needs.

Coordination:

• Ensure coordination with relevant protection actors in the area of ​​intervention.

As a Manager, the position holder is responsible for the following:

• Responsible for achieving the DRC’s strategic goals and objectives within the area of ​​responsibility.
• Responsible for making significant decisions about what the unit does: its purpose, functions and role, and for making commitments and decisions that require the expenditure of significant unit resources.
• Responsible for managing people of direct reports, usually at least 3 employees. This includes hiring and firing, goal setting, probation, performance appraisal, staff development, performance management including underperformance, etc.
• Responsible for making sound decisions based on DRC policies, MOPs, standards and advice from DRC technical experts.

Required experience and skills.

• Minimum 4-6 years of proven experience in protection in NGO projects.
• Proven experience in implementing protection activities in complex emergency contexts.
• At least 3 years of experience in team management.
• Experience in carrying out humanitarian interventions through and in coordination with partner organisations
• Mastery of English is desirable
• 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 working with Monitoring, Evaluation and learning in protection programs.
• Excellent reporting and protection analysis skills.

Desirable

• Calm and diplomatic by nature.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
• Previous experience with DRC in emergency contexts.

Education required.

• 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 of work experience in similar security positions.

We offer:

• The opportunity to belong to one of the best NGOs worldwide.
• Access to over 1,000 free online training courses and certificates.
• Contract duration: 6 months, with extension for performance evaluation.
• Salary: Band F.
• HCM insurance fully covered by the organization.
• Start date: April 2025

DRC Core Competencies:

• Achieving excellence : focusing on achieving results and ensuring efficient processes.
• Collaboration: Involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.
• Taking the initiative : taking ownership and initiative while pursuing innovation.
• Communicate: listen and speak effectively and honestly.
• Demonstrating Integrity : Acting in accordance with DRC’s vision and values.

Application process: All applicants must upload a cover letter (max. 1 page) and an updated CV ( max. 2 pages, without supports ) in Spanish, on the DRC job platform. Applications sent by email will not be considered.

Closing date for applications : Monday 3rd March at 11:59pm local time. Please note that applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and interviews will be scheduled as soon as a suitable candidate is identified. DRC reserves the right to close the vacancy before the closing date once a suitable candidate has been identified.