Technical Assistant for Protection against Violence – Piedras Negras At Norwegian Refugee Council

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an international non-governmental organisation based in Oslo, Norway that works in over 35 countries providing humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable populations. NRC has been responding to the growing internal and external displacement in Central America and Mexico since 2015, focusing on the protection crisis and integrating legal aid, education, shelter and infrastructure, water and sanitation, and livelihoods interventions.

NRC is an internationally renowned humanitarian assistance organization that has been working in Latin America for over 30 years, leading humanitarian action in many of the countries where it operates. In Mexico, NRC has been collaborating with local partners since 2019 and is currently expanding its reach, starting activities through direct implementation with NRC-hired personnel in Mexico, providing assistance to displaced people in the intervention areas in the country.

1. Objective

A rewarding opportunity to join our team at NRC Mexico. We are seeking a Technical Protection Assistant for our field office in Piedras Negras, who will be responsible, under the guidance of the Protection Program Manager in Mexico, for monitoring protection and managing protection cases that are identified as eligible according to the criteria established by NRC. Although the base is currently in Piedras Negras, the implementation will be extended to the entire state of Coahuila and Monterrey in accordance with operational needs.

2. Main Responsibilities

1. Support the collection of information for the development of protection monitoring, through the use of available tools applicable to primary and secondary sources and observation.
2. Protection case management: needs assessment, development and implementation of individual plans, including the security plan and case closure.
3. Ensure that assistance is targeted to participants most in need of protection, exploring and evaluating new and better ways to help.
4. Identify people at high risk of rape and determine the risk level of the case, establishing security plans for each case that requires it.
5. Respond to immediate life-saving needs of participants and support in recognizing key problems and developing an individual action plan.
6. Implements individual plans, providing emergency assistance and assistance for lasting solutions.
7. Provide psychological first aid to participants, such as active listening, identifying signs of stress and responding appropriately. Assess participants’ mental health and psychosocial well-being, making external referrals where necessary.
8. Identifies potential barriers to accessing services and supports the participant in finding the best solution. Maintains a people-centered approach, while assessing and ascertaining information to manage referrals to specialized services.
9. Physically and digitally records information on the activities carried out in the program and information regarding cases.
10. Ensures regular follow-up of cases with home visits, monitoring tours, and, eventually, with follow-up telephone calls. When required, accompany the population during procedures in public and private institutions for the achievement of rights and access to basic services.
11. Review the individual action plan from time to time as new protection needs arise until the case is closed.
12. Develops information sessions in the communities involved in protection issues to inform participants of the available services and possible assistance options.
13. Link a healthy and positive workspace.
14. Facilitate the integration strategy between the Protection competency and the other key competencies and the needs for collaboration with the other NRC key competencies.
15. Other activities assigned for the development of the protection program.

3. Professional Competencies

• Graduate professional Bachelor’s degree in the area of ​​social sciences or related career.
• Minimum experience of two (2) years working in similar positions, in the management of protection cases, preferably in the humanitarian field.
• Experience in psychological first aid
• Knowledge and/or experience in issues related to forced displacement, humanitarian assistance and protection.
• Previous experience in information gathering work, with innovation skills.
• In capacity for interpersonal relationships and to reach agreements with different actors.
• Excellent writing and handling of data and information.
• Skills to develop work under pressure.
• Knowledge of human rights, international humanitarian law, international refugee law and the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement.
• Previous experience in caring for victims and vulnerable groups.

Required:

• Skills in interview techniques for public officials, personnel of humanitarian organizations, vulnerable populations and victims of violence.
• Ability to provide immediate response to identified cases.
• Knowledge of the context and the political and social situation in Mexico.
• Ability to plan and develop advocacy plans.
• Analytical and research skills.
• Skills to manage information and prepare reports.
• Knowledge of project cycle management
• Experience in using MS Office (Word, Excel, Power Point) and databases.
• Excellent interpersonal relationships, ability to work in a team, positive attitude and ability to solve complex situations.
• Excellent oral and written expression skills in Spanish.
• Availability to travel.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of the structure of the State and public policy for the care of people in need of international protection and the national protection system of Mexico.
• Knowledge of the humanitarian context and social organization structures in Mexico.

4. Behavioral Competence

The NRC competency framework establishes 10 behavioural competencies and the following are essential for this position:

• Handling unsafe environments.
• Plan and achieve results
• Working with others
• Communicate with impact and respect.

Want to know more? Click on this Job Description before continuing.

What we offer:

• A challenging and meaningful job in a highly recognized humanitarian organization.
• A national contract, valid for 6 months, with the possibility of extension, with a competitive salary and benefits package.
• Flexible working environment in a dynamic office.
• Place of work: Piedras Negras, Coahuila.
• Travel: 80% to other intervention areas

We encourage you to join our work culture that allows staff to share ideas and take responsibility . We encourage and give responsibility to our entire team at all levels, to help solve the complex problems we face. You will have many opportunities to be heard and to take initiative.

NRC is an equal opportunity employer whose policy is diversity, equity and inclusion of staff in terms of age, gender, ethnicity, nationality, physical ability, among others.

NRC may review applications prior to the closing of the vacancy announcement, so interested candidates are encouraged to express their interest as early as possible.

About us: Read more about NRC