The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, working in more than 40 countries to provide appropriate, rights-based assistance to refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons, returnees, and migrants. DRC has been present in Colombia since 2011, but in 2018 it expanded its operations in response to the Venezuelan crisis. Currently, DRC Colombia is implementing a protection-focused humanitarian response for Venezuelan refugees and migrants, as well as Colombian returnees, in Colombian cities such as Riohacha, Barranquilla, and Bogotá. It is also expanding its activities to include Nariño and Norte de Santander.
Job overview :
The Protection Specialist will be part of DRC Colombia’s national Protection team and will provide cross-cutting technical support for the implementation of protection activities across the response continuum. The role aims to strengthen the quality, coherence, and relevance of the protection response by providing technical support to field teams and implementing partners, developing and adapting tools and methodologies, and supporting the implementation of various protection activities, including individual services and community-based initiatives. The specialist will contribute to building the capacity of teams and partners, promoting rights-based, age, gender, and diversity (AGD) approaches. They will also support the coordination of protection efforts with other program areas and integration into intersectoral responses.
Responsibilities:
Implementation and technical quality of the protection response
- Support the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of protection activities throughout the response continuum, ensuring technical quality and consistency with SOPs and protection standards.
- Provide technical support to field teams and implementing partners in the execution of protection activities, adapted to operational contexts.
- Contribute to the implementation of the various protection activities, including the provision of services at the individual level (IPAs, case management, guidance and advice, referrals and accompaniment), community protection activities and the dissemination of information on rights and access to services.
- Support the collection and use of protection information as part of the implementation of activities, ensuring quality and ethical principles in information management.
- Develop, adapt and adjust protection tools, methodologies and guidelines according to operational needs, promoting their continuous improvement based on feedback from participating teams and individuals.
- Support the quality and relevance of the rapid protection response, including its articulation with the basic needs response.
- Contribute to the analysis of protection risks and trends to inform implementation and programmatic adjustments.
Capacity building and localization
- Identify capacity gaps in DRC teams and implementing partners.
- Provide continuous technical support (on-site and remote), adapted to operational needs.
- Design and facilitate capacity-building processes, including training, mentoring, and the development of practical tools.
- Actively contribute to the localization approach, strengthening the technical and operational capacities of local partners and promoting their leadership in the implementation of protection activities.
- Support the adoption of tools, methodologies and standards by teams and partners.
- Promote continuous learning by documenting good practices, challenges, and lessons learned.
Coordination and representation
- Coordinate closely with the national protection team, MERA and other technical areas.
- Participate in relevant coordination spaces, as required.
- Contribute to DRC’s technical positioning in protection, including in rapid response contexts.
- Promote intersectoral coordination and the integration of protection into other programmatic areas.
Other responsibilities
- Other tasks assigned by the supervisor according to operational needs
Experience and Technical Skills:
- Minimum three years of experience in humanitarian protection, with direct participation in the implementation of protection activities.
- Experience in various protection intervention modalities, including IPAs, case management, community-based protection activities, and dissemination of information on rights and access to services.
- Experience in providing technical support and strengthening the capacities of operational teams and/or implementing partners.
- Knowledge of protection standards and principles.
- Practical knowledge of Information Protection Management principles.
- Training in law or relevant experience in legal assistance will be valued, as well as knowledge of regulatory frameworks related to the rights of refugees, migrants and populations affected by conflict.
Key skills:
- Strong ability to provide practical technical support adapted to operational contexts.
- Strong oral and written communication skills.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team, managing multiple priorities.
- Ability to work with diverse teams, including local actors, with cultural sensitivity and respect for diversity.
- Ability to facilitate learning processes and capacity building.
- A solution-oriented approach and a focus on continuous improvement of response quality.
- Analytical skills.
Education:
- Undergraduate and/or postgraduate degree relevant to work on humanitarian protection, preferably in social sciences or humanities.
Languages:
- Complete command of the Spanish language (written and spoken).
- Fluency in English (written and spoken) is desirable.
All DRC roles require the holder to master basic DRC 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 seeking innovation.
- Communicate : listen and speak effectively and honestly.
- Demonstration of integrity : Act in accordance with DRC’s vision and values.
We offer:
- The opportunity to belong to one of the best NGOs worldwide.
- Access to over 1,000 free online training courses and certificates.
- Prepaid medical insurance, 100% coverage of the policy for the employee and a special price for beneficiaries.
- National contract for work or labor with all legal benefits.
- Salary starting at $5,791,000 depending on the candidate’s experience and skills.
- Start date: May 2026.
- Salary and conditions in accordance with the terms of employment in Colombia.
Application process
All applicants must upload only a cover letter (1 page) and an updated resume (not exceeding 3 pages). No other supporting documents will be accepted through this channel.
Applications submitted via email will not be considered!
Application closing date: April 22, 2026 at 11:59 am Local Time.
If you apply, it is understood that you have immediate availability to work and have the possibility of occasionally traveling to the organization’s intervention areas.
Please note that applications will be reviewed continuously and interviews will be scheduled as soon as a suitable candidate is identified. DRC reserves the right to close the position before the deadline once a suitable candidate is identified. If you are interested in this position, we recommend applying as soon as possible.
Please register through the website www.drc.ngo . Protection Specialist
Note 1: Applicants to this call for applications authorize DRC to validate the personal information provided in their resume. Their identity will be checked against public and private databases for the sole purpose of validating the information, in accordance with our anti-fraud, anti-money laundering, and counter-terrorism financing policies.
Note 2: Applicants who freely and voluntarily wish to participate in the selection process for the position in this call for applications must strictly adhere to the applicable regulations (suitability of the presented qualifications, personal and individual execution of tests, and truthfulness of information), adhering to DRC’s anti-fraud manuals and policies, under penalty of disqualification for any applicant who engages in any irregularity, as determined by the organization, even based on mere suspicion, and even for possible criminal conduct under Colombian law.