Protection Coordinator

Overall purpose of the role:
DRC is recruiting for a highly qualified Protection Coordinator to lead and coordinate DRC’s overall protection activities across the large and diverse operations in Iraq. S/he will be able to work with diverse teams, and external stakeholders such as local government authorities, UN agencies, I/NGOs and other partners. DRC’s protection programming consists of: Legal Aid, Community-Based Protection, Prevention and Response to Gender-Based Violence, Protection Information Management, and Mental Health and Psycho-Social Support.
Reporting to the Head of Programme, the Protection Coordinator is responsible for leading country level protection analysis and strategy development and implementation; providing protection sectoral technical advice, support, and has the authority to instruct; leading and overseeing Protection sectoral technical line supervision responsibilities for protection staff and interventions that contain protection, throughout the programme / project cycle; ensure quality protection sectoral programming and compliance with protection sector standards, including leading monitoring and evaluation efforts, staff capacity building and training, development of protection tools and approaches; and technically lead protection sectoral coordination and representation efforts. DRC is a leading protection actor in Iraq, and the Protection Coordinator ensures close collaboration and strong relations, as required, with coordination mechanisms, donors, and other Protection partners.

Responsibilities:
Programme Strategy and Development

• Lead the contextual revision and roll out of the DRC Iraq protection strategy, aligned with the DRC Iraq Strategic Plan and Global Strategy and responsive to the changing context in Iraq
• 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 with the Legal, GBV, and Protection Specialists.
• Map donor priorities within given sector and identify new 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 and Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding (HDP)
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge and understanding of the evolving context in Iraq, the specific dynamics impacting the protection environment, and protection risk patterns across the country and specific to particular areas.
• Maintain close working relationships with with DRC Regional and HQ counterparts to ensure that DRC Iraq’s programmatic priorities align with and respond to regional and global priorities.

Protection Sectoral Technical Responsibility

• Lead protection analysis efforts and the development and implementation of the country level protection strategy
• Technically responsible for the overall protection portfolio
• Oversee and lead the development, harmonisation, adaptation and rollout of internal policies, and guidelines, protection related tools, Standard Operating Procedures, related to DRC’s protection interventions
• Act as a reference point for other sectors’ colleagues for Protection Mainstreaming

Quality Assurance and Learning

• Ensure DRC Iraq’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 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 accordingly to mainstream protection and age, gender and diversity throughout the protection programm, and support mainstreaming in other sectors
• Lead, in collaboration with MEAL Coordinator/Manager, on the development of quality assurance systems and ensure they are applied throughout the programme / project cycle
• Facilitate contextual and programmatic learning processes related to protection, and ensure learning is documented and shared with relevant colleagues
• Provide technical supervision and guidance to country-level specialists/officers, and to area-level Protection Managers
• Oversee the development of harmonized job descriptions and structures for protection teams across all areas and support recruitment of technical protection staff
• Regularly visit programme activities and provide support and feedback to staff and implementing partners on programme approaches and methodological issues.
• 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
• 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

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 Iraq
• 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, in close collaboration with the Partnerships and Localization Specialist
• Take active role in sharing DRC’s protection advocacy messages in relevant coordination forums.
• Act as the main sector level point of contact with donors

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 specialist, 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

Information about the position:

• Management or Non-Management: Non-Management position
• Reporting to: Head of Programme
• Direct reports: No direct reports, only technical supervision
• Location: Erbil with up to 30% travel across Iraq

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

1. Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.
2. Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.
3. Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
4. Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.
5. 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

Experience and technical competencies:

• Minimum 5 years of experience working in the protection sector, including at least 2 years in management roles
• Strong knowledge of global protection sector standards in DRC’s core specialisations (protection monitoring, GBV prevention and response, child protection, protection case management (adult/non-GBV), community-based protection, legal aid, psychosocial support);
• Strong knowledge of International Refugee Law, 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, promotion 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;
• Experience in project development (including proposal writing), implementation and MEAL for protection programmes
• Experience in advocacy and policy development, and cluster / working group coordination in the humanitarian sector
• 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:

• Bachelor of Arts degree, preferably in a field directly relevant to humanitarian protection, or appropriate level and combination of expertise and experience

Languages:

• Proficiency in spoken and written English is essential.
• Arabic is an asset

Key stakeholders: (internal and external)

• DRC Protection PMs and Area Managers
• DRC Program Development and Quality Unit, MEAL Unit
• DRC Regional Protection Coordinator and HQ Global Protection Unit
• Government of Federal Iraq relevant ministries
• UN, fellow NNGOs and INGOs

WE OFFER

• Contract Length: 1 year
• Salary Band: F- Non Management
• Start Date: 1 December 2023
• Comprehensive health insurance for staff
• Personal Accident insurance coverage in the event of work-related accidents during working hours.
• Psychosocial support for staff and family members.
• Learning & Development opportunities for professional growth.

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with the Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Inernational/National Staff.

Diversity & Inclusion: DRC Iraq is committed to promoting an inclusive work environment according to our Age, Gender, and Diversity approach (AGD). We aim to have a more diversified leadership structure creating opportunities for qualified women to take on managerial roles. We also continuously work to make our workplace more accessible for persons with specific needs. We offer benefits related to psychosocial support, health insurance, maternity and paternity leave, child sick leave, and lactation breaks. As part of our commitment to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion, we strongly encourage applications from female candidates, persons living with disabilities, as well as representatives of minorities.

How to apply

Application process

Interested? Then apply for this position by clicking on the following link:

https://candidate.hr-manager.net/ApplicationInit.aspx?cid=1036&ProjectId=169119&DepartmentId=19000&MediaId=5

All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English. Applications sent by email will not be considered.

Closing date for applications: 23 September 2023