Protection Project Manager

Location: Port Vila, Vanuatu with travel to the islands
Contract Type: Full time
Starting Date: Immediately
Duration: 12 months with possibility of extension pending funding availability

This position is only available for national candidates (living and working in Vanuatu).

SUMMARY

This position is an exciting opportunity to join a growing organization in developing its global humanitarian practices. The Protection Project Manager will oversee the strategic development and positioning of IsraAID Vanuatu in protection programming, especially in the areas of Mental Health Psychosocial Support and Gender-Based Violence, and Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, while supporting the design, implementation and evaluation of protection projects in communities.

CONTEXT

IsraAID is an international non-governmental humanitarian aid organization based in Israel. Since we were founded in 2001, our teams have worked in emergency and long-term development settings in more than 50 countries around the world. Our mission is to support people affected by humanitarian crises by partnering with local communities around the world to provide urgent aid, assist in recovery, and reduce the risk of future disasters.
IsraAID has operated in Vanuatu since 2015 when we responded to Tropical Cyclone Pam and has since shifted our focus to implement long term strategies for programs in WASH, health and nutrition, and Protection. IsraAID’s work in Vanuatu promotes sustainable and inclusive solutions, giving special attention to hands-on training and community ownership, and working closely with communities, civil society partners, and government authorities.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES

The Program Manager will provide technical support and oversight to the integrated Protection project of the IsraAID Vanuatu Country Office. The main aim of the Project Manager is to ensure the successful implementation and running of the program in alignment with the 2024 Vanuatu Country Office strategy.

The Project Manager will oversee the implementation of the project by ensuring that the 2024 work plan is executed using a cross-sectoral, context-appropriate approach to have a positive impact on the intended beneficiaries. The Manager’s goal is to contribute to IsraAID’s strategic positioning in Vanuatu and ensure that the project is implemented in accordance with IsraAID’s do-no-harm policy.

Support the implementation of protection programs in emergency and stable environments in accordance with project cycle.

Support professional development for Country Office team members and partners through ongoing mentoring and coaching and identify capacity building opportunities in protection work.

SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Programme Leadership and Management

• Provide leadership, management, coordination, and technical support to the project teams.
• Oversee program delivery ensuring alignment with project budgets and donor compliance regulations and IsraAID’s minimum criteria and in line with global guidelines.
• Provide guidance and support to relevant technical counterparts both in the Country Office and HQ for targeted staff capacity building, ensuring local teams have the necessary skills and knowledge to carry out their roles effectively. This will involve fostering a learning environment to promote staff professional technical growth.
• Prepare monthly and other grant-required reports capturing the progress and impact of the project.
• Support the CD in drafting and developing concept notes and proposals to ensure project continuity beyond the initial grant as required
• Contribute to advocacy efforts through collaboration with relevant key stakeholders at the national, district, and community levels. This will also require documentation and sharing of case studies in critical forums geared at raising awareness about the importance of MHPSS and DRR interventions
• Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and knowledge sharing among team members and stakeholders. This will involve establishing feedback mechanisms and forums ensuring that IsraAID’s technical approach is synchronized, and mutually reinforcing to relevant district-level department agenda.

Program Implementation
· Ensure good communication and collaboration between Country Office team members,
government partners, civil society partners, and donors.
· Ensure that protection programming is responsive to communities and in line with IsraAID principles and values.
· Lead discussions with community members and beneficiaries to include their input throughout the entire project cycle.

Representation
· Represent IsraAID Vanuatu with relevant external stakeholders including government authorities, civil society organizations, and donors.
· Actively participate and represent IsraAID in relevant working groups, meetings, clusters, and other relevant forums, as required.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning
· Assist in the development and refinement of Logical Frameworks and MEAL plans.
· Support transparent, accurate, and timely collection of data through leading surveys, conducting desk and literature reviews, and facilitating diverse and participatory data collection activities to inform program design and strategic direction.
· Work closely with the MEAL Officer to provide ongoing support to the Country Office program teams to monitor program indicators as required

• Ensure learning from protection programming contributes to knowledge building and sharing within the Vanuatu Country Office and IsraAID Global, and with local partners.

Partnerships
· Foster a spirit of collaboration and empowerment with IsraAID Vanuatu’s local partners.
· Assist in the identification of advocacy, funding, and research opportunities for action as relevant.
· Identify potential collaboration and partnership opportunities with CBOs, civil society
organizations, and academic institutions for protection work.

Safeguarding, Safety & Security

• Ensure child Safeguarding, Protection, and Gender Equality policies are maintained across project design, and implementation, and are applied to day-to-day team engagements.
• Ensure that comprehensive health, safety, and security measures (e.g. risk management plans, local security protocols) are considered in project design and implementation.
• Ensure that all partners engaging in IsraAID activities (training, partnerships, project delivery) are trained on and apply IsraAID policies in project-related work.
• Understand and put into practice the responsibilities of Safeguarding, Child Protection and Gender Policies and Code of Conduct (CoC).
• Adhere to any local security protocols when working in the office and during field engagements.
• Immediately report any health, safety, and security incidents or near-misses that occur on IsraAID duty to the CD/ Security Focal Point.
• Conduct self in a manner that does not put colleagues or any IsraAID partners in immediate danger or harm’s way.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND COMPETENCIES

Fluent written and spoken English.

MA level of academic background in psychology, social work or therapeutic fields.

Proven experience in implementing community based psychosocial and/or DRR programs in the context of developing countries, and emergency settings.

3- 5 years’ experience of working in protection settings offering psychosocial support, therapy, DRR and/or case management.

Proven background in training, staff guidance and supervision.

Experience in disaster risk reduction and disaster risk management programming.

Strong skills in networking and liaising with partners and donors.

Ability to gather and critically analyze data, gaps and trends related to protection issues.

Strong organizational skills and ability to manage efficiently multiple priorities, deadlines, and tasks with attention to detail.

Advanced skills in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel and PowerPoint).

Commitment to the aims and principles of IsraAID.

Understanding of the Vanuatu context is an advantage.

This position is only available for national candidates (living and working in Vanuatu).
We regret to report that only candidates eligible for an interview will be notified.

ETHICAL STANDARDS

IsraAID has zero tolerance towards any acts of misconduct and Sexual Exploitation and Abuse. The recruitment process will include all candidates’ declarations and reference checks focused on misconduct and SEA.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

IsraAID is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or disability status.