Child Protection Field Officer

Dimensions of the Role

Plan International’s CPiE programs in Romania will be supported by four Child Protection Field Officers based across the country in Bucharest (1), Suceava (1), Satu Mare (1), Tulcea (1). The Child Protection Field Officers are responsible for supporting programme implementation of Plan’s partner programs, capacity-building partner organizations, and local coordination with child protection authorities and other stakeholders.

The Child Protection Field Officers will report to the Child Protection in Emergencies Specialist and will be expected to work closely with the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Specialist. The Child Protection Field Officers will be expected to work alongside Plan International’s partner civil society organizations and directly support implementation of CPiE programme activities.

Accountabilities

Programme Development

• As part of the CPiE technical team, contribute to the development of the CPiE country programme and strategy
• Support identification of emerging needs and gaps in the refugee response and conduct consultations with affected populations and other stakeholders as part of needs assessments.

Technical Support and Implementation

• Ensure that there is effective planning, implementation and coordination of inclusive child protection programming, that addresses the key child protection needs
• Work closely with the rest of the Plan International Romania team to ensure that the implementation of relevant activities are planned and implemented in a phased and prioritised manner, in full consultation and coordination with all relevant agencies

• Provide technical guidance and direction to Plan International Romania for effective planning, implementation and monitoring of the agreed child protection plans

• Work alongside Plan’s local partners to implement and monitor project activities, identify opportunities and constraints and any adjustments that are needed.

• Provide regular updates to the Child Protection in Emergencies Specialist on progress, priorities and constraints related to CPiE programme activities

Partnerships and Capacity-Building

• Roll-out capacity-building plans and activities for partner organizations on key child protection risks and interventions, including cash and voucher assistance for child protection outcomes

• Contribute to the review of technical tool and capacity-building resources and ensure they are adapted and contextualized to the Romanian context

• Regularly deliver capacity-building sessions, such as on-the-job coaching, mentorship, and trainings, to Plan partners staff and volunteers, and other stakeholders.

• Support ongoing identification of technical capacity gaps among partners and other child protection stakeholders.

• Regularly updated Child Protection in Emergencies Specialist on progress related to partner capacity-building and feedback on technical tools and resources

• Support identification of new partnerships and opportunities for child protection programming, in collaboration with the Child Protection in Emergencies Specialist and Partnerships Manager.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning

• Work with the MERL & Information Management Specialist to review data on indicators related to capacity-building of local partners and key child protection program activities such as cash and voucher assistance.
• Build the capacity of partner staff to collect quantitative and qualitative data and to document key learnings from the response
• Contribute to the evaluate the implementation of CPiE programs and draft recommendations for improved programme design

External Representation

• Represent Plan International at local-level coordination groups and task forces related to child protection, sexual and gender-based violence, and mental health and psychosocial support.

• Ensures that Plan International’s global policies for Safeguarding Children and Young People and Gender Equality and Inclusion are fully embedded in accordance with the principles and requirements of the policy including relevant Implementation Standards and Guidelines as applicable to their area of responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring staff and associates are aware of and understand their responsibilities under these policies and Plan International’s Code of Conduct (CoC), their relevance to their area of work, and that concerns are reported and managed in accordance with the appropriate procedures

Technical expertise, skills and knowledge

Essential

Knowledge

• Fluency in written and spoken English and Romanian is essential.
• Excellent knowledge of Romania’s child protection system, including local laws and policies, role and responsibility of local child protection authorities, and available child protection services and supports.

• Knowledge of child rights, child protection, and child development concepts and practices.

• General administration, information management and telecommunication skills and proficiency in information technology/ computer skills

• University degree in social work, a social science or another related field.

Experience

• Minimum of 2-3 years of progressively responsible professional experience in working with child-focused or child protection mandated civil society organizations or government agencies

• Experience working directly with children, adolescents, and young people, including vulnerable or marginalized groups such as refugee or migrant populations.

• Experience in delivering presentations or trainings to actors such as local authorities, civil society organizations, and volunteer groups

• Experience in developing and monitoring workplans and project reporting

Skills

• Excellent communication and project management skills

• Excellent ability to build collaborative and respectful relationships with local organizations and government authorities

• Excellent teamwork skills and ability to ability to work independently

• Excellent negotiation, representation, skills and the ability to work comfortably with an ethnically diverse team in a very sensitive environment.

Behaviours

• Works with trustworthiness and integrity and has a clear commitment to Plan’s core values and humanitarian principles

• Aware of own strengths, weaknesses and pro-active in using feedback and self-development

• Aware of impact on others and uses impact to create positive climate at work

• Works and lives with a flexible, adaptable and resilient manner.

• Demonstrates awareness and sensitivity to gender and diversity.

• Patient, adaptable, flexible, able to improvise and remain responsive under pressure.