Head of Protection Unit – HQ

INTERSOS is an independent humanitarian organization that assists the victims of natural disasters, armed conflicts and exclusion. Its activities are based on the principles of solidarity, justice, human dignity, equality of rights and opportunities, respect for diversity and coexistence, paying special attention to the most vulnerable people.

Terms of reference

Job Title: Head of Protection Unit

Code: SR-00-2551

Duty station: Rome (INTERSOS HQ) or home-based with 30% of time in mission

Starting date: 01/09/2022

Contract duration: 24 months

Reporting to: Director of Programmes

Supervision of: Protection Advisors and Protection Coordinators of countries of responsibilities

Dependents: Non-family duty station

General context of the project

Given the centrality of protection for INTERSOS, the Head of Protection Unit ensures protection oversight and guidance to other functions in the Unit, to support the delivery of quality protection to populations of concern and to promote and gain support for INTERSOS protection strategy, also externally. This includes ensuring that operational responses in all areas and sectors are shaped in a protection optic, mainstream protection methodologies and integrate protection safeguards and benchmarks into all of INTERSOS programmes and operations.​

General purpose of the position

Provide strategic direction and vision to INTERSOS Protection programming, ensuring technical, programmatic leadership and guidance to INTERSOS’s programmes and initiatives for protection of vulnerable persons, including refugees and IDPs, who are at particular risk of violence or abuse, including children and women and persons suffering from stigma, discrimination and exclusion.

The Head of Protection Unit is the technical focal point for new opening of missions, including emergency response; providing guidance for the protection programme design and implementation, while structuring and making operational the protection team in loco, prior to passing to a regular technical management of the crisis.

Main responsibilities and tasks

• Contribute towards the development of a global INTERSOS protection strategy in line with INTERSOS priorities and commitments;
• Provide support to Protection Unit in shaping regional and country protection programming from planning to evaluation including contingency planning and advocate for adequate resource allocations;
• Provide technical advice to the Regional Directors and Head of Missions to enhance implementation and accountability related to INTERSOS protection commitments and in responding to challenges related to protection programming.
• Lead efforts, in conjunction with all the protection technical teams, to provide guidance and support to field programmes (both on-site and remote assistance), that will result in development and implementation of high-quality protection that make a measurable impact on the lives of those concerned;
• Revise/design and adapt the protection strategies, protection guidelines, protection standards and tools within INTERSOS. In addition, while implementation of policies is essentially a matter of project management, feedback from the field must be obtained to adjust policies and to facilitate their use;
• Lead the Protection unit efforts to design the INTERSOS Community based protection model and the INTERSOS Protection in Emergency model, as part of the implementation of the Global Protection Strategy for 2022-2024;
• Make sure international best practices and standards in protection are applied to INTERSOS programmes and mainstreamed into the INTERSOS’s policies and guidelines;
• Initiate a production of protection analysis product (factsheets, dashboards and reports) for internal and external use, to elevate INTERSOS external advocacy and enhance INTERSOS outreach to external stakeholders including donors;
• Support, when needed, the protection team (Protection Advisors and Coordinators) to develop Protection related proposals including developing assessment tools, programmes design, and monitoring and evaluating field programmes especially in the countries of competence;
• Guide the protection team (Protection Advisors and Coordinators) to ensure that INTERSOS field programmes have appropriate, relevant, and up-to-date materials, tools, resources, and templates for documenting and monitoring field activities related to protection programmes;
• Provide support to protection technical advisors, who will provide appropriate and timely technical guidance to the respective countries of competence including emergency response, project proposal design and development, reviewing reports and developing strategies to mainstream protection and gender;
• Work closely with MEAL unit to Increase and enhance programmes monitoring and evaluation, and determining impact, wherever possible, including the use of standard indicators related to protection programmes;
• Map protection staff expertise and, according to identified needs and resources available, deliver training, workshops, seminars to national and international staffs on protection related issues, including developing strong supportive relationships and mentorship systems (as appropriate) and provide technical advice, information, support, and assistance;
• Directly supervise and support the protection team (protection advisors and protection coordinators), promoting a strong team spirit and providing managerial and technical guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their duties;
• Provide expert technical guidance to field protection teams strengthening their technical capacity and providing professional development guidance;
• Discuss job expectations, set objectives and conduct timely and quality performance evaluations and give regular and constructive feedback to Protection staff throughout the year;
• Provide expert technical guidance and support the revision and development of international protection staff JDs, in collaboration with the HR Department and support the selection process of international protection staff. Participate in the growth and career development of INTERSOS protection staff with the aim to establish a pool of internal protection coordinators;
• Appraise performance of international protection coordinators in the countries of competence and protection advisors and discuss evaluation (IRP) and achievement of objectives;
• Forge connections with external counterparts, including INGO, Local NGO, governmental, UN, donor, and other non-governmental stakeholders;
• Collaborate closely with other units of the programmes department to ensure that linkages between programs are made and programs gain from cross-sector best practices;
• Identify opportunities for partnership and strategic collaboration;
• Participate and actively lead INTERSOS’s engagement in relevant working groups, advocacy initiatives, task forces, coordination activities, and committees convened by the Inter-Agency Standing Committee, UN bodies, coalitions, and others concerning protection.
• Coordinate and stimulate the participation of the INTERSOS protection advisors and coordinators in the countries of competence to the several country-specific coordination mechanisms and working groups and regional coordination fora and working groups;
• Promote global sharing of INTERSOS good practices and lessons learned internally among INTERSOS’s Protection staff and externally with global protection actors;
• Facilitate communication, coordination and collaboration among and within country programs and between programme sectors related to protection programmes;
• Support the advisors to ensure that required data protection and sharing protocols are respected;
• Promote inclusion into the project activities, as well as social cohesion initiatives.

Required profile and experience

Education

Master degree in related field​

Professional Experience

At least 7 years of related professional experience working in the fields of protection and social services, with at least 5 years working within humanitarian contexts in the international sector​

Professional Requirements

• Strong knowledge and experience of leading protection programming and community engagement approaches
• Knowledge of global protection standards and relevant bodies of international law (international human rights law, international humanitarian law and refugee law), and of the humanitarian principles
• Knowledge and understanding at operational level of humanitarian standards and coordination mechanisms, including the IASC, humanitarian principles, humanitarian access, and humanitarian financing
• Experience in developing and delivering high quality protection-related training and tools to support practical implementation of protection standards
• Experience in working with partners and supporting development of their organisational and programmatic protection capacities.
• Field experience, including in roles related protection, policy and/or advocacy strongly preferred

Languages

A strong command of the English language; other languages are considered an asset​

Personal Requirements

• Excellent presentation skills, as well as excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal and facilitation skills
• Ability to think strategically and constructively and to apply these skills in developing policy frameworks and guidelines
• Willingness to travel, including in insecure environment
• Behavioural Competencies