Protection Coordinator – Ukraine

Job Summary:

The humanitarian needs in Ukraine are quickly escalating due to significant instability and vulnerability of the Ukrainian population. In response to the crisis, FHI 360 will implement an integrated program that provides life-saving and sustainable activities under health and protection that will meet the critical needs of internally displaced persons and affected communities.

FHI 360’s Crisis Response Team is seeking a Protection Coordinator to lead the protection intervention in Ukraine, particularly in underserved areas of East and South Ukraine. The Protection Coordinator is responsible for developing and leading technical programming and plays a critical role in ensuring the organization’s emergency programming is responsive to the needs of Ukrainians. They will ensure humanitarian activities are evidence-based and adhere to technical standards for the field, and as circumstances demand, engage at all stages of an emergency, from the initial acute phase through to transition and recovery, and will support technical programs from assessment and conception through close-out and evaluation.

Based in Vinnytsia or Dnipro, these duty stations are designated as extreme risk and pose a heightened risk or direct threat to personal safety. However, FHI 360 has implemented mitigation measures and policies to ensure staff safety in coordination with FHI 360 Global Security. Applicants should research these locations and the associated risks before applying. The position is envisioned for an initial 11-month period, with the possibility of extension.

For international staff based in Ukraine, FHI 360 provides a competitive salary, danger pay, premium pay allowance, accommodation, relocation, and regular R&R rotations which includes a roundtrip ticket to designated relief point (or equivalent amount to preferred destination), and a 500 USD lump sum payment.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the Protection component of a humanitarian program with specific focus on gender-based violence in emergencies, Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), domestic violence, anti-sex trafficking, and conflict-related sexual violence from conception through implementation and onward to the transition phase, ensuring programming exceeds established quality criteria and technical standards.
• Conduct Protection, GBV and PSEA needs assessments, provide technical guidance on appropriate emergency activities, and devise/review sector-specific response strategies for the acute and transitional phases of emergency operations in crisis-affected communities, including community engagement, GBV case management, and psychosocial support.
• Coordinate and represent FHI 360 in all protection-related clusters and working groups including the GBV sub-cluster, PSEA Network, Anti-Trafficking Task Force, and Inter-Agency Case Management Task Force.
• Assist with resource mobilization by designing, drafting, and reviewing concept notes and technical proposals for the protection, GBV and PSEA sectors as required.
• Develop partnerships and ensure effective coordination with local service providers, international organizations and all relevant local government entities operating in these sectors.
• Work with operations staff to ensure commodities are procured, handled, and managed properly, in accordance with the organization’s supply-chain management protocols.
• Lead protection program budgets, including routine expense forecasting and pipeline analysis.
• Determine staffing needs for emergency programming, conduct recruitment in collaboration with management and home office technical staff, as necessary.
• Lead field personnel supporting emergency programming.
• During startup and launch phase, management, and technical oversight of program teams.

Problem Solving & Impact:

• Works on problems of complex scope that require analysis and in-depth evaluation of variable factors.
• Ability to exercise judgment that contributes to the organization’s business strategies and develops objectives that align with department’s strategic goals.
• Provide accurate, expert level advice to reach outcomes that will enable achievement of overall department and organization goals.
• Demonstrates a responsive, professional attitude that is solution oriented.
• Decisions and actions have a serious impact on the overall success of the function.

Supervision Given/Received:

• Regularly interacts with senior management and HQ based staff.
• Leads by “managing managers” or other direct/indirect reports in the region/functional area.
• Ability to motivate, mentor, and empower individuals to achieve expectations and goals set for the functional unit.
• Provide input on country/project staff performance reviews.
• In coordination with senior management, hire/terminate country/project staff.
• Lead a team of Outreach Volunteers.
• Reports to the Response Coordinator.

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree or international equivalent in Social Sciences, Public Health, International Development, or other relevant field of study.
• Master’s or other advanced degree.

Experience:

• 5 – 8 years leading complex on-site emergency Protection response projects and/or programs.
• Experience starting up programming in new contexts (preferred); demonstrable experience designing and leading technical assessments using shown and effective methodologies; strong background in outcome monitoring and evaluation preferred.
• Experience with PSEA and GBV programming (required), anti-trafficking, conflict-related sexual violence, and psychosocial support.
• Experience working with Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance (BHA) and other humanitarian donors preferred!
• Prior work experience in a non-governmental organization (NGO), government agency, or private company of progressive program management experience in humanitarian assistance or related industry experience in a relevant technical area.
• Experience coordinating complex programs with wide variety of stakeholders; experience as cluster lead/co-lead preferred.
• Strong interpersonal skills and display evidence of good leadership and influencing skills.
• Ability to interact professionally with culturally and linguistically diverse staff and clients!
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and be comfortable participating both as an effective contributor and a listener in group settings which include senior staff.
• Well-organized, resourceful, effective, and efficient at coordinating multiple resources to get things done and must have consistent track record of successfully working on multiple tasks at once and foresees and plan around obstacles.
• Demonstrated sensitivity in diverse, cross-cultural settings.

Physical Demands:

• Typical office environment.
• Ability to spend long hours looking at computer screen and doing repetitive work on a keyboard.
• Ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time.
• Ability to travel to remote field site locations that lack basic
• essentials.

Technology to be Used:

• Computer, Microsoft Office 365 (i.e., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, e-mail), office telephone, cell phone and printer/copier.

Travel Requirements:

• Up to 50% in various locations in Ukraine.

*Or an equivalent combination of relevant education and/or experience sufficient to successfully perform the key responsibilities of the job.