Protection Manager

Danish Refugee Council is one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, working in more than 40 countries to provide adequate assistance with a rights-based approach to refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons, returnees and migrants. DRC is currently looking for a highly qualified Spanish and English-speaking Protection Manager in Barbacoas. This is an opportunity for an experienced and dynamic professional to support and strengthen DRC program in Colombia.

DRC is currently launching a project targeting Internally Displaced People (IDP) in Colombia. The project is based in Barbacoas, department of Nariño, and provides emergency aid and protection services to people affected by the internal conflict.

Overall purpose of the role: The Protection Manager will work directly with the Area Manager and the country Protection Coordinator to develop DRC´s protection strategy in the area of intervention. This will include hiring and training of staff, developing related SOPs and ensuring that persons most in need are assisted and protected.

The Protection Manager will also be responsible for the overall management and supervision of DRC´s protection activities including direct supervision of 2 protection officers and 2 legal officers and provide technical support and coordinate directly with the Emergency Team Leaders and ensure protection mainstreaming in all activities.

Main responsibilities

• In close collaboration with the Protection Coordinator, develop standard operating procedures for protection monitoring, legal aid and protection mainstreaming of humanitarian assistance activities in the area of intervention;
• Manage and monitor the implementation of the protection activities including protection monitoring and legal aid;
• Ensure effective implementation of DRC protection monitoring, including drafting of monthly analytical reports and dissemination of key findings to relevant stakeholders;
• Hire Protection Focal Points and provide continuous capacity building and on the job training for protection staff;
• Support field activities to deliver humanitarian assistance;
• Coordinate closely with other humanitarian actors and participate in the local humanitarian coordination team (ELC);
• Establish working relationships and liaise and advocate with key humanitarian actors and local national State institutions and authorities such as the Gobernación, Defensoría del Pueblo, UARIV, Registraduría, Migración Colombia and community organisations in the area of responsibility;
• Liaise permanently with the Area Manager and the Country Protection Coordinator to ensure coherence with DRC´s national protection strategy;
• Ensure compliance with monitoring and evaluation (MEAL) and donor reporting activities for all protection activities and ensure progress towards project objectives and indicators.
• Provide project support and inputs to donor reports;
• Supervise the overall protection budget, including financial management and expenses control for the project activities;
• Stay abreast of humanitarian developments and displacements in the area of intervention;
• Ensure compliance with minimum DRC and donor requirements for finance, HR and supply chain;
• Ensure effective coordination with support staff at the field office and DRC´s national office;
• Work closely with the Area Manager and Security Coordinator to gather security-related information to ensure the safety of DRC staff.

Program development and strategy

• Oversee knowledge sharing across teams, and ensure that monitoring and evaluation results are understood and used to improve programs.
• Contribute to national and local level protection strategies.

Accountability and reporting

• Guided by the DRC Programme Handbook, continuously monitor and develop relevant accountability initiatives within relevant project program as well as strengthening the effort to document the impact of activities;
• Ensure compliance with internal and external reporting requirements including procurement and financial reporting.

People Management.

• Supervise and Manage protection staff including coaching, ensuring coordination, recruitment, and capacity development, in line with DRC HR policy and guidelines.
• Provide on the job training as required and adapt trainings/coaching to specific staff needs.

As a Manager the post-holder is responsible for the following:

• Accountable for achieving DRC’s strategic goals and objectives within the area of responsibility.
• Accountable for making significant decisions on what the unit does: its purpose, functions and role, and for making commitments and decisions that require the expenditure of significant unit resources;

Required experience and competencies

• A minimum 5 years of experience in implementing protection activities in humanitarian contexts, with at least 2 years in complex IDP emergencies.
• Experience of working on legal issues related to internal displacement
• Experience in protection information management, in particular protection monitoring; Excellent reporting and protection analysis skills;
• At least 3 years’ experience of people management in the humanitarian sector, preferably in complex humanitarian emergencies with difficult security conditions;
• Experience in capacity building of protection staff;
• Excellent people and diplomatic skills;
• Ability to manage competing priorities and to meet deadlines;
• Effective team-player and problem solver;
• A good understanding of the legal framework and protection issues related to internal displacement in Colombia;
• Experience in in implementing protection activities related to IDPs in Colombia and/or Latin America context.
• Experience and knowledge of the protection cluster coordination system;
• Knowledge of AGD mainstreaming;
• English and Spanish fluency

Required education

• Master’s degree in political science, international development, humanitarian assistance, economics or other relevant fields.
• Or Bachelor’s degree in relevant fields with 3 years’ working experience in similar positions.

We offer

• Open for Nationals and Expats qualified candidates.
• Commencement: Asap
• Duty station: Barbacoas, Colombia
• Contract length: Until 31st march 2023 – For National contract different regulations applies*
• Position Level: Band F
• Designation of Duty Station: Non-Family duty station – Unaccompanied*
• Rest and Recovery: according to DRC Colombia rules (Expat)*

Application process

All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English or spanish

Closing date for applications**: June 30 , 2022 at 11:59 am (GMT -5).**

Please note that applications will be continuously reviewed and interviews will be scheduled as soon as a suitable candidate is identified. DRC reserves the right to close the vacancy before the deadline once a suitable candidate is identified.