Protection Manager – Re-advertisement

Who are we?

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfillment of the wish to return home.

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956, and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced.

All of our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.

DRC has been operating in the Middle East (ME) region for over a decade, running a combination of emergency, livelihood, protection and advocacy programmes through Country Offices (COs) in Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey with a Regional Office (RO) in Amman.

DRC Yemen’s response

Throughout its nine field offices and a workforce of 450 staff, DRC upholds its main programmatic objectives to provide immediate and life sustaining assistance, to strengthen the protective environment, and to reduce displacement related risks and vulnerabilities by promoting self-reliance at household and community level.

About the job

Overall purpose of the role:

Under the line management of the South Area Programme Manager and under the technical supervision of the Country Protection Manager (Country PM), the South Protection Manager (South PM) is responsible for the planning, quality implementation and follow up of the protection projects in the assigned area as well as management of the protection team. In close coordination with the Country PM, the South PM contributes to the development and implementation of DRC’s sector strategy in Yemen, as well as the harmonization and rollout of tools and guidelines.

The South Protection Manager is responsible for developing and maintaining good relations with the crisis-affected people in DRC’s areas of operation, relevant stakeholders and other humanitarian actors within his/her area of implementation. To support adequate implementation and coordination of DRC’s sector activities as the technical focal point for protection staff in their area of implementation, the South PM will be responsible for strengthening DRC’s protection team’s capacity and ensure high quality services and activities to conflict-affected persons in Yemen, including to, persons in mixed movement flows, IDPs, host communities, IDP-returnees, and other groups.

Main responsibilities :

This role focuses on Protection activities implemented from Aden office, in Aden, Lahj, TAiz and Marib governorates, and ensures compliance with DRC procedures. The role contributes to the development of area strategies, which are translated into action plans and day-to-day tasks.

Program Implementation & Quality Assurance

• Ensure protection programming in the area of responsibility is conducted according to DRC Protection guidance, SoPs, and humanitarian principles.
• Responsible for ensuring timely and quality implementation of protection projects in their defined areas of operation including partner implemented activities. This includes meeting project targets (activity and budget), ensuring DRC and donor compliant implementation and supervising quality;
• Produce and regularly update detailed project work plans. Plans should set out future activity and track progress to date on outputs and activities;
• Undertake field/onsite visits and regular review of activity documentation to monitor the quality of implementation and ensure appropriate coaching and supervision of protection staff
• Maintain close communications with colleagues in other sectors, Base/Area Office management, Country Office technical supervision, and support office (Finance, HR, Supply Chain) regarding challenges and opportunities;
• Prepare high quality and timely narrative internal and donor reports, check this reporting against area financial reports, liaise with Country PM for quality assurance;
• Complete and regularly update budget forecasts for project activities and staffing and monitor spending against the budget on a regular basis. Manage expenditures in line with the project workplans and take timely corrective action to prevent over and under expenditure;
• Plan and coordinate proactively logistics and movements of staff from and to different operational areas;
• Maintain ongoing communication with Safety regarding relevant contextual developments and incident reporting;
• Support integration of Protection interventions with other core sectors, ensuring close collaboration between field teams;
• Establish and regularly update the MEAL plan, including (a) ensuring appropriate indicator and quality tracking (both quantitative and qualitative) and (b) working closely with Quality Assurance to put in place and maintain DRC accountability mechanisms;
• Identify opportunities and material to contribute to communications work.
• Provide technical oversight, monitoring and mentoring/capacity building for local partner organizations as relevant.

Program Team Management & Capacity Development

• Recruit and line manage (including conducting appraisals on performance management and providing instructions to HR around contract amendments and termination) the protection team based on funding availability and quality of work;
• Provide regular constructive feedback to direct reports, following DRC’s performance management procedures, and support direct reports in performance management of their team members;
• Assess training and development needs within the Protection team, develop a capacity building plan and implement the plan with the support from the Country Protection Manager;
• Liaise with line and technical management as necessary and relevant regarding team performance;

Program Strategy & Design

• In close coordination with the Area Programme Manager and under the technical supervision Country Protection Manager, the PM contributes to the development and implementation of DRC’s protection strategy in the area of implementation as well as the harmonization and rollout of tools and guidelines;
• Support integration of Protection interventions with other core sectors, ensuring close collaboration between field teams;
• Work closely with the Area Programme Manager, Country Protection Manager and Protection Team Leaders on the identification of needs of communities and gaps in Protection services within DRC’s areas of intervention;
• Provide, upon request, technical input into the development (and implementation) of relevant SOPs and technical standards;
• In coordination with the Area Programme Manager, Area Manager and Country Protection Manager, contribute to the Area level program strategy and to the establishment of sector-based log frames and targets;
• Participate in the proposal development process by providing field specific context analysis, technical sector specific analysis, beneficiary information, feedback including proposing the activities and costing at field level in line with Area Log Frames;

Coordination and Representation

• Actively participate in, contribution to and representation of DRC in the sub-national Protection Cluster and relevant AORs as agreed with the Country PM, as well as working groups, and other meetings related to protection;
• Ensure that DRC’s work is coordinated with efforts of other agencies, ensuring the specific needs of vulnerable communities are being addressed;
• Feed into national clusters through Country Protection Manager, regarding context, needs and possibilities for coordination.
• Support the P&L team in mapping, vetting and technical capacity assessments of partners.
• Maintain open lines of communication with local partner organisations.

Other

• Ensure respect of DRC Code of Conduct and DRC’s zero tolerance policy of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA), humanitarian principles and contribute to integration of Protection and Age, Gender, Diversity (AGD) mainstreaming into DRC programming;
• Undertake any other relevant tasks that may be assigned by the line manager.
• Contribute to advocacy objectives through engagement in briefings, development of advocacy products, and coordination.

About you

Experience and technical competencies

• Minimum four years protection field experience, preferably in an emergency and/or early recovery context; of which two have been in a management position;
• Experience in humanitarian work and refugee/IDP complex emergencies, including in camp settings and/or mix migration flows;
• Experience with managing large teams and providing technical guidance, training and capacity building;
• Preferred experience with full time remote management of static and mobile teams.
• Prior experience implementing protection monitoring, protection case management, PSS, legal aid, and community-based protection; familiarity with mixed movement programming is a plus
• Experience managing large protection projects, budget planning and follow-up, procurement, report and proposal writing;
• Proven communication, negotiation, advocacy and diplomacy skills;
• Ability to quickly develop understanding of the human rights situation and insight into the environment of the program country;
• Strong cultural sensitivity and experience working with persons from various backgrounds.
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically, plan and manage own time effectively, prioritize and meet deadlines.
• Sound understanding and experience in protection mainstreaming and Age, Gender, and Diversity (AGD) mainstreaming, Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) and Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and abuse (PSEA)

Education:

• University degree relevant to humanitarian work: preferably in law, social work, gender studies, social sciences or humanitarian aid (significant proven field experience may be accepted in lieu)

Languages:

• Arabic – fluent
• English – fluent

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies:

Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.

Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.

Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.

Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.

Demonstrating integrity: You uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to our values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

We offer

Contract length: one year contract

Band: F2 Manager

Duty Station: Yemen – Aden

Designation of Duty Station: Non-Family Duty Station

Start date: ASAP

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment.