Protection Officer-National Contract

DRC Greece is looking to recruit a qualified and enthusiastic professional to work in North Greece as Protection Officer. Under the supervision of the Protection Team Leader and in close cooperation with other protection colleagues, DRC field units and other relevant actors in the area of North, the Protection Officer will be 100% field-based, will develop and maintain good relations with the persons of concern and will support the implementation of DRC’s protection objectives and activities to provide timely and effective protection to persons of concern under DRC projects in the open accommodation sites.

About the job

The Protection Officer responsibilities will include, but not necessarily be limited to the following:

• Participate in the implementation of general protection activities in accordance with agreed objectives.
• Continuously monitor protection concerns and document the needs of the persons of concern.
• Monitor and analyse trends in the protection situation within and affecting the area of deployment for programme, advocacy, and management purposes.
• Maintain an oversight of services provided and available to persons of concern with whom the protection team is working in the area of deployment.
• Continuously monitor the provision of services on the site and report on findings, to ensure Protection considerations are mainstreamed across all sectors.
• Regularly review and adapt vulnerability criteria; identify vulnerable individuals and facilitate appropriate action, including referrals to specialized services, follow ups, TPA or other forms of direct service provision.
• Conduct vulnerability assessments with a priority to new arrivals, to Identify social, legal, psychosocial, socio-economic, and administrative needs of Persons of Concern (PoC) and/or support related exercises.
• Ensure that DRC’s protection activities are delivered on time and to agreed standards and are flexible and responsive by participating in (joint) assessments, identifying protection concerns and reporting for evidence-based interventions and informed actions.
• Provide appropriate and relevant information to refugees and migrants regarding their rights and services available to them inside and outside the open accommodation facilities.
• Provide support in designing and implementing awareness raising sessions and information sessions for persons of concern.
• Maintain services mapping files/documents updated, ensure regular follow up with information sharing platforms (refugee info and others) and share relevant information in a timely, gender and age-appropriate manner
• Support the design and implementation of population profiling and verification exercises to ensure site population data is regularly updated.
• Ensure that DRC approach to protection is consistently applied through community – based protection methods.
• Encourage, support and monitor community-based protection networks in the DRC sites.
• Draft protection reports and provide input in designing protection tools and formats.
• Document case studies, best practices and lessons learned from each of the activities implemented.
• Undertake planning and provide feedback to the Protection Team Leader on procurement and logistics needs.
• Provide translation/interpretation as necessary.
• In addition to the above, the Protection Officer may be asked to carry out other duties requested by the Protection Team Leader or Field Protection Manager in relation to protection activities or reception of Persons of Concern at the open accommodation sites of the operation.

Coordination and Representation

• Liaise with local authorities, service providers and humanitarian actors to support mapping of services and development of effective referral pathways.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with external stakeholders, including partner organizations, NGOs, government authorities, UNHCR, as well as persons of concern in the area of deployment.
• Act as a focal point for contact between DRC protection management, other DRC North protection team members (e.g., Cultural Mediators-Interpreters, Legal Aid team, CFS/WSS team other DRC protection officers in other sites, etc.), between the DRC protection team and other DRC units, and/or with other agencies in the area of deployment.
• Liaise regularly with CwC focal points and SMS teams to ensure complementarity of services provision and coordination at field level.
• Represent DRC in Protection meetings on site level as required.

Collaboration and supervision

• Report any major issues to the protection management.
• Collaborate with DRC colleagues to resolve problems and issues as they arise.
• Ensure the observance of the DRC Code of Conduct throughout activity implementation.
• Ensure SEA mitigation measures are in place, monitor and address any potential concerns with the team leader and manager.

About you

To be successful in the role we expect you to possess the following:

Required

• Strong verbal and written language skills in Arabic or French
• Professional fluency in written and spoken English.
• At least two years working experience in a related field; previous experience working with refugees and asylum seekers.
• Strong computer skills.
• High professional ethics.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Dynamic personality and ability to work under pressure.
• Commitment to the values, vision, and mission of DRC.
• Commitment and respect of the DRC code of conduct.
• Strong initiative and self-motivated, with a strong commitment to teamwork and humanitarian principle.
• Flexible, enthusiastic, and willing to learn from others.
• Ability to multitask and cope with competing demands under tight deadlines.
• Ability to cope with high workload and stress and identify priority activities and assignments, and adjust priorities as required.
• Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships in a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary environment.

Desirable

• Strong languages skills in one or more of the following languages are considered an added value: Greek, Kurdish (Kurmanji/Sorani), Somali.
• University degree especially in Social sciences, Law, Refugee and Migration studies, International Relations, Psychology is highly appreciated.
• Post-graduate degree in any of the above is considered a strong asset
• Experience of community-based or community mobilisation work in a humanitarian context and/or experience with protection tools and monitoring is an asset.
• Previous working experience with local or international NGOs as well as experience in refugee sites or shelters will be considered as a strong advantage.

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

• Designation of Duty Station: Central Macedonia-North Greece, (Thessaloniki sub-office)
• Band: H
• All allowances will be provided to the employees (Christmas, Easter, Vacation bonus)
• DRC provides training opportunities to develop and strengthen the quality of its services as well as its staff members’ professional and personal development.