Protection Rule of Law Coordinator, Ukraine

IRC Ukraine is currently looking for a strategic and versatile leader to oversee and manage a complex multi-donor, multi-year Protection and Rule of Law (PRoL) portfolio composed of access to justice, protection monitoring, information services, psychosocial services, and case management They has practical experience in emergencies context; strong diplomacy, coordination and networking skills; solutions oriented and pragmatic with the capacity to solve problems efficiently; and previous change management experience preferred. They have strong leadership abilities to create an environment that cultivates innovative thinking and new approaches firmly anchored in the realities of the local context and aligned to national systems.

The Protection and Rule of Law Coordinator will work to oversee the quality and timely implementation of all aspects of the Protection and Rule of Law portfolio, providing cohesion and strategic direction. They will work closely with IRC staff and key partners ensuring the interventions are context appropriate, leverage cross-programmer synergies and complementarities and align to national systems and international standards.

The PRoL Coordinator reports to the Senior Integrated Protection Coordinator and may be based in Vinnystia or Dnipro, with regular travel to other locations.

Major Responsibilities:

Portfolio Management

• Provide strategic direction and vision for the IRC’s PRoL programming in Ukraine, while observing high program quality and ensuring alignment with IRC’s best practices

• Oversee the technical aspects of the implementation and coordination of PRoL programs

• Support senior managers and field teams in the implementation and monitoring of work plans ensuring that activities reflect commitments IRC made to donors and communities

• Develop and/or adapt technical and managerial tools to support program implementation

• Work collaboratively with the MEAL coordinator to ensure that monitoring and evaluation systems are effectively designed and integrated into all stages of the project; that output and impact data are captured and that data is used to optimize program quality

• Participate in cross-departmental collaboration and coordination with economic recovery and development (ERD), health and women’s protection and empowerment (WPE) and child protection (CP) colleagues to ensure synergies are leveraged

• Promote strategic collaboration with key national partners to deliver greater impact

• Participate in grant opening, midterm review and grant closing meetings for all PRoL grants and ensure that the same process is implemented in the field

• In collaboration with program and grants staff, set up a budget tracking system and review budget vs. actual expenditure for PRoL programs on a monthly basis with staff

• Review all reports prepared by the field staff and provide appropriate feedback to the concerned staff and ensure that reports are written and submitted to concerned bodies in a timely manner

• Liaise regularly with the relevant HQ technical units

Staff Support

• Provide technical guidance, on-the-job mentoring and coaching for the deputy coordinator, senior manager and managers

• Ensure ongoing training and targeted capacity building of PRoL staff. This includes staff training in program management areas such as reporting, budgeting, monitoring, evaluation, and supervision

• Support field coordinators to ensure that the deputy coordinator and senior manager put capacity development plans in place for the national protection teams based on documented capacity needs assessments exercise

• Provide continuous support to and ensure targeted capacity building of staff

• Review performance of PRoL staff in the field and provide supportive approaches to address issues identified

New Business Development

• Ensure PRoL strategy is updated as required in close collaboration with the PRoL team, DDP, Snr. Integrated Protection Coordinator and other Technical Advisors

• Identify opportunities for, design and develop concept notes and proposals to grow the PRoL portfolio

• Ensure all designed protection projects use the IRC theories of change and that outcomes are evidence-driven and evidence-generated

• Coordinate and participate in the development of budgets for program proposals in conjunction with the grants and finance departments

• Develop and/or input into protection assessments and protection reporting analysis for the purpose of program development

• Identify opportunities for partnership and strategic collaboration

Representation, coordination and advocacy

• Coordinate with the CD, DDP and other technical coordinators to forge connections with key government counterparts, UN agencies, I/NGOs, human rights actors and other sub-national government actors

• Represent the IRC in high level and strategic meetings involving protection actors such as protection working group meetings, inter-agency coordination meetings, and bilateral meetings

• Regularly coordinate with internal program and operational stakeholders, including the Protection/Rule of Law Technical Advisors, Women’s Protection and Empowerment and other IRC colleagues

Key working relationships

Position reports to: Deputy Director, Programs / Snr. Integrated Protection Co

Direct reporting: Protection and Rule of Law Managers, Snr. Protection Capacity Building Officer

Requirements

The Protection and Rule of Law Coordinator will need to meet the requirements below:

• Post-graduate degree desired in international law, human rights law, international relations, social sciences, or other related field, or equivalent work experience.

• At least 5 years’ experience in senior management and leadership position managing large scale portfolio of multi-donor, multi-million dollar, multi-year programming

• Proven record of technical expertise in programming in one or more of the following areas: access to justice, case management, psychosocial support, information services, and protection monitoring and analysis

• Previous experience implementing humanitarian protection programs

• Demonstrable ability to lead strategic planning, change processes, results-based management and data-driven reporting

• Ability to lead effectively, mentoring and conflict resolution skills, including managing complexities

• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in new business development, grants management and donor liaison

• Familiarity with key donor regulations, i.e. BHA,, BPRM and ECHO

• Experience in working with and coordinating with the UN, donors, INGOs and other stakeholders

• Demonstrated experience in staff supervision, capacity building, project design and budget management

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with excellent analysis and writing skills

• Strong team and people leadership, portfolio management, organizational and development skills

• Proven networking, team building, organizational and communication skills

• Additional qualities: ability to multi-task, ability to handle pressure well, ability to improvise, flexibility, adaptability to transitions.

• Fluent in spoken and written English; Ukrainian and/or Russian desirable

This position will be based in Vinnytsia, with travel to Dnipro, Kiev and other locations as necessary. As this is a fluid and rapidly changing context, the location of this position and length of assignment may change based on the needs of the program.

National Candidates: We strongly encourage national candidates to apply for this position. The IRC strives to attract, motivate and retain qualified national staff in our programs.

Standards of Professional Conduct: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.

Gender Equality & Equal Opportunity: We are committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer generous benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances. We welcome and strongly encourage qualified female professionals to apply.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, colour, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.