Protection Manager

Danish Refugee Council, one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, is currently looking for a highly qualified Protection Manager

About the job

The Protection Manager (PM) is responsible for the overall protection portfolio of DRC Somalia. Working with a team of protection technical experts at the country level (GBV, CP, etc.), the PM will be responsible to ensure that technical protection staff at the country level provide the necessary training, guidelines, standard operating procedures to field staff ensuring harmonization, sharing of best practices, and compliance with global and organizational standards. Specifically, the PM is responsible for ensuring quality implementation and standards of DRC’s protection activities across the country in close collaboration with Area Managers, while acting as the main technical focal point for the field-based protection staff. The PM will be responsible for expanding DRC’s protection portfolio and position DRC as a strategic protection actor in Somalia, while ensuring the centrality of protection across DRC’s programme.

In Somalia, DRC has an exciting and varied funding base with different focus areas, including but not limited to general protection, child protection, protection from gender-based violence, community-based protection, emergency response actions, a migration component with a dedicated voluntary returnee project.

In addition to technical support and quality assurance, the PM will lead the development and updating of country-specific protection strategies, external representation of DRC in various fora (working groups, donors, embassies, local authorities), as well as develop advocacy products where relevant with focus on protection in Somalia. As DRC intends to move into different delivery modalities that are more integrated with other programming components, including programming in hard-to-reach locations, and implementation through Somali local organizations, the PM will be responsible for leading this process jointly with the Technical Staff and Head of Programme.

Your main duties and responsibilities will be:

Responsibilities:

Technical Oversight and Management of Protection Programming

• Design and manage DRC’s protection interventions as per international best practice standards.
• Develop, adapt, and oversee the rollout and application of quality measures for DRC’s protection activities, in line with SPHERE standards, the Inter-Agency Minimum Standards for Child Protection, and guidelines defined in national coordination fora.
• Support the field staff with rapid needs assessments/Protection Risk Analysis to inform program design and strategic direction, as well as identify risks and vulnerabilities, including those related to gender, age, and disability.
• Develop concrete initiatives to reduce protection risks and design specific strategies to build upon existing assets within the population.
• Lead and support DRC’s positioning as a lead protection actor in Somalia.

Monitoring, Reporting, and Proposal/Strategy Development

• Take the lead on protection-related proposals as relevant and with the support of the direct reports, and ensure that all proposed interventions are protection mainstreamed, regardless of sector, in close collaboration with DRC’s grants, M&E, and programme staff.
• Develop protection-focused program monitoring tools.
• Undertake quality control and site monitoring to ensure that services provided are according to the best international practice standards.
• Conduct program monitoring as per expected outputs and outcomes.
• Support teams to monitor financial spending and budgets for all protection projects.
• Provide technical inputs and quality assurance to donors and other DRC reports.
• Ensure that the design and implementation of protection activities address the protection needs of refugees, IDPs, and other vulnerable populations within DRC’s mandate.
• Ensure that quality assurance systems are developed and applied, with particular reference to the Core Humanitarian Standard and age, gender, and disability throughout the programme.
• Ensure that a protection risk analysis is in place and constantly updated in the area of responsibility.

Protection Integration across DRC sectors and programmes in Hard to Reach locations

• Promote integrated programming and ensure internal coordination and harmonisation of DRC protection interventions across sites and with other core sectors, specifically CCCM, Economic Recovery, and Emergency Response programming.
• Contribute to protection mainstreaming across all DRC field offices.
• Conduct and supervise internal and external trainings on protection-related issues, including protection mainstreaming for DRC staff, partners, and project beneficiaries.

Coordination and Representation

• Represent DRC in protection coordination meetings, such as the Protection Cluster and the CP-GBV Sub-Cluster working group as well as in relevant technical working groups related to IDP protection and durable solutions, as agreed with the Head of Programme.
• Coordinate with government agencies, such as the Ministry of Women, Families and Children Affairs, Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, UNHCR, UNICEF, protection NGOs, and other key stakeholders on the provision of protection services and relevant contingency planning.
• Ensure internal coordination and harmonization of DRC protection-related activities with DRC Somalia’s regional protection programs.
• Promote improved understanding of protection issues among all relevant stakeholders and ensure the observance of international protection and humanitarian legal standards.

Management and Supervision

• Lead and manage the country office, and project-specific protection staff (including people planning, performance, well-being, and development)
• Provide technical supervision to protection staff across DRC’s field sites, in collaboration with Area Managers.
• Contribute to the recruitment and performance management of protection staff that fall outside of direct line management responsibility as needed.
• Develop staff capacities on the rights-based approaches, participatory protection assessments and monitoring, and inclusion of vulnerable groups through training, mentoring, and coaching.

The responsibilities listed in the JD are not exhaustive and may be readjusted according to operational needs but will remain in line with the overall purpose of the role.

About you

To be successful in this role we expect you to have :-

Required

• University or graduate degree in law, social work, gender, or other relevant field.
• 5-8 years of work experience in law or protection, particularly in refugee, returnee, IDP, and host community protection.
• 6 years of experience working with international NGOs, UN agencies, relevant ministries, or local authorities in responding to the needs of refugees, returnees, IDPs, and host communities.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating with and supporting national and local authorities as well as humanitarian coordination fora.
• Prior experience in legal aid programming and gender programming is a strong advantage.
• Prior experience with data analysis and writing/development of thematic protection reports, and advocacy products is a strong asset.
• Excellent analytical and English writing skills.
• Ability to work effectively and efficiently unsupervised.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize, meet deadlines and adapt in a complex and challenging environment.
• Experience with capacity building, and in convening and facilitating trainings and workshops.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to establish effective working relations with staff members and other stakeholders.
• Experience living and working in cross-cultural, multi-sector, and/or remote environments.

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: 12 months with the possibility of extension, subject to funding.

Band: Employment band Management F

Work location: Mogadishu with travel to field locations

Start date: March 2025

Reporting to: Head of Programme

Direct Reports: Protection Specialist, GBV Specialist, Project Manager – Child Protection, Project Manager – Return & Migration

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for employees on Expat or national contract.