Senior Protection Officer at International Rescue Committee (IRC)

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Senior Protection Officer

Ref: req52361
Location: Mubi North, Adamawa
Employment Type: Full-Time
Position Reports to: Senior Program manager, safety outcome.
Indirect/Technical Reporting: Prol Technical coordinator
The position directly Supervises Legal officer and community engagement assistant.

Job Overview / Summary

• The Senior Protection Officer Position will oversee an IDP and host community Protection program in Adamawa State. In this capacity, the senior Protection officer will be responsible for day-to-day supervision and oversight of protection teams in Adamawa and various protection activities, budget management, administration, and implementation of the requirements of the programs.
• The senior Protection officer will work closely with other IRC Sectors and partner agencies operating in Adamawa state.
• This position will report to the senior program manager safety outcome and receive technical support from the Protection and Rule of Law Coordinator.

Major Responsibilities
Program Management, Technical Quality, and Strategy:

• Create and execute a work plan, spending plans, procurement plans and related systems to ensure that project deadlines are met, and targets achieved.
• Supervise and coach the Legal Officer and community engagement assistant to conduct monitoring visits, surveys, participatory assessments and/or community consultations focused on protection concerns and the identification of Persons with Special Needs (PSN) within the community. Ensure that monitoring visits respect principles of confidentiality of interviewees and that all incidents reported to IRC are handled with due regard to protection principles.
• Supervise and coach the legal officer and community engagement assistant to deliver awareness-raising activities on topics such as service availability and access to Justice.
• Support the legal officer and community engagement assistant in maintaining a good working knowledge of available services from IRC and partners, and an ability to make appropriate referrals to those services during protection monitoring and community outreach activities.
• Develop and maintain a good knowledge of the protection situation locally and the priority needs of the IDP population and host community. Compile protection assessment reports to inform IRC and partner programming in Adamawa/Borno/Yobe
• Convene and facilitate the monthly/semi-monthly community forum made up of NNGOs, community leaders, PAGs, local authorities, women's committee representatives, and others to discuss community priorities and NNGO plans.

Program Development:

• Support the legal officer and community engagement assistant in capacity building of community-based protection mechanisms through training, support, and maintenance of the PAGs throughout the State.
• Conduct protection mainstreaming activities, especially regarding partner programming, to ensure that protection principles are prioritized in service delivery and that vulnerable IDPs and host community members have equal access to services.
• Participate in the development of proposals, budgets, and concept notes in coordination with the Protection and Rule Law Coordinator, DDP, Grants team, and HQ Technical Unit.
• Contribute to the development of the Country Sector Strategy for the Nigeria Protection Program.
• Support other protection programs as needed, including Child Protection and Women's Protection and Empowerment

Coordination & Representation:

• Actively participate in coordination mechanisms with partners, IDPs, and host community leaders to ensure information sharing and coordination of interventions, and to enable meaningful participation of both IDPs and host communities.
• Liaise with partners, particularly through the protection sector working group/coordination mechanism, to share findings and any issues of relevance and/or concern related to the local context or broader trends.
• Establish relationships with other NGOs, international organizations, government offices, particularly those working in protection and participate in relevant coordination forums.

Key Working Relationships

• Position Reports to:  Senior Program manager, safety outcome.
• Indirect / Technical Reporting: Prol Technical coordinator
• Position directly Supervises Legal officer and community engagement assistant.

Qualifications
Education:

• Degree in Law, International Law, Human Rights, International Affairs, or social sciences.

Work Experience:

• Minimum of three years of professional experience in protection programming in a displacement setting
• Strong understanding of protection principles and likely protection concerns arising in the Nigeria context as well as conflict sensitivity
• Experience in complex emergencies and the ability to live and work in a very remote environment.

Demonstrated Technical Skills:

• Ability to work under pressure and without daily supervision and demonstrated analytical skills and report writing experience required.

Demonstrated Managerial / Leadership Competencies:

• Demonstrated skill in staff management in a cross- cultural environment, Strong interpersonal, intercultural and communication skills.

Languages:

• English language and Hausa language is an added advantage.

Computer / Other Tech Requirements:

• Full professional competency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.  Add position-specific (e.g. accounting software, statistical software, etc.).

Ability to Travel: 

• 30% of time if applicable.

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.