Child Protection Officer at Save the Children Nigeria (2 Openings)

Save the Children is the leading independent organization for children in need, with programs in over 120 countries. We save children’s lives. We fight for their rights. We help them fulfil their potential. Save the Children is working in Nigeria because one in five children in Nigeria dies before their fifth birthday. About 40% of children miss out on school and have to work to survive while nearly 2 million children have lost one or both parents to an AIDS-related disease.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Child Protection Officer

Job ID: 13090
Location: Yobe
Employment Type: Contract
Contract length: 6 months
Grade: 4
Team / Programme: Programmes
Job Category: Programme Operations
Reports directly to: CP Coordinator 
Staff directly reporting to this post: N/A

Child Safeguarding

• Level 3 - the responsibilities of the CP officer will have regular contact with or access to children or young people.
• As part of these responsibilities the post holder will support the establishment of child safeguarding systems, promote a culture of keeping children safe, and ensure that potential harm to children (by our own staff and/or because of how we do our work) is identified and addressed on an ongoing basis.  
• The post holder should report and respond to interventions as determined by position related responsibilities identified in the Child Safeguarding Policy.

Role Purpose

• The CP Officer, under the direct supervision of the CP Coordinator, will play a key role in supporting the implementation of the BHA-funded Integrated Multi-Sectoral Lifesaving Assistance Project in Yobe State, within Save the Children Nigeria Country Program.
• The CP Officer will be responsible for ensuring that vulnerable children especially those exposed to or at risk of abuse, neglect, exploitation, and violence receive timely, safe, and quality protection services.
• In this role, the Officer will support the design, planning, implementation, and monitoring of child protection activities, with a focus on case management and community-based child protection mechanisms.
• The CP Officer will also contribute to needs assessments, data collection, and analysis to inform child protection interventions and advocate for the best interests of the child.

Key Areas of Accountability

• Support the implementation of child protection activities in line with international standards, national policies, and Save the Children’s CP minimum standards.
• Ensure case management services to vulnerable children, including unaccompanied and separated children (UASC), survivors of violence, and children at risk.
• Monitor and document protection trends and incidents; contribute to protection needs assessments and situation analyses.
• Support the identification and strengthening of appropriate community-based child protection mechanisms.
• Conduct regular field visits to monitor program activities, provide technical support, and ensure quality and accountability
• Coordinate with other sectors (Health, Nutrition, WASH, CVA,) to ensure child protection is integrated into the broader program.
• Participate in child protection sub-sector coordination meetings and contribute to inter-agency referrals and joint assessments.
• Liaise with local authorities, community leaders, civil society organizations, and partner NGOs to strengthen community engagement and referral pathways.
• Support training and mentoring of caseworkers, community volunteers, child protection committees, and partners on child safeguarding, case management, psychosocial support, and referral processes.
• Contribute to the development of child protection training materials and tools adapted to the local context
• Maintain accurate and confidential records of child protection cases and interventions using appropriate case management systems.
• Contribute to the development of timely progress reports, success stories, and lessons learned.
• Support accountability mechanisms by engaging children and caregivers in feedback and complaint processes.

General:

• Comply with Save the Children policies and practice with respect to child protection, code of conduct, health and safety, equal opportunities and other relevant policies and procedures.

Skills and Behaviours (our Values in Practice)
Accountability:

• Holds self-accountable for making decisions, managing resources efficiently, achieving and role modelling Save the Children values
• Holds the team and partners accountable to deliver on their responsibilities - giving them the freedom to deliver in the best way they see fit, providing the necessary development to improve performance and applying appropriate consequences when results are not achieved.

Ambition:

• Sets ambitious and challenging goals for themselves (and their team), takes responsibility for their own personal development and encourages others to do the same
• Widely shares their personal vision for Save the Children, engages and motivates others
• Future orientated, thinks strategically.

Collaboration:

• Builds and maintains effective relationships, with their team, colleagues, members and external partners and supporters
• Values diversity, sees it as a source of competitive strength
• Approachable, good listener, easy to talk to

Creativity:

• Develops and encourages new and innovative solutions
• Willing to take disciplined risks.

Integrity:

• Honest, encourages openness and transparency.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work or relevant field experience. 
• At least three (3) years post NYSC relevant experience in child protection programming including case management and community engagement.
• Experience in humanitarian context particularly Northeast Nigeria.
• Demonstrable commitment to a holistic vision of children’s welfare
• Excellent written and spoken English; local language skills a major advantage
• Demonstrable competence in report writing 
• Strong understanding of child protection principles, national child protection frameworks, and international standards (e.g., UNCRC, Minimum Standards for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action).
• Experience in working with partners, community members, and children in culturally sensitive ways.
• Commitment to upholding Save the Children’s Child Safeguarding Policy, and other Global Policies.

Working Contacts:

• External: The CP officer will be required to have regular contact with other similar organizations, children, community, and government departments.
• Internal: The CP officer will have direct relationship with all staff and management at all levels in ensuring the organizational policies and procedures are adhered to and complied with.    

Application Closing Date
17th June, 2025; 12:59 AM.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online