Safeguarding Officer at Save the Children Nigeria

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: Safeguarding Officer

Location: Borno
Employment-type: Full-time
Team: Safeguarding
Reports to: Head of Programmes Implementation
Grade: 4

Safeguarding

• Level 3: The role holder will have contact with children and / or young people either frequently (e.g. once a week or more) or intensively (e.g. four days in one month or more or overnight) because they work in country programs; or are visiting country programs; ore because they are responsible for implementing the police checking / vetting process staff.

Role Purpose

• The overall aim of the role is to support the country programme (humanitarian and development) in promoting and building a ‘Safe Organization’ and zero tolerance to sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) of children and adult beneficiaries through awareness raising and beneficiary sensitization focusing on the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA) by staff and representatives as well as facilitating confidential reporting of child safeguarding and PSEA concerns/incidents through appropriate channels.

Scope of Role

• Save the Children is committed to ensuring that all children, who have contact with the organization, are safeguarded to the maximum possible extent from child abuse and sexual exploitation.
• This commitment is implemented through the organization’s Safeguarding Framework which incorporates the Child Safeguarding Policy; Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) Policy; Anti-Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying Policy; and SCI Code of Conduct.
• It applies equally to all beneficiaries irrespective of their age, gender, disability, ethnicity, sexuality, marital status or religion; and is achieved through ensuring that all staff, partners and other representatives are aware of the problem of child abuse and sexual exploitation, the risks to children and their responsibility to ensure children are not harmed or put at risk during programme implementation activities.

Key Areas of Accountability

• Identify and address training needs of staff and stakeholders in humanitarian and development response in relation to keeping children safe and protecting adults at risk.
• Coordinate safeguarding capacity building and mobilize project staff, partners, volunteers and other stakeholders to undergo induction and annual training in Safeguarding, PSEA and Safe Programming training through formal and informal training sessions, webinars, discussion of case studies, quizzes etc.
• Train and support the Safeguarding Focal Points, thematic leads and supporting functions in the fulfilment of their respective safeguarding responsibilities.
• Develop and prepare materials for all safeguarding and Safe Programming related trainings.
• Organize and facilitate safeguarding induction for newly recruited staff, volunteers, beneficiaries, stakeholders and partners in the field office.
• Facilitate translation of safeguarding IEC materials to local dialects and lead in the procurement and dissemination of all safeguarding IEC materials produced.
• Develop safeguarding messages for various groups of stakeholders and facilitate publication.
• Conduct safeguarding risk assessment for all sectors, projects, programmes and activities involving children in collaboration with respective leads for such activities.
• Compile partners’ activity documents, analyze partners risk assessment result and support on identified gap.
• Support the development and/or updating of safeguarding proposal risk assessment, design mitigation plan and develop safeguarding financial activity plan. 
• Compile and develop monthly safeguarding training data/activity report with coordination of focal point.
• Support sectors on reviewing of proposals through a child-safety lens to ensure safe program is implemented and coordinate with the MEAL (Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning) team during the evaluation processes for the compliance of indicators of safe programming.
• Lead in all aspects of safeguarding investigations of reported child safeguarding, PSEA and unsafe programming incidents/concerns and manage the online reporting system by ensuring that all updates on investigations are up to date.
• Support the organization of learning forum on safeguarding best practices at different level – schools and CFS, TLS, etc. 
• Support the Safeguarding manager to provide technical guidance on safeguarding to partners, volunteers, SCI representatives and other key stakeholders including consultants.
• Support the Safeguarding Manager to conduct supervision and monitoring visits to project and construction sites and other implementation sites as required.
• Maintain clear records of number of staff, partners, volunteers, contractors, vendors, consultants and other parties trained in safeguarding.
• Support the capturing and sharing of lessons learnt on safeguarding, PSEA and safe programming in across the country’s programme.
• Carry out any other duties either in addition to or instead of those outlined above which may reasonably be required from time to time.

Additional Job Responsibilities:

• The duties and responsibilities as set out above are not exhaustive and the role holder may be required to carry out additional duties within reasonableness of their level of skills and experience.

Core Competencies and Values:

• Respect & Integrity: Upholds ethical standards, treats all individuals with dignity, and maintains confidentiality in safeguarding matters.
• Diversity & Inclusion: Values diverse perspectives and promotes inclusive practices that protect and empower vulnerable groups.
• Commitment to Excellence: Strives for high-quality safeguarding implementation, continuously seeking opportunities for learning and improvement.
• Adaptability & Resilience: Responds effectively to changing circumstances and remains focused under pressure, especially in humanitarian or complex settings.
• Innovation & Initiative: Identifies gaps and proposes creative, practical solutions to strengthen safeguarding systems and practices.
• Relationship Building: Builds trust and collaborative relationships with colleagues, partners, and community members to promote a culture of safety.
• Effective Communication: Communicates clearly and sensitively, tailoring messages to diverse audiences and ensuring understanding of safeguarding principles.
• Facilitation & Capacity Building: Supports safeguarding training, mentoring, and awareness-raising activities
• Strategic Thinking: Applies sound judgment and a forward-looking approach to safeguarding risks, trends, and mitigation strategies.
• Planning & Organization: Manages time and tasks efficiently, ensuring timely delivery of safeguarding activities and documentation.
• Personal Leadership: Leads by example, aligning actions with the organization’s mission to protect children and vulnerable populations.

Organizational Values:
Accountability:

• Takes ownership of safeguarding responsibilities, ensuring actions reflect Save the Children’s values and standards.
• Demonstrates reliability and professionalism in managing resources, reporting concerns, and supporting safeguarding investigations.

Ambition:

• Sets high standards for personal performance and imbibes a culture of continuous improvement.
• Shares a clear vision for safeguarding and motivates others through advocacy and awareness.

Collaboration:

• Works effectively with colleagues, partners, and stakeholders to promote safeguarding across all levels of engagement.
• Values diverse contributions and fosters inclusive dialogue to strengthen safeguarding outcomes.

Creativity:

• Encourages and applies innovative approaches to safeguarding challenges.
• Willing to take informed risks to improve protection mechanisms and reporting systems.

Integrity:

• Acts with honesty and transparency in all safeguarding matters.
• Promotes a safe, open environment where concerns can be raised and addressed appropriately.

Qualifications & Experience

• A Degree in Law, Humanities, Social Sciences, Development Studies, or any other related field.
• Proven experience in safeguarding, child protection, Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), or Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL), particularly within humanitarian or insecure settings.
• Demonstrated experience in leading or participating in safeguarding investigations in development and/or humanitarian contexts.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Strong understanding of safeguarding and protection policies, frameworks, and practices, including current issues affecting vulnerable populations in Nigeria.
• Familiarity with national and international safeguarding standards, including those from Save the Children, UN agencies, and INGO networks.
• Excellent data management and analysis skills, with proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and other relevant software.
• Strong documentation and report writing skills in English, with attention to detail and confidentiality.
• Ability to communicate complex and sensitive information clearly and appropriately to diverse audiences.
• Skilled in facilitating safeguarding training and awareness sessions for staff, partners, and community stakeholders.

Core Competencies:

• High level of integrity, empathy, and commitment to safeguarding principles.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, multicultural environment.
• Strong interpersonal and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage sensitive issues with discretion.
• Capacity to assess risk, identify gaps, and implement safeguarding measures across programs and operations.
• Ability to support the development and implementation of safeguarding action plans, including community-based mechanisms.
• Willingness to travel to field locations and engage with communities, including children and vulnerable groups.

Desirable:

• Experience working with children, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups.
• Knowledge of local languages and cultural contexts.
• Familiarity with digital reporting platforms.

Equal Opportunities:

• The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with the SCI Equal Opportunities and Diversity policies and procedures.

Child Safeguarding:

• We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

Health and Safety:

• The role holder is required to carry out the duties in accordance with SCI Health and Safety policies and procedures.

Application Closing Date
27th February, 2026.

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