Protection Team Leader

In 2003, DRC became one of the first organisations to provide humanitarian assistance in the country. Today, DRC continues to provide humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable displacement-affected families, including IDPs, returnees, and host communities in Basra, Baqubah, Jalawla, Gatoon, Baghdad, Muqdadiya, Balad, Aziz Balad, Samarra, Mosul, Duhok, Tel Afar, Baa’j, Sinjar, and Erbil.

Find more about DRC operations in Iraq here: Iraq tendersglobal.net DRC Danish Refugee Council

Danish Refugee Council, one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, is currently looking for a highly qualified candidate with the relevant experience and skills for the Protection Team Leader role in Iraq.

About the job

• Supervise Protection team members, including Protection Officers, Protection Assistants and Protection Outreach Workers
• Deliver support and technical guidance to the Protection team
• Ensure the quality of the planning, implementation and follow-up of all technical aspects of the Legal Aid and Community-based protection (CBP), Case Management and Violence against women and men activities being implemented by DRC and Partners.
• Develop and maintain good relations with the persons of concern, relevant stakeholders and other humanitarian actors, to support adequate implementation and coordination of DRC’s protection activities

Geographic scope: Anbar – Fallujah (Iraq)

• This role has a focus on Anbar and ensures compliance with DRC procedures and guidelines within DRC Iraq and Anbar office. The role contributes to the implementation of protection strategies for Anbar, which are translated into action plans and day-to-day tasks.

Responsibilities: 

Management

• Under the supervision of the Project Manager – the General Protection team leader will Manage and supervise the Protection team (Officers and Assistants), providing guidance and support, facilitating team meetings, completing performance reviews and recruiting/onboarding new protection staff.
• Ensure effective planning and maintain oversight of the implementation of DRC’s general protection activities including support to vulnerable groups.
• Ensure and monitor the quality of protection activities’ implementation in accordance with international protection standards, DRC standard operating procedures and technical guidance.
• Provide overall oversight and management of the Community Safe Spaces (Static or Mobile) and respective teams working in the allocated geographic area.
• Programming & Operations
• Ensure the successful delivery of high-quality protection activities to people of concern of different ages (youth, adults and older persons), (men and women) and abilities (including people with disabilities).
• Supervise Protection Officer, Protection Assistants and outreach workers, ensuring that all activities are implemented in accordance with SOPs and are meeting international and DRC protection standards, including protection mainstreaming principles.
• Monitor the identification of vulnerable beneficiaries by Protection Assistants and outreach workers and the effective internal and external referral that is being ensured by the Protection Officer (CBP/CM). These also include timely and adequate referrals of children in need of Child Protection.
• Ensure DRC Case Management and Legal Aid staff members proactively facilitate adequate and timely identification of vulnerable people in need of protection support; and regularly update their respective databases to ensure timely and accurate case data, in accordance with data protection principles.
• Provide approvals for delivery of IPA and legal fees in accordance with DRC SOPs and financial procedures.
• Provide feedback to the Project Manager – Protection on technical gaps, protection tools and the capacity building needs of the Protection Team. Provide support to the Project manager on capacity-building activities where necessary.
• Plan and organize protection monitoring activities (including focus group discussions, household surveys and key informant interviews) and community consultations when required.
• Responsible for recruitment of CBP/legal//case management staff and monitor timely induction and capacity building of newly recruited Protection Team members to ensure quality and accountability.
• Support the monitoring of project expenditure against budgets and provide timely feedback on budget follow-up.
• Ensure DRC Protection staff proactively facilitate adequate and timely identification of vulnerable people in need of protection support; and regularly update their respective databases to ensure timely and accurate case data, in accordance with data protection principles.
• Provide approvals for delivery of IPA in accordance with DRC SOPs and financial procedures.
• Coach the general Protection team by providing technical guidance based on DRC guidance notes and best practices.
• Provide feedback to Project Manager – Protection on technical gaps, protection tools and the capacity building needs of the Protection Team. Provide support to the Project manager on capacity building activities where necessary.
• Responsible for recruitment of the general Protection staff and monitor timely induction and capacity building of newly recruited Protection Team members to ensure quality and accountability.
• Review and approve weekly and monthly work plan for Protection staff and mobile teams to ensure timely implementation of protection activities and follow-up on achievement or protection project targets. 

Coordination and representation

• Advocate for the needs of vulnerable individuals both internally and through coordination mechanisms through evidence-based advocacy.
• Plan and coordinate project logistics and team movement plans, and initiate procurements for project supplies.
• Coordinate with other organizations and stakeholders working in the same area to ensure that Protection is integrated and effective. Maintain an up-to-date service mapping of the service providers operating in the area.
• Participate in coordination meetings and represent DRC in relevant forums; develop and maintain effective working relationships with relevant partner agencies, community focal points and service providers.
• Collaborate with relevant internal and external technical experts in the development of protection reports, guidance notes and capacity building materials.
• Ensure integration with other DRC sectors, including economic recovery, shelter and infrastructure and Humanitarian Mine Actions.
• Advocate for the needs of vulnerable individuals both internally and through coordination mechanisms through evidence-based advocacy.

Project development 

• Support the Project Manager – Protection drafting protection project proposals by providing field-related inputs. 
• Participate in preparing monthly/quarterly/annual highlights/reports and proposals and budgets for donors.
• Oversee and ensure achievements of targets according to DRC and donors’ requirements.
• Maintain ongoing communication with MEAL department and support monitoring and evaluations of protection projects and protection activities.

Logistics/Finance

• Support Project Manager – Protection with project planning including work plans, procurement, and budget management for the activities under his/her supervision. 
• Ensure the approved payment procedure for legal fees (with the required supporting documentation) is followed by all team members.
• Initiate relevant procurements and ensure their execution.
• Support the monitoring of financial commitments and expenditures against budgets and provide timely feedback on budget follow-up.
• Plan and coordinate proactively logistics and movements of staff from and to different operational areas                            

• Ensure compliance with DRC guidelines and policies on HR, admin, finance, and supply.
• Ensure adherence to DRC national staff policy guidelines and Code of Conduct.
• Ensure compliance with DRC policy and programmatic minimum standards.
• Ensuring compliance with the zero-tolerance to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse policy. 
• Perform any other relevant tasks as requested by the Project Manager – Protection.