Protection Officer

Danish Refugee Council (DRC)is a leading protection agency with a mandate to protect, advocate and promote durable solutions for displacement affected populations.

DRC has been operating in Ukraine since 2014, currently DRC employs over 400 staff in Ukraine and will continue significant scale-up in 2023 to implement emergency response in the Protection, Livelihoods, Shelter/NFIs and Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding (humanitarian mine action) sectors, using direct interventions, support to duty bearers and civil society organizations (CSOs), and partnerships with CSOs. DRC will continue and adapt its durable solutions portfolio to the evolving context.

DRC is currently looking for aProtection Officerfor its Protection activities in Dnipro.

This position will report to the Protection Team Leader.

Overall purpose of the role:

Under the management of the Protection Team Leader, the Protection Monitoring Officer is responsible for coordinating and leading the implementation of quality protection monitoring activities, the delivery of information sessions and key messaging, the identification of and support to individuals at risk as well as community-based protection activities. They will work closely with communities, civil society organizations (CSOs), and government services to identify vulnerable individuals in need of support, conduct service mapping, and share information about services available. They will be based in Dnipro DRC office, with field activities in Dnipro and Donetsk oblasts.

Main responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Protection Team Leader, the Protection Officer will:

• Lead the planning and implementation of programme activities related to protection monitoring activities, such as facilitating focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and household level surveys
• Support in developing protection monitoring tools and monthly plans, in collaboration with the Protection Team Leader and the Protection Manager.
• Carry out service mapping to identify the available services in the community. Build and maintain relationships with relevant governmental and non-governmental service providers to support safe referrals.
• Identify and communicate with TL and Manager on protection risks and monitoring needs in designated areas. Ensure to collect both quantitative and qualitative information and data, through using the different protection monitoring tools.
• Coordinate with Information Management colleagues and take active part in the analysis of the collected information and data.
• Organize outreach activities, including dissemination of key messages, design and distribution of IEC materials, and conduction of information sessions, tailored to needs identified through protection monitoring
• Conduct assessments of especially vulnerable individuals or individuals with specific protection risks for individual protection assistance and referrals.
• Hold regular meetings with community-based groups/networks and assist in the development of community action plans to address protection concerns. Build the capacity of local actors and key community members on key topics, such as protection mainstreaming and safe referrals.
• Contribute to the quality of DRCs community-based approach by effectively identifying and coordinating with community stakeholders, key informants and community members.
• Mobilize and build strong rapport with communities through consistent engagement with community-based structures and adhering to dignified, culturally sensitive approaches. Support community-based structures by facilitating meaningful group dialogue and mentoring participants to self-identify protection concerns that affect their communities.
• Supervise the Protection Assistants and ensure the quality of the activities.
• Coordinate with other departments in DRC to facilitate referrals and information sharing.
• Contribute to and provide field-related inputs for proposals for funding for new projects.
• Provide regular reports to the Protection Team Leader and/or Protection Manager.
• Any other duties as may be assigned by the Protection Team Leader and/or Protection Manager, relevant to the achievement of protection objectives.

Required experience and competencies:

• Experience working with vulnerable and conflict-affected people.
• Comfortable in speaking about sensitive topics and working with people in distress.
• Familiarity with social work is preferred but not required.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to work effectively with vulnerable individuals, staff members, and stakeholders from diverse backgrounds.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks and manage multiple responsibilities.
• Strong sense of personal integrity and understanding of confidentiality and ethics.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer, Outlook/Exchange, Windows operating systems.
• Good English language skills preferred.
• Ukrainian and Russian language skills required.

Required education: Completion of secondary school, or relevant level of experience required. University study preferred.

All DRC roles require the post-holder to master DRCs core competencies:

• Striving for excellence: Focusing on reaching results while ensuring efficient processes.
• Collaborating: Involving relevant parties and encouraging feedback.
• Taking the lead: Taking ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
• Communicating: Listening and speaking effectively and honestly.
• Demonstrating integrity: Upholding and promoting the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to DRCs values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

We offer:

• Contract length: 3 months probation period, with the possibility of extension based on funding and satisfactory performance
• Level: H2
• Designation of Duty Station: Dnipro
• Start date: As soon as possible.

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Councils Terms of Employment for national staff.

Application process:
All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages in English).

Applications sent by email will not be considered.

Closing date for applications: 15th December 2023.

Apply now