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 650 staff in Ukraine and will continue significant scale-up in 2024 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 a highly qualified Protection Specialist (Legal Aid Technical Specialist) in Kyiv.

Overall purpose of the role

The role of the legal specialist will be to support the technical oversight of DRC’s work in Ukraine. The legal specialist will support program staff to implement high quality legal programming, and support in the development of new projects in coordination with the Head of Programme and grants team.

The legal specialist will oversee DRC’s legal programming, providing regular support to legal staff as they implement projects which include legal aid activities. The specialist will ensure that DRC implements legal programming to a high technical standard and in line with project proposals. The specialist will play a key role in supporting DRC to develop new projects and work with the HoP to ensure that legal programming if effectively embedded into the DRC Ukraine country strategy.

Your main responsibility will be

This role has both internal and external responsibilities. The specialist will support in the development of guidelines, tools, and SOPs related to DRC’s programming, and have oversight over the quality assurance of DRC’s legal work. The specialist will represent DRC in external coordination for at the national level which relate to legal response such as the Housing, Land and Property technical working group, and the legal aid working group.

Project development and quality assurance

• Provides technical guidance and technical inputs to support protection manager and team leaders to undertake high quality programme implementation.
• Assist in developing project technical documents such as tools, SOPs, and guidance documents which ensure high quality standards of legal program implementation.
• Ensure that new legal projects are aligned with legal needs in Ukraine, donor priorities, and
• Assist sector managers and team leaders with project implementation, providing regular technical support and advice.
• Coordinate with technical coordinators and sector managers to effectively integrate legal programming with other sectors responses whenever relevant.
• Support in the preparation of high quality proposals and reports which are aligned with DRC’s strategy, identified needs, and donor priorities.
• Coordinates with the legal analysis team to produce high quality analysis products that inform advocacy and program priorities.

Coordination

• Represents DRC in external fora related to legal coordination such as the HLP working group, and legal aid technical working group

To be successful in this role as a Protection Specialist we expect you to have minimum 2-4 years of practical experience in sector area working for an INGO, degree in humanitarian law or similar (international relations, humanitarian or development studies, business administration, or another relevant field. Master’s degree is preferred), or a minimum of 7 years of experience and documented skills in project planning and design, and technical writing.

Moreover, we expect:

• Excellent skills in MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Experience in overseeing/developing programming in both humanitarian and solutions contexts is an asset
• Experience working with national partners, local/government authorities, and UN organizations
• Full professional proficiency in English

All DRC roles require the post-holder to master DRC’s 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 DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

We offer

Contract length: For national contracts open-ended; for expatriate contracts 6-month fixed term contract with possible extension subject to funding.
Band: G non-management
Duty Station: Kyiv. Non-family duty station.
Start date: 15 April 2024

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment; please refer to www.drc.ngo under Vacancies.

Application and CV

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.

Please submit your application and CV in English no later than 12th March 2024.