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 800 staff in Ukraine and implements 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 Protection Officer (Monitoring and Community Engagement Officer) in Sumy. The position involves regular travel to field locations across Sumy region and business trips to Shostka district.

About the job

Under the supervision of the Protection Team Leader, the Protection Officer will be responsible for ensuring effective monitoring within the Protection sector and strengthening community engagement by supporting the planning and implementation of program activities, developing monitoring tools, systematically identifying needs and risks in designated locations, contributing to the analysis of collected data, and supporting capacity building of local structures in Sumy region.

Your main duties and responsibilities will be:

  • Support the development of monitoring tools for protection monitoring.
  • Ensure and conduct monitoring of protection needs and identify protection risks in the designated locations.
  • Refer clients to other service providers when needed (health, legal, shelter services etc.) and support clients to advocate for their rights and needs.   
  • Organize and conduct outreach activities, including design and distribution of IEC materials, and conduction of information sessions, tailored to needs identified through protection monitoring. 
  • Provide Age, Gender, and Disability Inclusion trainings as well as any other capacity building activities.
  • Build and develop strong relationships with community members, local leaders, and relevant stakeholders to understand their needs, concerns and priorities.
  • Identify capacity-building needs among identified community-based structures. Develop and conduct capacity-building trainings on protection issues, including safe referrals, protection mainstreaming etc.
  • Identify active community members (activists, volunteers) and establish cooperation with them to implement community-based protection activities.
  • Support communities in development and implementation of community-based protection plans, strategies, and activities to address identified needs and mitigate risks.
  • Produce quality and accurate reports and supporting documentation on CBP activities and ensure their timely submission to the Protection Manager.

About you

To be successful in this role we expect you to have at least two years of professional experience in humanitarian interventions, social work, human rights, or community development, or an equivalent combination of relevant experience. Moreover, we also expect the following:

Required

  • Education: A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., social sciences, international relations, humanitarian studies, or similar).
  • Technical Knowledge: Strong understanding of protection risks and their application in the local context.
  • Humanitarian Competencies: Solid understanding and practical application of humanitarian and protection principles.
  • Languages: Fluency in Ukrainian; working proficiency in English sufficient for professional communication.
  • Computer Skills: Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
  • Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Ability to work independently, manage time effectively, and prioritize tasks efficiently.

Desirable

  • Experience in volunteering or community engagement will be considered an asset.
  • Experience working with internally displaced persons (IDPs) and conflict-affected populations is desirable.

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies: 

Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process. 

Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback. 

Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation. 

Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly. 

Demonstrating integrity: You uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to our values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

We offer

Contract length: а fixed-term contract following the successful completion of a 3-month probationary period.

Band: H

Designation of Duty Station: Sumy

Start date: 27.04.2026

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for employees on national contracts; please refer to our website for more details.

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: 19.04.2026

We encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible, interviews might be conducted on a rolling basis. DRC reserves the right to select candidate before the vacancy close date once a suitable candidate has been identified.

At Impactpool we do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.
Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.