The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

JOB OVERVIEW 

Under the supervision of the Protection Coordinator (Rule of Law), the Protection Senior Manager (Rule of Law) will play a pivotal role in managing and supporting the PRoL teams across Ukraine. This position is responsible for overseeing the effective design and implementation of high-quality protection programs, including protection case management, legal advice provision, protection monitoring, system strengthening, and others as the PRoL program evolves. The focus will be on areas with large internally displaced persons (IDP) and host community populations exposed to protection risks, as well as newly accessible regions affected by the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

The Protection Senior Manager (Rule of Law) will support the Protection Coordinator (Rule of Law) to expand PRoL programming, developing innovative modalities for implementation that include partnerships with national organizations, mobile service approaches, and static provision of services in challenging environments. This role will also ensure the technical quality of programs while also providing comprehensive program management, including providing technical support to Field Management and Protection Managers (Rule of Law) in development of decentralized budgets, MEAL plans, work plans, and procurement plans.

In addition to technical oversight, Protection Senior Manager (Rule of Law) will actively participate in strategic planning exercises, both internally and externally, engaging with a diverse range of stakeholders in the development and management of PRoL programming. The Protection Senior Manager (Rule of Law) will be also involved in project proposal development contributing best practice and lessons learned from fields as well as contributing to regular internal and external reporting.

Key responsibilities will also include capacity building and mentoring for field teams and partner staff, ensuring adherence to IRC’s PRoL standards while fostering ownership of programming under the decentralization plan. As a critical member of the team, they will ensure the implementation of interventions is informed by research, data, and evidence, enabling informed decision-making and enhancing the effectiveness of programs.

The Protection Senior Manager (Rule of Law) will also be expected to deputize for the Protection Coordinator (Rule of Law) as required, playing a key role in strategic leadership, stakeholder engagement, and program advocacy, ensuring the overall success and impact of PRoL activities.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Program Management and Support:

Support the management of a complex, multi-donor, multi-year PRoL portfolio encompassing protection case management, PSS, legal advice provision, and protection monitoring activities by:

  • Assisting the Coordinator in setting clear objectives and priorities for the PRoL portfolio, ensuring alignment with IRC’s global and regional strategies.
  • Collaborating closely with the Protection Coordinator (Rule of Law) to coordinate and integrate PRoL activities across various sectors, enhancing program synergies and effectiveness.
  • Contributing to the development of comprehensive programmatic frameworks that guide the implementation of PRoL initiatives, tailored to meet the needs of persons exposed to protection risk.
  • Supporting the MEAL team in establishing robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to assess program impact and inform decision-making.
  • Engaging with donors and stakeholders alongside the Protection Coordinator (Rule of Law) to provide program updates and demonstrate accountability while aligning with their expectations and requirements.
  • Assisting in facilitating capacity-building opportunities for field staff and partners to enhance the quality and sustainability of PRoL interventions.
  • Participating in the regular review and adaptation of program strategies in response to evolving needs, contexts, and best practices.

Technical Quality Assurance:

Support upholding high standards of technical quality throughout all stages of the project management cycle—from design to implementation, monitoring, and evaluation—by:

  • Collaborating with the Protection Coordinator (Rule of Law) to develop and implement robust, evidence-based project designs that reflect best practices in PRoL.
  • Advising field staff, including Protection Managers (Rule of Law) and Senior Officers, in facilitating participatory planning processes that engage key stakeholders, social services providers, and community members.
  • Supporting the MEAL team in establishing performance indicators and outcomes for all PRoL activities, ensuring that field staff have the tools to monitor progress effectively.
  • Providing ongoing technical guidance and support to field teams in navigating challenges throughout the project lifecycle, ensuring adherence to technical standards and best practices.
  • Conducting regular field visits to monitor program delivery, gather feedback, and provide tailored technical support to enhance implementation.
  • Facilitating hands-on support to Protection Managers (Rule of Law) and Senior Officers during field visits, addressing immediate challenges and identifying areas for improvement in program execution.
  • Leading capacity-building initiatives specifically designed for field staff or local partners, focusing on monitoring, evaluation, reporting, and data management to strengthen their technical capabilities.
  • Assisting in the collection, compilation, and revision of internal and external reports for the PRoL sector, ensuring that field staff can contribute to timely submissions to donors.
  • Chair technical meetings, communities of practice, and learning events for PRoL teams.

Program Development, Proposal Design, and Integrated Programming:

Support program development, project design, and proposal writing to secure funding and support for affected population and communities:

  • Collaborating with the Protection Coordinator (Rule of Law) and key stakeholders to identify emerging needs and opportunities for PRoL programming as the context changes.
  • Assisting in designing innovative project proposals that directly address the specific needs of different types of affected population.
  • Conducting analyses of protection risks in Ukraine to inform project design, ensuring field staff insights are incorporated.
  • Ensuring proposals incorporate monitoring and evaluation frameworks that align with donor expectations and are implementable by field teams.
  • Supporting collaboration across IRC’s operations by actively engaging with the sector leads to develop multi-sectoral interventions.
  • Building relationships with donors and participating in funding discussions alongside the Protection Coordinator (Rule of Law).

Coordination, Stakeholder Engagement, and Advocacy:

Support the Protection Coordinator (Rule of Law) in representing IRC in national forums and enhance visibility and support for IRC’s programs by:

  • Assisting in establishing and maintaining effective relationships with national authorities, NGOs, and international agencies.
  • Supporting joint initiatives and information-sharing among stakeholders to develop coordinated strategies.
  • Contributing to advocacy efforts to communicate national-level concerns and challenges to relevant stakeholders
  • Support the Protection Coordinator (Rule of Law) in the development and implementation of national and sub-national PRoL advocacy strategies
  • Identify opportunities for collective advocacy with humanitarian actors, civil society organizations, and protection networks at national or multi-regional level
  • Contribute to the drafting and review of advocacy briefs, position papers, protection snapshots, thematic reports, and external communication products.

Partnerships:

Assist in identifying and developing partnerships with local implementing partners to enhance protection services by:

  • Supporting stakeholder mapping and analysis to identify key actors in general protection sector.
  • Strengthening partnerships with relevant national and local organizations.
  • Lead or support technical assessments of existing and prospective partners and develop tailored capacity strengthening plans to enhance quality, accountability, safeguarding, and compliance in PRoL programming as delegated by the Protection Coordinator (Rule of Law)
  • Ensure technical quality of partner-implemented PRoL activities at national or multi-regional level through regular monitoring, technical review, joint planning, and supportive supervision in collaboration with Protection Managers (Rule of Law) and Partnership team
  • Review partner workplans, indicators, tools, and deliverables at national or multi-regional level to ensure alignment with IRC standards and donor requirements in collaboration with Protection Managers (Rule of Law) and Partnership Unit
  • Engaging in continuous dialogue with partners to share best practices and foster mutual learning among partner organizations and IRC field teams
  • Identify technical, operational, and contextual risks affecting partner implementation and develop mitigation measures together with partners, Protection Manager (Rule of Law) and relevant IRC departments.

Staff Technical Supervision & Development:

Maintain open and professional relationships with team members, providing support to enable staff to excel in their roles through Management in Partnership with the Field Coordinator by:

  • Provide technical guidance and advice, on-the-job mentoring, and coaching for team members or local partner staff, focusing on enhancing their technical competencies in project implementation.
  • Offering strategic technical support to Protection Managers (Rule of Law) and/or Senior Officers, collaborating with them and the Field Coordinator to identify growth areas and facilitate regular performance reviews aimed at professional development.
  • Collaborating with HR to assist in recruiting PRoL staff, ensuring the team possesses the necessary technical skills for effective implementation.
  • Facilitating training and continuous capacity-building opportunities for field and local partner staff to enhance their ability to deliver high-quality PRoL interventions.
  • Visit field locations to provide technical support and mentorship to field teams and local partners’ staff, ensuring they are equipped with the knowledge and skills needed for quality implementation of PRoL initiatives.
  • Supporting the decentralization plan by empowering field teams to take ownership of PRoL programming, fostering a culture of technical excellence and accountability.
  • Foster ongoing learning, honest dialogue, and reflection at team level to strengthen safeguarding, wellbeing and duty of care, and to promote IRC values and adherence to IRC policies.
  • Lead by example and support IRC’s commitment to taking all necessary preventive measures and creating an environment where people feel safe and can report misconduct.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

The Protection Senior Manager  (Rule of Law) will need to meet the requirements below:

  • Min. Bachelor’s degree in law, human rights law, international relations, social sciences, or other related field.
  • Fluent in Ukrainian and English
  • At least 4 years’ experience in a leadership position managing multi-year programming and grants or implementing humanitarian protection programs
  • Solid knowledge of the humanitarian context in Ukraine
  • Demonstrated experience in resource planning and program management, including budget development, workforce planning, and oversight of complex multi-year projects.
  • Proven record of technical expertise in programming in one or more of the following areas: protection.
  • Strong understanding of donor compliance and reporting requirements (UHF, BMZ, ECHO etc), including experience with donor regulations, reporting, and grant management
  • Experience in participating in coordination forums
  • Experience managing partnerships with national and local organizations, including partner capacity strengthening, performance monitoring, and stakeholder engagement
  • Experience applying digital tools and systems to support program management, data analysis, coordination, and reporting (e.g., Microsoft Office Suite, Teams, SharePoint, Power BI or similar platforms)

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

  • Change management and localization expertise
  • Demonstrated experience in technical staff supervision, capacity building, project design and budget management
  • Good communication and interpersonal skills with good analytical and writing skills
  • Strong team and people leadership, portfolio management, organizational and development skills
  • Proven networking, team building, organizational and communication skills
  • Strong analytical and evidence interpretation skills
  • Additional qualities: ability to handle pressure and multiple priorities well, ability to improvise, flexibility, adaptability to transitions.

This position may be based in any of the IRC Offices – Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Mykolaiv, with travel for monitoring and coordination purposes as necessary. Given the scope of national coordination and engagement responsibilities, preference will be given to candidates based in Kyiv.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION

  • This position is primarily office-based. Following the successful completion of the probation period, hybrid working arrangements may be available, subject to business needs and manager approval.
  • Travel to other locations is needed up to 30% of time
  • Exempt from overtime
  • Sometimes work on weekends may be required
  • Work in the matrix organization
  • Fast pace of working, multitasking and stressful work
  • The organization cares about staff and provides flexible working options (start early-finish early, start later-finish later, remote work)
  • Staff can ask for accommodation in the workplace. Specific requests can be discussed with HR. 

IRC employees are eligible to the following benefits:

  • Competitive salary
  • Purposeful job and development opportunities
  • English classes and unlimited online training courses
  • Life Insurance
  • Medical insurance for staff and family members
  • Free psychological support to employees and their family members 
  • 30 calendar days of annual vacation with flexibility beyond the legally set minimum requirements
  • Up to 10 days of paid medical leave 

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.

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