The Danish Refugee Council is one of the world's leading humanitarian NGOs, working in over 30 countries to provide adequate assistance and protection to refugees, asylum seekers, IDPs, returnees, people on the move, and vulnerable local populations/host communities. Currently, DRC is seeking a highly qualified Country Protection Programme Manager (Head of Unit) based in Caracas, Venezuela.

About the job: DRC is managing its operations in Venezuela under the direction of the country office in Caracas and four field offices located in the states of Sucre, Apure, and Zulia (Maracaibo and Santa Barbara de Zulia). DRC Venezuela is implementing an integrated Action encompassing the Protection, Food Security & Livelihood, WASH and Disaster Preparedness sectors.

Overall purpose of the role: (1-2 sentences)

The Protection Manager will provide overall technical leadership to all aspects of DRC’s protection programming in Venezuela. The Protection Manager is responsible for developing the sector strategy and its implementation. As the Country Technical Sector Lead, the Protection Manager develops the protection programme and ensures quality programming. The Protection Manager ensures coordination between relevant projects and proposals, as well as oversight on program tool development, including SOPs, work plans, and training for direct program beneficiaries. The Protection Manager provides day-to-day management of the Protection Technical Unit, including supervision and technical capacity building. The Protection Manager will represent DRC in relevant internal and external coordination forums and key stakeholders, ensuring the high visibility of DRC Venezuela’s protection portfolio and providing technical leadership among peer organizations.

Responsabilities:

Duties and Responsibilities

Program Strategy & Program Development:

  • Support the contextual revision and rollout of the DRC Venezuela Protection Strategy, ensuring it is aligned with the country strategy providing a strong rationale for programmatic priorities, and reflects the humanitarian/development space in Venezuela, with a focus on how the evolving context impacts vulnerable individuals (host community, IDPs, refugees, and migrants);
  • Lead the ongoing strengthening of protection mainstreaming in all phases of DRC’s projects;
  • Proactively engage in bilateral coordination with local and international NGOs as well as with international public organizations to refine, expand, and strengthen DRC’s referral and information assistance and partner networks;
  • Contribute and lead the technical design and review of concept notes, logical frameworks, budgets, and full proposals in relevant technical sectors.
  • Provide technical input to all relevant project reports in collaboration with the base managers, grants team, protection managers, partnership team and MEAL manager.
  • Lead DRC’s Venezuela evidence-based protection analysis to inform timely responses and advocacy actions to strengthen the protection environment.
  • Lead and support action plans to guarantee the Centrality of Protection.

Program Quality

  • Support the MEAL Technical  Unit in rolling out qualitative and qualitative monitoring and evaluation approaches, aiming to build contextually grounded learning into program activities;
  • Visit program activities and provide support and feedback to staff and implementing partners on program approaches and methodological issues.
  • Ensure all Protection tools, SoPs, and guidelines are regularly updated, and in line with international minimum standards.
  • Ensure protection principles are mainstreamed throughout all phases of DRC’s projects.
  • Support the Base Managers in recruiting suitable qualified, experienced technical field-based staff.
  • Represent DRC at technical working groups linked to consortia, as required. 
  • Maintain technical links with DRC Regional and HQ counterparts to ensure that DRC Venezuela’s programmatic priorities align with and respond to global learning.

Team Management:

  • Manage DRC Venezuela’s Protection Technical Unit and provide team members with technical guidance and support through regular coordination meetings;
  • Mentor and support the Protection Technical Unit through regular one-to-one supervision and performance appraisals;
  • Ensure the Protection Technical Unit conducts regular field visits to support field teams and provides regular training and capacity building for DRC and partner staff, as per their work plans.

Coordination, Representation & Advocacy:

  • Represent DRC at technical coordination forums, as agreed with the HoP;
  • Maintain close working relationships with technical leads within DRC Venezuela, LAC, and HQ to ensure strategy and implementation coherence with overall objectives;
  • Take an active role in pushing DRC’s protection advocacy messages in relevant coordination forums.

Experience and technical competencies: (include years of experience)

At least five years of proven and successful track record in international protection and/or human rights;

You should also have:

  • Proven experience in protection programming in an emergency and early recovery context, community development and/or legal or human rights programming;
  • Demonstrated skills in effectively leading and building programs and/or operations in a high-pressure, fluid environment of limited resources.
  • Leadership and team management skills are critical, including working in multi-cultural environments. 
  • Proven experience in strategic leadership to respond to protracted crises through innovative protection programming.
  • Proven experience in developing technical tools and guidance for protection programming.
  • Excellent knowledge of international protection standards.
  • A technical background in one of DRC’s key strategic areas (Protection Monitoring, Case Management, Legal aid, GBV, CBP) is an advantage.
  • Experience with team management and technical support;
  • Experience with project cycle management and project management tools such as logical frameworks, work plans, and monitoring plans.
  • Advanced organizational skills with the capacity to prioritize and delegate multiple tasks and meet simultaneous deadlines.
  • High integrity and willingness to conduct her/himself transparently and open to scrutiny
  • Fluency in Spanish and English.

Ideally, you also have

  • Previous experience working in Latin America region or in mixed crises.
  • Experience leading evidence-based protection analysis
  • Experience working in equitable partnerships
  • Ability to communicate technical information in an easy-to-understand, informative, and collaborative manner
  • Good knowledge of the Core Humanitarian Standards or other accountability measures/standards

Education: (include certificates, licenses etc.)

  • Master degree in one of the following: International Law International development, social sciences, international relations, human rights.

Languages: (indicate fluency level)

  • English  (fluent)
  • Spanish (fluent)

We offer:

  • The opportunity to be part of one of the best NGOs worldwide.
  • Access to over 1,000 free online trainings and certifications.
  • Contract duration: subject to budget availability.
  • Salary: Band F / management. 
  • HCM insurance fully covered by the organization.

DRC Core Competencies:

  • Achieving Excellence: Focus on achieving results and ensuring efficient processes.
  • Collaboration: Engage relevant parties and encourage feedback.
  • Taking the Initiative: Take ownership and initiative while seeking innovation.
  • Communicating: Listen and speak effectively and honestly.
  • Demonstrating Integrity: Act in accordance with DRC's vision and values.

Application Process: All applicants must upload a cover letter (max. 1 page) and an updated CV (max. 2 pages, without attachments) in English or Spanish, on the DRC employment platform. Applications sent by email will not be considered.

Application Deadline: Sunday, November 22 at 11:59 pm Local Time. Please note that applications will be reviewed continuously, and interviews will be scheduled as soon as a suitable candidate is identified. DRC reserves the right to close the vacancy before the deadline once a suitable candidate is identified.

Start Date: November 2026

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.