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Protection Manager - Mental Health and Psychosocial Support

Obock

  • Organization: DRC - Danish Refugee Council
  • Location: Obock
  • Grade: Mid/Senior level - Mid/Senior
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Public Health and Health Service
    • Protection Officer (Refugee)
    • Managerial positions
  • Closing Date: Closed

Overall Purpose of the Role:  
The Protection Manager - Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) will lead the design and implementation of DRC’s child protection and psychosocial activities in Markazi refugee camp in Obock, Djibouti.  The project overseen by the MHPSS Manager will focus on the provision of child and youth-appropriate psychosocial support activities, which will be delivered through a newly constructed child friendly space and community networks within Markazi camp. The MHPSS Manager will plan and oversee the implementation of all project activities, will provide technical guidance and supervision to national staff and will engage with relevant stakeholders. The Protection Manager-MHPSS will also lead capacity building initiatives and trainings related to counseling and psychosocial support with a focus on children and adolescents.     
 
Responsibilities:  
Management and Coordination: 
  • Overall responsibility for the recruitment and daily management of all MHPSS programming in Markazi refugee camp. This responsibility includes ensuring positive and collaborative working relationships in line with DRC's Code of Conduct and assessing staff capacity to provide or recommend relevant training or coaching as needed.  
  • Represent DRC publicly at the field-level on MHPSS -related issues, including in coordination fora, with other agencies and local authorities, and for providing the direct link in communications between DRC's MHPSS activities in Djibouti and the organization’s Addis Ababa-based Protection Coordinator.  
 
Programming:  
  • Lead in the daily management of all MHPSS activities in Markazi refugee camp as per national and international standards and best practices, ensuring technical rigor and the consistent application of DRC’s protection approaches, methods and tools.  
  • Promote improved understanding of MHPSS issues among DRC staff and relevant stakeholders, and ensure the observance of international MHPSS, protection and humanitarian standards. To achieve this, and in line with DRC’s anticipated protection activities to be implemented over the course of 2018, the MHPSS Manager will play a key role in developing and supporting with the facilitation of trainings, workshops and mentoring opportunities for DRC and humanitarian staff, refugee community members and other stakeholders. The position will similarly play a key role in the development of culturally appropriate information, education and communications materials.  
  • Conduct needs assessments to inform program design as well as identify risks and vulnerabilities, including those related to gender, age and diversity.   
  • Ensure that ethical and statistically-sound data collection and protection-related information management systems are in place and used for analysis, planning, evaluation, and advocacy. 
  • Collaborate closely with DRC’s Addis Ababa-based Protection Coordinator to ensure technical rigor and the consistent application of DRC’s MHPSS approaches, methods and tools 
  • Contribute to the strategic direction of DRC’s MHPSS programming in Djibouti through active and ongoing participation in and contribution to strategic planning meetings and development of strategic documents.  
  • Work with the Djibouti Area Manager, Protection Coordinator, and Head of Program to contribute to new project development, including both narratives and budgets. 
  • Ensure the timely and quality delivery of all MHPSS-related organizational and project reports and staff contributions to organizational monitoring and evaluation requirements to ensure project quality, relevance and accountability to DRC's beneficiary populations.  
  • Collaborate with the Area Manager and Addis Ababa-based Protection Coordinator to ensure field-based MHPSS and protection records and documentation are properly managed and compliant with DRC requirements and best practices. 
  • Support staff to integrate MHPSS concerns and awareness in other sectors.  
 
Finance and Administration: 
  • Assume responsibility as primary budget holder of all MHPSS-related activities in Markazi camp and lead the development of MHPSS -specific budgets and spending plans. 
  • Maintain a budget overview of all MHPSS activities and collaborate regularly with the Djibouti Area Manager and Addis Ababa-based finance team to monitor spending and ensure the timely utilization of grants. 
 
Human Resources:  
  • Manage DRC’s Obock-based MHPSS team and support respectful and positive working relationships which allow for the effective implementation of all protection activities. This is to be achieved through leadership, team building, day-to-day support, capacity-building and strong, generalist knowledge of core MHPSS concepts. 
  • Support site-level recruitment processes for the MHPSS team, and ensure that relevant staffing structures are in place and are reflective of appropriate gender balance. 
  • Promote professional development by identifying training and capacity building opportunities and ensure MHPSS staff are well versed in core concepts, DRC's code of conduct, accountability, respectful dialogue with the refugee population, and prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse.  
  • Collaborate with the Protection Coordinator and the Djibouti Area Manager to ensure MHPSS staff have clear objectives, work plans and that performance evaluations are conducted on a regular basis.  
 
Logistics and Procurement:  
  • Collaborate with the Djibouti Area Manager and logistics and procurement teams to develop and maintain MHPSS -specific procurement plans. 
  • Regularly review MHPSS-related procurement plans with the Djibouti Area Manager, and Addis Ababa-based procurement, logistics and finance teams to adjust spending as required in advance of project closure.  
 
Safety and Security: 
  • Coordinate with the Djibouti Area Manager in ensuring the safety of all MHPSS staff. 
 
Conditions: 
Contract:    One-year contract.  Salary and other conditions are offered in accordance with DRC’s Terms of Employment for expats. This position is graded at A14 for international staff or competitive salary and conditions as per national staff terms of employment, as relevant. This is a non-family posting. 
 
Availability:    Immediately     
 
Duty Station:      Obock, Djibouti  
 
General 
Commitments: DRC has a Humanitarian Accountability Framework, outlining its global accountability commitments. All staff are required to contribute to the achievement of this framework. 
 
In this position, you are expected to demonstrate each of DRC’ five core competencies:  
  • Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results through the country team both to position DRC and ensure excellence in all deliverables.  
  • Collaborating: You lead initiatives at country operation level by involving relevant parties and encouraging feedback.  
  • Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.  
  • Communicating: You listen to beneficiaries, staff and other stakeholders; and you communicate concisely and persuasively 
  • Demonstrating integrity: You act in line with DRC’s vision and values and set a very clear standard for your country team members.  
 
Experience and Technical Competencies:  
  • Minimum bachelor’s degree in Psychology from a recognized institution. 
  • Minimum 5 years of experience providing directly psychological support in an individual or group setting for children and adolescents. 
  • Experience in family therapy and working with clients with PTSD highly desirable. 
  • Minimum 3 years of experience in setting up, implementing, and supervising psychosocial programs. 
  • Experience in capacity building of staff including training and technical supervision. 
  • Minimum of 3 years of professional experience in NGO, and substantial experience in MHPSS. 
  • Training on art or drama therapy highly desirable   
  • Experience in team-building and engagement with communities; familiarity with needs-based participatory approach.  
  • Experience of working in camp contexts. 
  • Knowledge of and experience in using established inter-agency standards and guidelines in MHPSS and child protection, such as the IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings, the Minimum Standards for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action, Inter-agency Guidelines on Separated and Unaccompanied Children and IASC Guidelines in Emergencies. 
  • Proven commitment to accountability and quality assurance.  
  • Excellent analytical and writing skills.  
  • Experience in managing staff  
  • Experience working in cross-cultural, multi-sector and/or remote environments.  
  • Ability to work well under pressure and in adverse conditions.  
  • Substantial project management skills and experience  
  • Commitment to learning and implementing organizational policies and procedures.  
  • Full proficiency in Microsoft Office. 
 
Application and CV 
Interested candidates who meet the required qualifications and experience are invited to submit updated CV and cover letter explaining their motivation and why they are suited for the post.  
We only accept applications sent via our online-application form on www.drc.dk under Vacancies.   
 
Please forward the application and CV, in English through the online application on www.drc.dk under vacancies no later than 13 July 2018.  
 
If you have questions or are facing problems with the online application process, please contact job@drc.dk  
 
For general information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult www.drc.dk. 
 
 
 
This vacancy is now closed.
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