Protection Manager

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfilment of the wish to return home.

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956, and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced.

All of our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.

DRC Syria

DRC has been actively operating in Syria since 2008 mainly supporting refugees. In June 2012, DRC was authorized by the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) to expand its humanitarian efforts and provide assistance to IDPs and the vulnerable resident population countrywide. Since then, DRC activities have been focused on NFI distributions, Shelter, WASH, Protection, Education, Livelihoods and Mine Risk Education in six Governorates (Damascus, Rural Damascus, Dara'a, Aleppo, Hama, and Homs). While Protection/community service activities are provided to beneficiaries throughout our six Community Centers.

About the job

The protection manager has overall responsibility for leading, coordinating and managing DRC’s protection programming in Syria and for supporting the mainstreaming of protection across all program sectors..

 Your main duties and responsibilities will be:

Strategic planning

• Develop DRC’s Protection Strategy in Syria, in line with DRC Syria Country Action Plan and Results Contract, and provide technical assistance to roll it out, in coordination with DRC Syria Protection Team.
• Provide cohesive leadership to protection programming in Syria, ensuring that priorities and opportunities identified are in line with DRC strategic plan and goals.
• Remain abreast of ongoing trends in Syria and in the region as related to protection programming, and provide regular updates on these trends and how they affect programming to Head of Programs.

• Ensure meaningful integration of protection principles in sectorial needs assessments, analysis, planning, monitoring and response.
• Ensure gender-sensitive programming and promote gender equality.
• Provide support for protection mainstreaming in DRC Syria, including Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) mainstreaming, into DRC action plans and core competencies programming.
• Promote and support training of humanitarian partners and any other stakeholders when appropriate to improve mainstreaming of protection into sectorial responses.
• Support awareness raising and training on prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.

• Provide guidance on program design from concept development through all phases of the project life cycle.
• Provide clear technical support, supervisory guidance, training and mentoring to all protection-related programs, activities and teams in Syria to ensure consistent, harmonized and high quality programming across project sites.
• Contribute to integrated programming in Syria
• Support the development and writing of high quality funding proposals to current and new donors.
• Provide technical guidance on confidential and safe data collection and referral mechanisms in line with internationally recognized best practices.

• Ensure that all protection projects and activities are implemented in accordance with grant agreements, DRC and donor regulations, and internationally recognized quality standards.
• Prepare, in coordination with key staff, work plans with clear objectives and achievement benchmarks, long-term and short-term priorities, and implementation plans and schedules.
• Ensure that protection project activities are properly resourced through the preparation of sound budgets, proper financial forecasting, monitoring of project expenses, and timely identification and re-allocation of project funds to ensure maximum service delivery and value for money.
• Conduct regular field visits where possible to all program sites in Syria – security and access permitted – to monitor the quality of activity implementation and provide technical support to field protection staff as necessary.
• Work closely with Program Quality Unit and Protection Team to develop, adapt and implement harmonized M&E systems for protection program and analyze results to ensure program effectiveness and quality, with a focus on the impact of DRC protection activities throughout Syria.
• Support the strengthening of protection information management

• Supervise DRC Syria Protection Team on day-to-day basis by providing leadership, support and guidance.
• Provide on-the-job training and coaching to the DRC Syria Education Team to promote holistic program approaches and strategies.
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.
• Assist protection staff in identifying professional development needs and opportunities.
• Conduct performance reviews of senior protection staff and ensure performance objectives are regularly reviewed and met.

• Develop and maintain conducive working relations with other humanitarian actors, donors, UN, and governmental authorities.
• Represent DRC in cluster/sub-cluster meetings, protection cluster meetings, working groups and at other relevant meetings in Syria.

• Design and support capacity building for local partners and stakeholders in protection principles and best practices.
• Other tasks, as requested by Head of Programme or Country Director.

About you

To be successful in this role we expect the following:

Required

• Master’s degree in relevant field (ie. Social work, social science, law, humanities or other related degree)
• Minimum of six years professional experience in field of protection project/program management/ managing large teams
• Expert knowledge in areas of protection assessment and monitoring, child protection, legal aid, PSS projects in complex environment (preference will be given to candidates with experience in multiple protection areas)
• Experience of at least 2 years working in Middle East
• Strong experience in program and budget management skills, planning, reporting and M&E
• INGO experience required
• Demonstrated experience in capacity building of national and international staff
• Strong experience in managing large and diverse team
• Fluency of English language

• Arabic proficiency is an asset

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 act in line with DRC’s vision and values. 

We offer

Contract length: 12 month contract, renewable dependent on performance and funding.

Level: A11 or A12 (depending on qualifications/experience).

Designation of Duty Station: Unaccompanied/Non – family Duty station.

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates/ Nationals; please refer to https://drc.ngo/about-drc/vacancies/expatriate-terms-of-employment.

Application process

Interested? Then apply for this position, go to

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.And click on "Apply for position".

Closing date for applications: 23rd of July 2018

If you have questions or are facing problems with the online application process, please visit drc.ngo/jobsupport.

For further information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult our website drc.ngo.