Country Protection Coordinator (CPC) – Bogotá - Colombia

Danish Refugee Council/Danish Demining Group (DRC/DDG) is one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, working in more than 40 countries to provide adequate assistance with a rights-based approach to refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons, returnees and migrants.  DRC/DDG is currently looking for a highly qualified Spanish and English-speaking Country Protection Coordinator for a 6-month contract (renewable for an additional 6 months depending on funding) in Colombia. This is an opportunity for an experienced Protection Coordinator to support DRC’s emergency response to the mixed migration flows in Colombia due to the Venezuela crisis.

About the job

DRC/DDG has been present in Colombia since 2011, focused on capacity-building, setting up of mine action programming and providing support to conflict-affected populations in the south of the country. The onset of large mixed migration flows into Colombia due to the Venezuela crisis requires a major integrated humanitarian response to meet the urgent needs of refugees, asylum seekers, migrants, Colombian returnees, and host communities.

Based on the conclusions of several emergency needs assessments, DRC initiated an emergency response in the Caribbean coastal areas of Colombia (Riohacha and Barranquilla) and along the eastern border between Colombia and Venezuela (Cucuta and Arauca). DRC’s integrated humanitarian response will be based primarily on protection activities, with components of Shelter, WASH, multi-purpose cash assistance, NFIs, and livelihood interventions.  DRC/DDG aims to play an important role in humanitarian coordination in support of UNHCR and IOM as coordination lead agencies of GIFMM (Grupo Interagencial de Flujos Migratorios Mixtos).

The primary objective of the Country Protection Coordinator (CPC) will be to ensure the full and effective country-wide implementation of all DRC protection activities, as well as the responsibility for developing context-sensitive strategies and implementing the protection components of DRC’s projects country-wide.  The CPC also provides technical protection expertise on program development in all relevant projects. This role has a country-wide focus and ensures compliance to DRC programme procedures and guidelines within Colombia.  

The role contributes to the development of country strategies, which are translated into action plans and day-to-day tasks. The role provides support and/or technical guidance to protection country operations while overseeing country activities.

The position will be based in Bogotá, Colombia, with extensive travel to the sub-offices (Riohacha & Cúcuta) and field offices (Barranquilla and Arauca) as well as occasional visits to more rural areas, cities along the Colombia-Venezuela border for assessment, and meetings with partners and donors as necessary.

The CPC will be responsible for the development of the country-level protection strategy and will support and oversee the implementation and management of DRC's protection programming objectives in Colombia. The CPC will be tasked to take a lead role in program development, implementation, coordination, advocacy and representation with various protection stakeholders.

Main Responsibilities:

Protection Project Management and implementation

·Coordinate, plan and monitor protection project activities;

·Ensure the highest quality of the protection interventions and the coherence between all projects, ongoing and proposed, according to the overall strategy;

·Take leadership of the protection programs in terms of high quality and timely deliveries, narrative reporting and financial overviews, close cooperation with donors, government counterparts and coordination mechanisms on-site and in synergy with other DRC interventions in the area;

·Formalize and develop project-related operational tools and training modules;

·Provide input for monthly, quarterly and annual donor reports.

Program development and strategy

·Representation of DRC and active participation in protection sub sectors/working groups at national level, and occasionally at local level;

·Oversee knowledge sharing across teams, and ensure that monitoring and evaluation results are understood and used to improve protection programs;

·Drive the development and growth of the protection programs within the DRC program objectives and feed into country-wide strategy development.

Accountability and reporting

·Guided by the DRC Programme Handbook, continuously monitor and develop relevant accountability initiatives within the protection program as well as strengthen the effort to document the impact of activities

·Ensure compliance with internal and external reporting requirements. 

People Management

·Lead and manage project staff members including coaching, ensuring coordination, recruitment, and capacity development;

·Provide on-the-job training as much as required and adapt trainings/coaching to specific staff needs.

As Manager the post-holder is responsible for the following:

·Accountable for achieving DRC’s strategic goals and objectives within the area of responsibility

·Accountable for making significant decisions on what the unit does: its purpose, functions and role, and for making commitments and decisions that require the expenditure of significant unit resources.

·Accountable for people technical management of direct reports, at least 5 employees. This includes hiring & firing, objective setting, probation, performance appraisal, development of staff, managing performance, including poor performance, etc.;

·Accountable for making sound decisions based on DRC policies, MOPs, standards, and the advice of technical experts in DRC.

Roles reporting to this position                                              Reports to:                             

Technical line Manager: GBV Manager                                      Head of Programmes

Technical line manager: Protection Managers in

Sub-offices and Field offices                                                                                                                    

Required experience and competencies          

·Full professional proficiency in Spanish and English;

· At least 7-10 years' proven international NGO experience in a protection program management/Coordination role involving responsibility for developing new and successful proposals;

·Experience in working in complex emergencies;

·Excellent writing and editing skills for external audiences (including governments and donors);

·Experience in producing high-quality technical material (training material, protection tools, proposals, strategic documents etc.);

·Experience working with Monitoring and Evaluation;

·At least 5 years' experience with people management;

·Skills and experience in training, capacity-building, budget management and donor reporting / accountability / compliance;

Desirable

·Calm and diplomatic in nature;

·Ability to manage competing priorities and to meet deadlines;

·Effective team-player;

·Previous experience with DRC in emergency context.

All DRC roles require the post-holder to master DRC’s 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. 

Required education                                                                           

·Master's degree in human rights, political science, refugee law or other relevant fields;

·Or Bachelor’s degree in relevant fields with 8 years’ working experience in similar positions.

We offer

Contract length: 6 months renewable depending on funding.

Level: A 12

Designation of Duty Station: Family duty station - Unaccompanied

Start date: As soon as possible, but not later than 10/01/2019

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriates; please refer to www.drc.ngo under Vacancies. For questions regarding the vacancy please contact Massimiliano Benevelli max@drc.ngo or Joann Kingsley joann.kingsley@drc.ngo

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: 27/11/2018