Protection Coordinator

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 fulfillment 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. DRC is currently offering a robust humanitarian response to the Syria crisis.  With an annual country portfolio of $23 million supported by approximately 400 staff and service providers, DRC is undertaking programs in Syria in 8 Governates out of 14 in Emergency Response, Protection, Livelihoods, Shelter and Education sectors.

About the job

The protection coordinator has overall responsibility for designing, coordinating, supporting and representing the DRC’s protection programming in Syria. S/he will be responsible for ensuring the mainstreaming of protection across all program sectors and the respect of protection and humanitarian principles across the DRC Syria mission.

 Your main duties and responsibilities will be:

Technical Oversight:

• Develop program strategy and priorities based on a thorough understanding of needs and context and ensure the implementation of the strategy
• Lead development, harmonization, and roll out of SOPs, tools and guidelines
• Provide regular technical support and guidance to Project Managers and other relevant field staff in both a structured manner and on a case by case basis.
• Assure compliance with DRC standards and procedures and alignment with global and regional strategy, through regular coordination with colleagues in support services, in the field and main office in Damascus
• Coordinate with sector colleagues at RO and HQ levels as appropriate about relevant issues
• Complete regular field visits to ensure technical oversight and support, identify needs, and ensure quality programming
• Ensure that programming is integrated with other DRC sectors

Technical Line Management and capacity building:

• Development of harmonized job descriptions and structures in all area offices
• Participate in the recruitment of technical staff in the same field
• Identify technical gaps and support capacity building for technical line reports
• Contribute to setting performance objectives and performance appraisals of technical staff in the same field
• When necessary, and with approval of his/her line manager, provide stop-gap support in absence of PMs, in close coordination with senior national colleagues (identified by the PM before his/her absence)

Programme Development, Coordination, and Oversight:

• Lead design, finalization and oversight and coordination of proposals and projects, in coordination with PMs and field staff
• Lead on developing assessments, including inter-sectoral assessments to inform evidence-based planning
• Map donor priorities within given sector and identify new opportunities in coordination with Grants unit
• Provide technical review of all proposals and reports and other relevant sector-specific donor communications
• Lead on program review meetings where s/he is the focal point and contribute to other program review meetings as necessary (Grant Opening, Review, & Close Out Meetings)
• Oversight of overall program implementation, including budgets and indicators from the technical perspective
• Oversight and monitoring of overall sector budget, including budget development, in coordination with PMs, monitoring for timely sector-level spend, and initiate corrective action, including internal and donor budget realignments

Protection mainstreaming:

• 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 the 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.

Quality Assurance:

• Oversight of overall program implementation progress; identification, resolution and/or escalation of issues;
• Work with MEAL unit to develop harmonized tools and databases to monitor and track efficiency and quality of programming and improve information management within the sector focal points
• Work closely with MEAL in design, implementation, and evaluation of sector-level programming
• Coordinate with MEAL to ensure accountability mechanisms are established for programming
• Provide technical inputs for referral system design and implementation

Coordination and Donor Engagement

• Lead participation in sectors, including direct participation at the national level and coordination of representation at the sub-national level. Also participate in working groups/strategic advisory groups, to represent DRC and its mandate
• Act as the main sector-level point of contact with donors; support donor visits to the field
• Provide technical input and support the strategic direction of the sector-level response within the humanitarian community
• Report issues and challenges to the donor in a timely manner, in coordination with the HOP
• Liaise with local, regional, and national government authorities and relevant stakeholders

Other

• Design and support capacity building for local partners and stakeholders in protection principles and best practices.
• Raise any issues of non-compliance and assure compliance with DRC standards and procedures
• Coordinate with Humanitarian Policy Advisor for success story content, communication tools, etc.
• Provide regular updates to Head of Programme
• Other tasks, as requested by the Head of Programme

About you

To be successful in this role we expect the following:

Required

• Master’s degree in a relevant field (ie. Social work, social science, law, humanities or another related degree)
• Minimum 6 years of proven professional experience in international field protection and management of protection programme with other INGOs
• Expert knowledge and experience in protection analysis and monitoring, child protection, legal aid, Psycho-Social Support, Gender-Based Violence projects in complex environment (preference will be given to candidates with experience in multiple protection areas)
• Demonstrated experience in integrated programming
• Experience of at least 2 years working in the Middle East
• Demonstrated experience in capacity building of national and international staff
• Experience in international humanitarian work, advocacy and policy development, and sector/cluster coordination mechanisms
• Experience with managing teams
• Able to manage high work load and stress level
• Solid knowledge of Humanitarian principles and international legal framework
• Proven strong communication, interpersonal, representation, negotiation, promotion, analytical and diplomacy skills
• Full proficiency in spoken and written English language.

Desirable

• Arabic fluency considered an added value.

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: up to 12 months contract, renewable dependent on both funding and performance.

Level: F (non - manager)

Designation of Duty Station: Unaccompanied duty station

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with the Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for Expatriate Staff.

Application process

Interested? Then apply for this position, go to

And click on "Apply for position".

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: the 27th of January 2020. 

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