Protection Project Manager

Vacancy Announcement

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is an international humanitarian organization implementing relief and development activities in more than 30 countries. DRC/DDG is a non-governmental, non-political and non-religious organization and for DRC/DDG, people’s right to a life with dignity is central to all that we do. Danish Demining Group (DDG) is a department within DRC; the DDG mandate is to recreate a safe environment where people are free from the threat of landmines, explosive remnants of war and small arms and light weapons. DRC/DDG has been operating in Myanmar since 2009, in Northern Shan in 2016, responding to humanitarian needs of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and conflict-affected populations. The DRC/DDG programme is rooted in a strong protection outreach that includes protection monitoring, tailor-made assistance and programmatic integration through mine action including provision of Mine Risk Education (MRE) and Landmine Victim Assistance (MVA) and Food Security and Livelihood in the most contaminated and conflict-prone areas of Myanmar.

To support and strengthen the DRC / DDG programme in Myanmar we are looking for highly motivated and capable candidates to fill the position of

Protection Project Manager- 1 post

Duty Station                : Lashio Office, Northern Shan State with regular travel between bases in Lashio (50%) and Namkham (50%).

Reporting to                  : Protection Manager

Direct reports               : Protection staff (Specialist, Team Leaders, Officer)

Overall purpose of the role

• Responsible for the implementation of DRC Myanmar Protection Strategy and the day-to-day management of DRC’s Protection projects within geographical area of responsibility (including Protection Monitoring, Community Based Protection, Partnership, Case Management/Case Support and Advocacy for the rights of displaced people, other protection issues according to the context).
• Ensuring that all protection projects are in-line with DRC technical quality standards and are on time, budget and scope and provide technical expertise on project implementation.
• Direct Management for relevant program staff members.
• Responsible for overall budget and protection program management.

Sector responsibilities: Advocacy for the rights of displaced people in their context of displacement, case management, monitoring of rights and rights awareness-raising, solutions for displaced population.

Geographic scope: Area (Northern Shan State)

This role has an area focus and ensures compliance to DRC procedures and guidelines within the area. The role contributes to the development of area strategies, which are translated into action plans and day-to-day tasks. The role provides support and technical guidance to base operations.

Responsibilities:

Project Management and Implementation

• Strategic vision and supervision of the protection teams across the area, in coordination with, and technical supervision of, Protection Manager.
• Oversee planning, implementation, and monitoring of project activities with a specific emphasis on remote project management.
• Ensure program’s adaptability to the operational context. Adapt tools and project implementation approaches.
• Oversee program performance, budget control, expenditures, procurement, and overall project cycle management as per contractual obligations, timelines, and donor compliance in coordination with Protection Manager
• Ensure implementation of protection mainstreaming/integration guidance for other technical teams and programs (Mine Risk Education/Humanitarian Mine Action, Livelihood, Emergency Response, Partnership, MEAL) and promote multi-sectoral approaches.

Technical Management and Quality Control

• Ensure implementation of protection projects according to the overall protection strategy, DRC Myanmar harmonized approaches, in line with Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and technical guides on Protection Monitoring, Case Management, and Community-Based Protection taking into account remote modalities.
• Ensure the highest quality of Protection interventions, synergies, and the coherence among all projects.
• Strengthen the Protection Monitoring System including documentation and analysis of information.
• Guide Protection Specialist, Team Leaders, and Officer to ensure quality in the protection deliverables according to technical guides and SOPs.
• Conducts regular quality assessments of programming (case management, PSS etc.) to ensure that services provided are according to standards and are of high quality.
• Identify gaps in relation with the overall implementation and provide recommendations to improve program quality.
• Develop and revise necessary tools, forms, technical guides and SOP for DRC protection related activities in coordination with relevant technical line manager.
• Provide capacity building to DRC staff and partners in collaboration with technical line manager.

People Management

• Establish and adjust people management mechanism, suitable for remote management modality and operational context. 
• Lead and manage program staff members including recruitment, performance appraisal, well-being, coaching, mentoring, and capacity development.

Information Management, Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Reporting

• Guided by the DRC Program Handbook, continuously monitor and develop relevant accountability initiatives within relevant project program as well as strengthening the effort to document the impact of activities.
• Develop program monitoring tools and support in monitoring of outcomes and outputs in coordination with MEAL team.
• Support and lead in writing management and donor reports. Ensure compliance with internal and external reporting requirements including procurement.
• Liaise with the MEAL team to develop and implement a MEAL plan for protection activities, develop the community feedback mechanism, map lessons learnt and identify opportunities for evaluations and quality improvement.
• Oversee drafting and production of protection monitoring ensuring high quality and relevant responses to identified needs and issues.
• Oversee knowledge sharing across teams and ensure that monitoring and evaluation results are understood and used to improve programs.
• Conduct regular audits of Protection Information Management (PIM) databases ensure accuracy of data and maintenance of tools.
• Ensure safety and confidentiality of the collected information in accordance with DRC Code of Conduct, Protection Sector Information Sharing Protocol and relevant DRC guidelines.
• Ensure participation and empowerment of persons affected by conflict and displacement, and maintain an age, gender and diversity sensitive lens throughout the protection programming.

Coordination and Representation

• Represent DRC and actively participate in Protection and relevant sub sectors/working groups.
• Share relevant project information with external stakeholders as necessary and required.
• Together with the Area Manager and Protection Manager, coordinate and liaise closely with UNHCR, I/NGOs and other stakeholders to ensure a participatory, transparent and coordinated approach. Work with Area Manager, Protection Manager, Protection Coordinator and others to ensure consistent external messaging from DRC.

Partnerships and Localization

• Develop and strengthen relationships with networks, other relevant stakeholders and partners in Northern Shan State.  Actively explore and identify potential partners in line with localization strategy in coordination with Partnership team.
• Engage in coordination with local and I/NGOs to expand and strengthen DRC’s partner networks, as well as support in roll out of Protection activities with partners.
• Oversee protection activities (Community-based Protection, etc.) in partnership with local CSOs/CBOs, and capacity building of implementing partners in coordination with other relevant DRC colleagues and sectors.

Strategic Programming and Project Development

• Contribute to needs assessments to inform program design and strategic direction. Conduct rapid needs assessment of the situation in the event of emergency in collaboration with other stakeholders to address related problems.
• Identify new opportunities for protection intervention and work closely with Area Manager, Protection Manager, Protection Coordinator, the Grants Unit, and other Programme Sector lead to develop quality proposals, concept notes and budgets.
• Contribute to the development of the relevant programs within the DRC objectives, including proposal development, and feed into country-wide strategy development.

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 ensuring project forecasting and spending according to deliverables.
• Accountable for people management of direct reports, generally at least 3 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 advice of technical experts in DRC.

*Perform any other relevant tasks as requested by Line Manager and / or Area Manager.

Experience and technical competencies: (include years of experience)

• 5 years of practical experience in the Protection field working for in Humanitarian Sector.
• Experience with project management, in particular people management and project budget management.
• Experience with protection programming, including (but not limited to) Protection Monitoring, Partnership, Case Management and/or Community Based Protection.
• Experience in project development and donor reporting
• Excellent writing and editing skills for external audiences.
• Experience in producing high-quality technical material (training material, program tools, proposals, strategic documents etc.).
• Experience working with Monitoring and Evaluation.
• Advance IT knowledge (hardware and software, MS Word, Excel, Power Point, remote management, and capacity building tools).
• Experience working with national partners, local/government authorities, and UN agencies.
• University degree or Advanced University degree (Master’s degree) in relevant field (e.g. political science, human rights, humanitarian project management, social work, international law, international development, etc).
• Full professional proficiency in English
• Full professional proficiency in Myanmar Language

Key stakeholders: (internal and external)

• UN agencies, relevant authorities, other I/NGO and local CSO/CBO partners, and communities
• Other DRC technical teams  
• DRC Senior Management Team

All DRC roles require the post-holder to master DRC’s core competencies:

• Striving for excellence: Focusing on reaching results while ensuring efficient processes.
• Collaborating: Involving relevant parties and encouraging feedback.
• Taking the lead: Taking ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
• Communicating: Listening and speaking effectively and honestly.
• Demonstrating integrity: Upholding and promoting the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

Offer:

• Starting date of employment: Jan 2022.

• Contract: Regular DRC staff contract including a probation period of 3 months and Renewables depend on both funding and performance.

• Salary: Competitive salary according to DRC Myanmar salary scale.

This position is open for Myanmar Nationals only. DRC strongly advocates for equal opportunity and promotes a diversified and inspiring working environment. Therefore, qualified candidates of ethnic minorities and women are strongly encouraged to apply.

Application process:

Applicants who meet the above-mentioned requirements should apply by submitting their applications in English (consisting of Cover Letter and CV of no more than 4 pages, including contact details of 3 professional references) and CV only applications will not be considered. Apply button.

• Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for a written test in English and a face-to-face interview.
• After the closing date, applications are not to be considered. Please note that due to the urgency of this position, applications will be reviewed on an on-going basis and DRC reserves the right to initiate the recruitment process before the deadline for applications.

Deadline for submission of applications: 06-Dec-2021