Protection Team Leader (Rzeszow Community Center/Protection Hub)

DRC Poland is looking to recruit a qualified, flexible, and enthusiastic professional for the position of Protection Team Leader to manage the implementation of the UNHCR community center project in Rzeszów (so-called Protection Hub) Przemyśl and Medyka. The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a leading protection agency with a mandate to promote and protect durable solutions to conflict and displacement-affected populations based on humanitarian principles and human rights. DRC is implementing a multi-sector response to support Ukraine refugees, IDPs, and host populations both within Ukraine and the neighboring countries of Poland, Romania and Moldova, and wider Europe. Due to the ongoing conflict that began in February 2022, DRC opened offices in Poland, Moldova, and Romania to provide support to the displaced population in partnership with civil society organizations and national NGOs, duty bearers, and other actors. DRC continues to implement in these three countries through partnerships, technical assistance and capacity exchange, and direct implementation in some cases.

The community centers are serving as a protection hub linking conflict-affected people, especially those at heightened risk, with services they require. In addition, the community centers aim to strengthen resilience and social inclusion and operate in support of social cohesion. In each location, the Community Centers will be run in collaboration and/or under the leadership of local/national NGOs.

About the Job

With the support of the Area Protection Project Manager and Country Protection Team, the Team Leader will be responsible for the direct implementation of activities and supporting area partners in the implementation of the Community Center project in line with work plans and guidelines and ensuring timely and efficient communication and troubleshooting.

Management, Programming, and Operations 

• Lead and manage the Rzeszow Community Center/Protection Hub team and protection team based in Przemyśl (direct management of staff hired by DRC).
• Coordinate the work of DRC and all partners in the Community Centers ensuring the effective and quality daily provision of counseling, access to information, legal counseling, MHPSS, and child protection in line with minimum standards and agreed with work plan.
• Support any information management processes required for the successful delivery of the project goals. 
• Provide technical support to protection staff – officers and assistants including partners staff. 
• Prepare weekly and monthly work plans and schedules.
• Ensure daily monitoring of the community center operations, assess the quality, and report any challenges to the Project Manager.  
• Provide timely updates about the changes in the humanitarian situation in the area.
• Ensure daily and periodical (monthly/quarterly/annual) reporting on the project activities in line with project reporting requirements.
• Participate in project reviews (relevant for Rzeszów, Przemyśl, Medyka) and preparation of proposals and budgets for donors.
• Support monitoring and evaluation exercises of the community center operations as advised by the Programme Development and Quality Assurance team. 
• Support programmatic learning based on project implementation and lead the generation of lessons learned and best practices at the area level.
• Identify and share recommendations on required project adaptation.

Coordination and representation 

• Collaborate with Community Center partner organizations ensuring smooth delivery of project activities taking into account specific needs or partners vs project deliverables.
• Collaborate with the Country Protection Team on the development and rollout of relevant project tools.
• Participate in donor meetings upon request.
• With the support of the Country Protection Team, maintain relations and share information with the municipality of Rzeszów, Przemyśl, and podkarpackie voivodship.
• Represent DRC at meetings and other relevant technical coordination meetings at the area level. 
• Ensure integration with other DRC sectors (CCCM, Economic Recovery).

Logistics/Finance 

• Closely collaborate with area support services officers to support timely procurement and delivery of necessary project equipment and supplies to partners, HR, and admin procedures. 
• Support the monitoring of financial commitments and expenditures against the project budget and provide timely feedback on budget follow-up.  
• Plan and coordinate proactively logistics and movements of staff from and to different operational areas.
• Initiate procurements and ensure their execution.

About You

To be successful in this role we expect you to have a minimum of 3 years of relevant, proven project and people management experience at a mid-level, preferably with experience in the field of humanitarian response and refugee protection, social work working for an NGO, UN agency, relevant ministry, or local authority. Moreover, we also expect the following:

• A Master's degree in social sciences, psychology, international development, economics, or another relevant field.
• Minimum 3 years of practical experience in the area of protection/human rights/social work  
• Commitment to learning and implementing organizational policies and procedures.  
• Excellent skills in MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint are highly desired.
• Field experience is desirable.
• Professional proficiency in English and Polish is mandatory.
• Proficiency in Ukrainian and/or Russian is highly desired.

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’s 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 type: National contract

Contract length: 12 months, with the possibility of extension depending on the availability of funding.

Band: Management, G 

Duty base: Rzeszów, with travel.

Start date: January 2023

We offer a competitive salary and benefits in accordance with the Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for National Staff

Application Process

Application Process All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV in English. Applications sent by email will not be considered.

Applicants must have the legal right to live and work in Poland at the time of the application. DRC will not sponsor visas.

Closing date for applications: December 25th, 2022

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and we, therefore, encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

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