Protection Officer

Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is an international non-governmental organization, which promotes and supports durable solutions to the problems faced by refugees and internally displaced people all over the world.

DRC has been operating in Ukraine for more than 10 years with emergency and durable solution interventions for assisting IDPs, returnees, Host communities, and conflict-affected populations. With the outbreak of the conflict in February 2022, DRC has shifted its programming to emergency response to meet the urgent needs of conflict-affected population in the country. Current DRC programming is focusing on protection activities such as protection monitoring, information dissemination, Individual protection assistance, and legal aid. DRC is also planning to add to the ongoing emergency protection response activities such as GBV prevention and response, Psychosocial support (PSS), and community-based protection. In addition to protection programming, DRC is currently implementing Multipurpose Cash Assistance (MPCA), NFI and Food distributions, Shelter & WASH interventions, and Economic Recovery, Humanitarian Demining and Explosive Ordnance Risk Education.

Protection Officer has an area focus and ensures compliance with DRC procedures and guidelines within the area. The role contributes to developing area strategies translated into action plans and daily tasks. The position provides support and/or technical guidance to base operations.  

DRC Ukraine is currently looking for a highly qualified Protection Officer for Kharkiv office.

Overall purpose of the role:

• Ensure the quality of the planning, implementation and follow up of all technical aspects of the sector activities being implemented by DRC.
• Develop and maintain good relations with the persons of concern, relevant stakeholders and other humanitarian actors, to support adequate implementation and coordination of DRC’s sector activities.

Protection monitoring, identification of protection concerns and facilitation access to services through the referral system to the beneficiaries; Individual protection assistance, support and, sexual and gender-based violence prevention, awareness-raising, advocacy for the rights of displaced persons in their context of displacement.

Your main duties and responsibilities will be:

Programming & Operations

• In close coordination with the Protection manager, Team leader and legal team, ensure efficient and effective program implementation while following the budget and work plan;
• Implementation of protection activities per the agreed objectives;
• Carry out protection monitoring, data collection and documenting the needs of the persons of concern;
•  Participate in awareness-raising sessions and information campaigns for persons of concern;
• Participate in joint assessments, identifying protection concerns and reporting;
• Support mapping of services and development of effective and functioning referral pathways;
• Identify, conduct, and follow up referrals;
• Ensure adequate and relevant data collection per DRC data protection protocols;
• Deliver reporting as required;
• Conduct interviews with beneficiaries, focus group discussions and key‐informant interviews and draft relevant reports or any other program protection activities;
• Frequent reporting to the Protection manager and Team leader of planned and implemented activities;
• Any other duties assigned by the Protection manager relevant to achieving protection objectives.

Coordination and representation

• Collaborate with relevant internal and external technical specialists on sector-relevant issues;
• Represent DRC at meetings and other relevant technical coordination meetings;
• Ensure integration with other DRC sectors.

Project development

• Develop project plans;
• Contributing to the program tools development;
• Project implementation and quality reporting.

Logistics/Finance

• Support monitoring financial commitments and expenditures against budgets and provide timely feedback on budget follow-up;
• Plan and coordinate logistics and movements of staff proactively from and to different operational areas;
• Initiate procurements and ensure their execution;
• Ensure distribution plans are prepared and shared with logistics in a timely manner.

About you

• At least 2 years of working experience in humanitarian sector;
• Experience in working with conflict affected population.

Required experience and competencies:

• Relevant university degree (e.g. political science, international development, or economics) or equivalent professional qualification;
• Excellent skill in MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint;
• Good writing and analytical skills;
• Strong interpersonal, communication and negotiation skills;
• Positive ‘can-do’ attitude and stress resilience;
• Commitment to learning and implementing organizational policies and procedures;
• High professional ethics.

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.

We offer

Contract length: 6 months renewable depending on performance and funding.

Level H, non-Manager

Start date: As soon as possible.

The application is open for Ukraine citizens only. Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for National Staff.

Application process

All applicants must send 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: 02 February 2023

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