Child Protection Manager

Requisition ID: req45009

Job Title: Child Protection Manager

Sector: Child Protection

Employment Category: Fixed Term

Employment Type: Full-Time

Open to Expatriates: No

Location: Dnipro, Ukraine

Work Arrangement: In-person

Job Description

Organization description

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC works with people forced to flee from war, conflict and disaster and the host communities which support them, as well as those who remain within their homes and communities. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we improve outcomes in the areas of health, safety, economic wellbeing, education, and power. Given the disparity faced by women and girls, IRC seeks to narrow gender inequalities and ensure social inclusion of all vulnerable groups in broader policies, processes and actions affecting their lives.

Job Overview:

Under the supervision of the Sn Child Protection Manager, the CP Manager will be responsible for managing the implementation of IRC’s Child Protection Program in Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv Oblasts, targeting children at risk or experiencing violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation (including unaccompanied and separated children) in areas with large IDP and host community populations and newly accessible areas affected by the ongoing humanitarian crisis. This will include supervising and supporting IRC’s CP Sn Officers and teams in Dnipro and Kharkiv to implement, monitor and evaluate project activities. The CP Manager will also support the monitoring of CP activities implemented by IRC’s local partners, providing technical support and ensuring a good relationship with the partner. He/she will oversee that all interventions are adapted to the context and will work with other actors to ensure that child protection risks are reduced. The CP Manager will be based either in Dnipro or Kharkiv and directly supervise the CP Sn Officers in these locations.

Major Responsibilities:

Program Management
- Provide management leadership of the CP program in Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv Oblasts.
- Ensure that activities are implemented in line with the project proposal and, in particular, the CP work plan, spending plan, procurement plan, monitoring and evaluation plans developed for the respective grant.
- Develop monthly and weekly plannings to ensure that the CP Program in Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv Oblasts is implemented on time and within budget.
- Manage activity budgets in accordance with the approved budgets and spending plans.
- Develop, submit and follow-up on procurement requests; develop and ensure the implementation of distribution plans
- Supervise, monitor and support CP teams to ensure that CP activities are implemented within time and budget.
- Conduct regular field missions to supervise, monitor and support teams in the field.
- Work closely with the CP MEAL Officer to maintain a monitoring and evaluation plan, including the systematic collection and analysis of data to inform programming, reporting, fundraising and advocacy.
- Ensure the proper use of management, monitoring and evaluation tools by the teams.
- Consolidate and write weekly and monthly reports, as well as other project reports as requested.
- Ensure the archiving of project documents in hard and soft copy, taking into account the principle of confidentiality


Technical Quality
- Provide technical leadership of the CP program in Dnipropetrovska, Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv Oblasts
- Provide technical support to field teams to ensure the implementation of high-quality CP activities in accordance with best practice and donor and IRC guidelines and program models.
- Ensure that solid case management, referral and information management systems are in place for appropriate identification, responses and follow-up for children harmed or at risk of being harmed.
- Ensure that MHPSS activities for children, adolescents, and caregivers are delivered in accordance with IRC program models and curricula, appropriately adapted to the context.
- Ensure the ethical and meaningful collection of data and uphold the principles of confidentiality.
- Ensure respect for children's participation in all activities, including consulting them regularly and proactively to support the quality and relevance of interventions.
- Proactively identify new or emerging needs, gaps, and opportunities for IRC CP programming to enhance the safety of children and families in their homes and communities.
- Ensure regular communication with the Child Protection Sn Manager, CP Coordinator and other program teams to strengthen safety outcomes for children and families.

Staff Supervision & Development
- Directly supervise CP Sn Officers based in Kharkiv and Dnipro.
- Assist with the recruitment of child protection staff, in coordination with the CP Coordinator, CP Sn Manager and HR.
- Ensure timely completion and submission of monthly timesheets, probations reviews and annual performance reviews.
- Ensure ongoing coaching, technical support and capacity building for staff on technical and management skills
- Identify needs to further strengthen capacities of staff.
- Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit, and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions

Partner Management
- Maintain effective working relationships with IRC’ local CP partners
- Support the regular performance monitoring of partners to achieve the set project’s objectives, in close collaboration with the CP Sn Manager and Partnerships Teams
- Support providing regular technical support and guidance to IRC’S local CP partners in line with partnership agreements

Coordination & Representation
- Actively develop and maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders, including local authorities, UN agencies, international and local NGOs, community stakeholders and other relevant actors
- Attend child protection coordination meetings at the sub-national and national level to contribute to coordination and advocacy for child protection responses across agencies


Other duties:

- Consistently and proactively monitor/assess the safety and security of field teams, promptly reporting concerns or incidents to IRC management and liaising with other external parties as required to maintain/enhance the security environment.
- Other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs.


KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Position reports to: Child Protection Sn Manager
Direct reports: Child Protection Sn Officers in Dnipro & Kharkiv
Other internal contacts: Protection & Rule of Law (ProL), WPE, MEAL, ERD, Health, Finance, Supply, Grants, HR and other relevant departments

Requirements

The Child Protection Manager will need to meet the requirements below:

- A degree desired in social work, social sciences, human rights law or other related field, or equivalent work experience.
At least 2-3 years’ experience in a management / leadership position
- Experience working with children experiencing or at risk of violence, abuse, neglect or exploitation
- Technical expertise in programming in one or more of the following areas: child protection case management, MHPSS, positive parenting, CP risk reduction activities
- Previous experience implementing humanitarian protection programs
- Demonstrated experience in staff supervision, project and budget management
- Ability to lead effectively, mentor and coach staff, resolve conflicts and manage complexities
- Strong team and people leadership, management, organizational and development skills
- Experience in working with and coordinating with local authorities, UN, national NGOs, and other relevant stakeholders
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills with strong analysis and writing skills
- Proven networking, team building, organizational and communication skills
- Additional qualities: ability to multi-task, ability to handle pressure well, ability to improvise, flexibility, adaptability to transitions.
- Good skills in spoken and written English; fluent in Ukrainian and/or Russian

This position will be based in IRC’s Field site, that is either Kharkiv or Dnipro, with frequent travel to field locations required.


Standards of Professional Conduct
The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons and several others.

Gender Equality & Equal Opportunity
We are committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer generous benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances. We welcome and strongly encourage qualified female professionals to apply.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, colour, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Professional Standards
The International Rescue Committee is determined to protect the people it serves and staff from all kinds of harm, including sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment. It is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe. IRC builds diverse and inclusive teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.

IRC workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct.  These are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces its safeguarding policies to protect adult and child clients from any form of exploitation and abuse, including sexual exploitation and abuse, and its staff from sexual harassment and violence.

Where misconduct is alleged, IRC follows a Zero tolerance approach and takes all necessary actions and corrective measures. IRC investigation unit comprises of experts and trained investigators that ensures professional survivor-centered investigations are conducted if allegations of safeguarding violations are reported through the safe and accessible reporting channels that IRC makes available to its staff, partners, and clients.

These commitments are set out in IRC’s Safeguarding Policies, accessible in English and in Ukrainian language via this link: https://rescue.box.com/v/irc-safeguarding-policies.

IRC is an active member of the Inter-Agency Working Group on Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) set-up in Ukraine.