Protection Manager Job - Danish Refugee Council (DRC)

Job Title: Protection Manager

Organisation: Danish Refugee Council (DRC)

Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda

Reports to: Head of Program

About US:

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a private, independent, humanitarian organization working on all aspects of the refugee cause in more than 36 countries throughout the world. The aim of DRC is to protect refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) against persecution and to promote durable solutions to the problems of forced migration, on the basis of humanitarian principles and human rights. DRC works in accordance with the UN Conventions on Refugees and the Code of Conduct for the ICRC and NGOs in Disaster Relief.

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

Project Management, Design and Strategy

Oversee daily management of all protection projects implemented across Uganda with an immediate focus on the West Nile region.
Demonstrate exceptional strength and experience in detail-oriented, project cycle management of protection projects. Experience managing UNHCR and BPRM-funded projects is essential.
Engage in ongoing monitoring, analysis and reporting on the protection conditions of refugees and other displacement affected populations in Uganda, with a specific focus on the West Nile region.
Based on the context, trends and priority needs, collaborate with the Head of Program, Program Development and Quality Coordinator, DRC protection team members, communities and other key stakeholders to lead assessments and participatory project design processes, and develop technical inputs and associated budgets for protection-related concept notes, proposals and strategy.

Technical Support:

Demonstrate strong generalist knowledge of community-based protection, child protection, gender-based violence prevention and response as well as legal aid.
Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of global and national standards and approaches pertaining to community-based protection, child protection, gender-based violence prevention and response, as well as legal aid and take the lead to ensure fully compliance with associated minimum standards and best practices. This entails development and regular review of guidelines, standard operating proceedures and tools.
Provide overall technical supervision and support to DRC’s Protection Team in West Nile, including undertaking staff capacity assessments and identification or design of technical trainings, and conducting trainings on topics such as case management, age, gender and diversity, human rights and basic protection principles for community protection committees, other community structures and partner staff.
Conduct regular field visits to provide technical support to staff and monitor technical compliance of activities.
Support in coordination of and undertaking protection monitoring activities, including inter-agency and multi-stakeholder monitoring initiatives.
Monitor referral mechanisms to ensure efficient and effectives systems for DRC’s to make and support protection-related referrals.
In coordination with the Arua MEAL team, lead on the design of monitoring, evaluation, and learning processes and initiatives for the program in line with key sector minimum standards and guiding principles.
Collaborate with DRC’s West Nile MEAL teams to ensure active and effective accountability to affected populations through DRC’s Protection Help Desks and the inter-agency FRRM.
Collaborate with the broader DRC team to support protection mainstreaming across programming.

Staff Management

Directly manage 5 settlement-based Team Leaders with specialized expertise in the areas of community-based protection, child protection, gender-based prevention and response as well as legal aid.
Supporting respectful and positive working relationships which allow for the effective implementation of all activities. This is to be achieved through leadership, team building, day-to-day support, capacity-building and strong and generalist knowledge of DRC’s core sectors.
Lead and support recruitment processes and ensure that relevant staffing structures are in place and are reflective of appropriate gender and diversity balance.
Promote professional development by identifying training and capacity building opportunities and ensure staff are well versed in core protection concepts, DRC’s code of conduct, accountability, respectful dialogue with the affected populations, and prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse.
Collaborate with the Arua and Kampala human resources departments to ensure staff evaluations are conducted on a regular basis.

Finance, Administration and Supply Chain

Assume responsibility as primary budget holder of all DRC protection activities implemented in the West Nile region.
Overseeing and regularly updating comprehensive forecasting and budget monitoring of protection projects and leading in program and activity-related revisions and re-alignment processes.
Collaborate regularly with the Arua and Kampala based finance teams to monitor spending and ensure the timely utilization of assigned grants.
Collaborate with the Finance teams in Arua and Kampala to ensure relevant field-based records are well managed, fulfil DRC and donor requirements, and are always up-to-date for use in donor reports.
Collaborate with the Supply Chain teams in Arua and Kampala to develop, maintain and monitor project procurement plans.
Collaborate with the Supply Chain teams in Arua and Kampala to ensure relevant field-based records are well managed, fulfill DRC and donor requirements, and are always up-to-date for use in donor reports.
Ensure full program compliance with DRC and donor financial guidelines and policies.

Representation and Advocacy:

Represent DRC in protection-related, sector meetings, such as working groups, at both the local and national levels. Coordinate, and maintain constructive relationships with UNHCR, the Office of the Prime Minister, district local governments, as well as other international NGOs and other stakeholders.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience:

The ideal candidate must hold a University degree (preferably master-level) in law, social work, social sciences, development studies, or relevant fields.
At least five years of experience in an entry to mid-level position, preferably in the field of humanitarian response and refugee protection, working for an international NGO, UN agency or relevant ministry or local authority.
At least three years of experience in Gender Based Violence (GBV) programing within humanitarian response
Experience in refugee protection
Experience in project management
Strong inter-personal skills and Staff management skills
Commitment to learning and implementing organizational policies and procedures
Full proficiency in Microsoft Office package
Strong planning, organization and problem-solving skills with ability to work both independently and within a team in a demanding work environment
Integrity, strong work ethic, and ability to consistently meet deadlines under pressure
Experience of working in emergency and refugee camp setting
A sensitive approach to external representation
Minimum of 6 years of proven and successful track record experience designing and delivering protection programming for refugees and other vulnerable communities.
Demonstrated knowledge of the displacement context in Uganda, South Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo.
Exceptional understanding of both global and national protection standards and approaches.
Experience designing technical components of protection programs, including demonstrated knowledge of protection information management systems.
Experience of working with UNHCR and international and national NGOs
Exceptional organizational and management skills.
Exceptional spoken and written English as well as analytical skills.
Full proficiency in spoken and written English;
Knowledge of the local languages spoken in the operation area is an asset.