Protection Officer

Job Overview/Summary:

Under the direct supervision of the Field and protection Managers, the Protection Officer will support implementation of protection interventions in Samburu County, related to Individual Protection Assistance through crisis case management, community risk responses, community engagement and information dissemination, targeted in-kind assistance, service mapping and protection mainstreaming.

The protection officer will supervise one protection assistant and three community volunteers. in Samburu County.

Major Responsibilities:

- Issue analysis: Develop community risk profiles, understanding the causes of, consequences and affected population of protection risks. - Joint planning of activities with Protection Assistants and community volunteers: Conduct planning, coordination and oversight of day-to-day implementation of protection analysis, individual protection assistance through crisis management and community response activities in designated areas of responsibility. Assign areas of responsibility to Protection Assistants and ensure that they have plans to achieve their program goals. - Supervising quality of individual protection assistance and offering support to the staff: Approve screening results, review and approve action plans, monitor progress on active cases and caseload, and confirm when a case should be closed. He/she is also responsible for setting and reviewing the annual goals of the staff under his/her supervision. - Supervision of record-keeping: Ensure that Protection Assistants safely and accurately document, file and store protection assistance data and information. - Actor/service mapping: With the support of the Roving service mapping officer and field manager, the staff to lead in mapping all service locations and update these regularly. - Processing of in-kind support requests: Receive and approve requests for in-kind assistance, prepare and follow up on purchase requests, and ensure that materials are provided to Protection Assistants for distribution. - Monitoring: In consultation with the Protection Manager, Protection assistant, community volunteers and Monitoring Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) department, take lead in the development of routine monitoring plans for protection assistance activities, regularly monitoring the implementation of protection interventions, ensuring that post-service assessment is done, data is analysed to identify trends and the feedback disseminated to relevant sectors and stakeholders for program quality assurance and improvement. - Reporting: Consolidate and submit reports to the Protection Manager, with formats and content as agreed on, identifying trends, highlighting major protection risks in the community, recommending issues for advocacy outside the PROL team, and providing innovative approaches towards protection sector improvement - Coordination, representation, and advocacy: Develop and strengthen relationships with beneficiaries, local communities, operational/implementing partners etc. to maintain trust in IRC’s professional standard and quality of work among all stakeholders.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Field Manager

Position directly supervises: Protection Assistants and Community incentive workers

Indirect Reporting: Protection manager

Other Internal and/or external contacts:

Internal: Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS), MEAL, GEDI, Women Protection and Empowerment, and support Team

External: County Government, Donors, Other (I)NGOs

Qualifications Education: Bachelor’s degree in law, gender and development, Counseling Psychology, community development, Social Sciences or any other related degree.

Work Experience: At least 5 years of meaningful program experience, protection, mainstreaming in a humanitarian context with protection focus, gender, GBV/WPE, Child protection, durable solutions etc

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

- Knowledge of international and national legal and or policy frameworks relating to refugees' and host community protection is strongly desirable. - Demonstrated understanding of and ability to maintain confidentiality and respect for clients/beneficiaries. - Demonstrable experience in negotiating and building implementing coalitions of multiple agencies desirable. - Community mobilization, capacity building, project management including staff and budget management experience desirable. - Experience facilitating group activities, trainings and workshops and mentoring others. - Excellent communication, facilitation and analytical skills and ability to present ideas effectively, in both oral and written form. - Self-driven and Team player with good interpersonal skills and ability to work well under minimum supervision. - Ready to work in hardship areas with the ability to work under pressure in a strenuous environment with basic services available. - Effective personnel management skills - Language Skills: Fluency in English and Kiswahili., Knowledge of ‘’Maa’’ language is a plus.

**Standards of Professional Conduct****: The IRC and IRC workers should carry through, the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and implements 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: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other encouraging benefits and allowance.

Kenyan nationals are encouraged to apply. International allowances are not available for this position. Salary and employee benefits are compliant to the Kenyan NGO Sector.

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability.

Disclaimer:

Please take note that International Rescue Committee (IRC) does not ask for any fees in connection with its recruitment processes.