Senior Protection Officer- Mubi

Work Arrangement:

Job Description

The International Rescue Committee responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, IRC offers life-saving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in more than 40 countries and in 22 U.S. cities, IRC restores safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted by conflict or disaster. IRC leads the way from harm to home.

CONTEXTUAL BACKGROUND

The IRC has been present in Nigeria since 2012 when the organization responded to flooding in Kogi state. In February 2014 the IRC moved into Adamawa State in NE Nigeria to provide humanitarian interventions through a multi-sectoral, integrated approach for conflict affected populations. IRC Nigeria now operates a country office in Abuja and field offices in Mubi and Yola of Adamawa State, Maiduguri and Monguno of Borno state and Damaturu of Yobe State. Currently, IRC Nigeria implements programs primary health care, nutrition, environmental health, women’s protection and empowerment, protection, child protection, education, food security & livelihoods.

Job Overview/Summary

The Senior Protection Officer Position will oversee an IDP and host community Protection program in Adamawa State. In this capacity, the senior Protection officer will be responsible for day-to-day supervision and oversight of protection teams in Adamawa and various protection activities, budget management, administration, and implementation of the requirements of the programs. The senior Protection officer will work closely with other IRC Sectors and partner agencies operating in Adamawa state.

This position will report to the senior program manager safety outcome and receive technical support from the Protection and Rule of Law Coordinator.

Major Responsibilities

Program Management, Technical Quality, and Strategy

- Create and execute a work plan, spending plans, procurement plans and related systems to ensure that project deadlines are met, and targets achieved. - Supervise and coach the Legal Officer and community engagement assistant to conduct monitoring visits, surveys, participatory assessments and/or community consultations focused on protection concerns and the identification of Persons with Special Needs (PSN) within the community. Ensure that monitoring visits respect principles of confidentiality of interviewees and that all incidents reported to IRC are handled with due regard to protection principles. - Supervise and coach the legal officer and community engagement assistant to deliver awareness-raising activities on topics such as service availability and access to Justice. - Support the legal officer and community engagement assistant in maintaining a good working knowledge of available services from IRC and partners, and an ability to make appropriate referrals to those services during protection monitoring and community outreach activities. - Develop and maintain a good knowledge of the protection situation locally and the priority needs of the IDP population and host community. Compile protection assessment reports to inform IRC and partner programming in Adamawa/Borno/Yobe - Convene and facilitate the monthly/semi-monthly community forum made up of NNGOs, community leaders, PAGs, local authorities, women's committee representatives, and others to discuss community priorities and NNGO plans.

Program Development

- Support the legal officer and community engagement assistant in capacity building of community-based protection mechanisms through training, support, and maintenance of the PAGs throughout the State. - Conduct protection mainstreaming activities, especially regarding partner programming, to ensure that protection principles are prioritized in service delivery and that vulnerable IDPs and host community members have equal access to services. - Participate in the development of proposals, budgets, and concept notes in coordination with the Protection and Rule Law Coordinator, DDP, Grants team, and HQ Technical Unit. - Contribute to the development of the Country Sector Strategy for the Nigeria Protection Program. - Support other protection programs as needed, including Child Protection and Women's Protection and Empowerment

Coordination & Representation

- Actively participate in coordination mechanisms with partners, IDPs, and host community leaders to ensure information sharing and coordination of interventions, and to enable meaningful participation of both IDPs and host communities. - Liaise with partners, particularly through the protection sector working group/coordination mechanism, to share findings and any issues of relevance and/or concern related to the local context or broader trends. - Establish relationships with other NGOs, international organizations, government offices, particularly those working in protection and participate in relevant coordination forums.

Key Working Relationships

Position Reports to: Senior Program manager, safety outcome.

Indirect/Technical Reporting: Prol Technical coordinator

Position directly Supervises: Legal officer and community engagement assistant.

Qualifications

Education:

- Degree in Law, International Law, Human Rights, International Affairs, or social sciences.

Work Experience:

- Minimum of three years of professional experience in protection programming in a displacement setting - Strong understanding of protection principles and likely protection concerns arising in the Nigeria context as well as conflict sensitivity - Experience in complex emergencies and the ability to live and work in a very remote environment.

Demonstrated Technical Skills:

- Ability to work under pressure and without daily supervision and demonstrated analytical skills and report writing experience required.

Demonstrated Managerial/Leadership Competencies:

- Demonstrated skill in staff management in a cross- cultural environment, Strong interpersonal, intercultural and communication skills.

Languages:

- English language and Hausa language is an added advantage.

Computer/Other Tech Requirements:

- Full professional competency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint. Add position-specific (e.g. accounting software, statistical software, etc.).

Ability to Travel: 30% of time if applicable.

Standard of Professional Conduct: IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality. 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.

Commitment to Gender, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. The IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of IRC Persons in any work setting.

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 supportive benefits and allowances.

Employment Gaps: We welcome applicants with varied career paths and recognize that a gap in employment does not define a candidate's potential. We value transferrable skills and are committed to investing in the growth and development of our team members. We encourage applicants to highlight any relevant skills or experiences they have acquired, even if they were not gained in a traditional work setting.

Compensation and Benefits: IRC strives to provide externally competitive and internally equitable Compensation and Benefits programs that attracts, motivates, and retains employees that deliver strong performance while demonstrating the IRC Way Standards for Professional Conduct.

Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an equal opportunity employer, and we value diversity and inclusion. We do not discriminate based on race, nationality, ethnicity or tribe, gender, age, religion, caste, sexual orientation, differently abled, geographic origin, marital status, veteran status, and cultural background (or any other characteristic protected by law). We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.