Child Protection Senior Officer

Job Overview
Under the technical and direct supervision of the Child Protection Manager, the Senior CP Officer will be responsible for managing the implementation of IRC’s Child Protection Program in Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa, Mykolaiv, Kherson, and Kharkiv Oblasts. The program targets children at risk or experiencing violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation (including unaccompanied and separated children) in areas with large IDP and host community populations, as well as newly accessible areas affected by the ongoing humanitarian crisis. The Senior CP Officer will provide support to Child Protection Manager in the project proposals, preparing and updating key planning tools such as work plans, spending plans, procurement plans, and monitoring and evaluation plans. The senior child protection officer will be accountable for program delivery in a timely and accurate manner.

Under the day-to-day supervision of the Child Protection Manager, the Senior CP Officer will develop monthly and weekly plans, prepare distribution plans, monitor visits to IRC direct implementation as well as partner’s programs, provide support to CP managers for preparation of spending plans, procurement plans if requires. Together with CP Manager, The Senior CP Officer will supervise and support CP teams in Dnipro, Odesa, and Kharkiv, ensuring that activities are completed within agreed timelines and budgets. The Senior CP Officer will also conduct regular field missions to monitor, support, and guide the field teams, ensuring quality and consistency in the implementation of child protection activities. Additionally, the Senior CP Officer will work closely with the CP MEAL Officer to maintain a robust monitoring and evaluation plan, ensuring that data collection informs program decisions, reporting, and fundraising. The Senior CP Officer will work closely with capacity building officer to ensure IRC teams and IRC’s partners receive adequate technical support and program support officer to ensure program needs reflected in the adequate way in the procurement plans. The role involves consolidating and writing weekly, monthly, and other reports as required, while ensuring that project documentation is properly archived, adhering to confidentiality standards. The Senior CP Officer will be based either in Odesa, Dnipro or Kharkiv and will directly supervise CP PSS officer, CP MHPSS Officer, and CP Case Management Officer. Senior CP Officers will ensure effective program delivery and coordination with local partners and stakeholders.

The Senior CP Officer will also play a role in working with IRC’s local partners, providing support and follow-up in line with PEERS (Partnership Excellence for Equality and Results System) principles. This includes ensuring that partners are technically supported and equipped to deliver child protection activities effectively, while fostering strong relationships and collaborative efforts with local actors. The Senior CP Officer will ensure proper monitoring of partner activities, providing technical guidance and capacity building where necessary to ensure quality programming.

Primary Responsibilities:
Program Delivery and Project Management:
With day-to-day supervision and support from the CP Manager, the Senior CP Officer will:
●Provide leadership of the Child Protection program (Case management, PSS, and MHPSS teams) in Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa, Mykolaiv, Kherson, and Kharkiv Oblasts.
●Oversee the referral mechanisms, and lead on the maintenance and regular/timely updating of the service mapping and referral pathways, and training of referrals service providers on the referral pathway and appropriate referral
●Assess implementation progress and identify technical quality issues or other concerns, to be flagged to the CP Manager, and propose solutions.
●Ensure that activities are implemented in line with the project proposal, specifically adhering to the Child Protection work plan, spending plan, procurement plan, and monitoring and evaluation plans developed for the respective grant.
●Develop monthly and weekly plans to ensure that the Child Protection program in the program locations is implemented on time and within budget.
●Follow-up spending plans in in accordance with approved budgets
●Develop, submit, and follow up on procurement requests, ensuring the implementation of distribution plans is executed smoothly.
●Supervise and support Child Protection teams to ensure that activities are completed within agreed timelines and budgets.
●Conduct regular field missions to monitor, support, and guide teams in the field, ensuring quality and consistency in program delivery.
●Collaborate closely with the CP MEAL Officer to maintain a robust monitoring and evaluation plan, which includes systematic collection and analysis of data to inform programming, reporting, fundraising, and advocacy.
●Ensure the effective use of management, monitoring, and evaluation tools by the teams to facilitate program success.
●Consolidate and write weekly and monthly reports, along with any other project reports as requested, to ensure transparent communication of progress and challenges.
●Ensure proper archiving of project documents in both hard and soft copy, taking into account confidentiality standards.

Technical Quality Assurance:
With technical supervision and regular support from the Child Protection Manager, as well as overall guidance from the CP Coordinator/CP Senior Manager, the Senior CP Officer will:
●Provide technical and managerial leadership for the Child Protection program in Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa, Mykolaiv, Kherson, and Kharkiv Oblasts.
●Offer technical support to field teams to ensure the implementation of high-quality Child Protection activities in accordance with best practices, donor requirements, IRC guidelines, and program models.
●Ensure that robust case management, referral, and information management systems are established for the appropriate identification, response, and follow-up for children harmed or at risk of harm.
●Guarantee that Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) activities for children, adolescents, and caregivers are delivered in alignment with IRC program models and curricula, ensuring they are appropriately adapted to the local context.
●Uphold ethical standards in the collection of data, ensuring meaningful participation and adherence to confidentiality principles.
●Promote respect for children's participation in all activities, consulting them regularly and proactively to enhance the quality and relevance of interventions.
●Proactively identify new or emerging needs, gaps, and opportunities for IRC's Child Protection programming, aimed at enhancing the safety of children and families in their homes and communities.
●Ensure regular communication with the Child Protection Manager, Field Coordinator, CP Coordinator, and CP Senior Manager and other program teams to strengthen safety outcomes for children and families.

Staff Supervision & Development
●With support from the Field Coordinator and the Child Protection Manager, the Senior CP Officer will:
●Directly supervise the PSS, MHPSS, and Case Management Officers based in Kharkiv, Odesa, and Dnipro, providing regular support and guidance.
●Assist in the recruitment of Child Protection staff, in coordination with the Child Protection Manager, and HR.
●Ensure the timely completion and submission of monthly timesheets, probation reviews, and annual performance reviews for team members.
●Provide ongoing coaching, technical support, and capacity building for staff in both technical and management skills, fostering their professional development.
●Identify training needs and opportunities to further strengthen the capacities of staff members.
●Maintain open and professional relationships with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight to enable staff to perform effectively in their roles.
●Foster ongoing learning, honest dialogue, and reflection at team level to strengthen safeguarding, wellbeing and duty of care, and to promote IRC values and adherence to IRC policies.
●Lead by example and support IRC’s commitment to taking all necessary preventive measures and creating an environment where people feel safe and can report misconduct.

Partner Management
With support from the Field Coordinator and the Child Protection Manager, the Senior CP Officer will:
●Maintain effective working relationships with IRC’s local Child Protection partners, ensuring collaboration that aligns with PEERS principles (Participation, Empowerment, Equity, Respect, and Safety).
●Support the regular performance monitoring of partners to achieve the project objectives set, in close collaboration with the Child Protection Manager, CP Partnership Officer, and Partnerships Teams, ensuring accountability and transparency in all interactions.
●Provide regular technical support and guidance to IRC’s local Child Protection partners in line with partnership agreements, promoting capacity building and ensuring adherence to best practices and standards in child protection.

Coordination & Representation
With support from the Field Coordinator, and technical guidance from the Child Protection, the Senior CP Officer  will:
●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 levels to contribute to coordination and advocacy for child protection responses across agencies

Other Duties:
●Consistently and proactively monitor and 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 and enhance the security environment.
●Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
Position directly/administratively reports to: CP Manager
Position technically reports to: CP Manager
Direct reports: Child Protection PSS, MHPSS, and Case Management Officers in Dnipro & Odesa & Kharkiv
Other internal contacts: Protection & Rule of Law (ProL), WPE, MEAL, ERD, Health, Finance, Supply, Grants, HR and other relevant departments

Requirements
The Senior Child Protection Officer 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

IRC employees are eligible to the following benefits:
- Competitive salary
- Purposeful job and development opportunities
- English classes and unlimited online training courses
- Life Insurance
- Medical insurance for staff
- Free psychological support to employees and their family members
- 30 calendar days of annual vacation with flexibility beyond the legally set minimum requirements
- Up to 10 days of paid medical leave