Child Protection Program Officer

Background/IRC Summary:

The Syria crisis is often described as the worst humanitarian catastrophe since the end of the Cold War. Today, 13.4 million people in Syria - more than half of the country's population - are in need of humanitarian assistance with needs increasingly being exacerbated by economic decline. Of these, 6.8 million are refugees and asylum-seekers who have fled the country. This is no short-term humanitarian episode. The devastating human consequences to huge numbers of people will endure for decades. The destruction of relationships, communities, livelihoods, homes and infrastructure will take years to repair.

IRC is offering a robust humanitarian response to the Syria crisis a rapidly expanding portfolio, supported by more than 1000+ staff in Syria Country Program. IRC is undertaking programs in Syria and the neighboring countries of Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan in the fields of health, child protection, early childhood development, education, women’s protection and empowerment, non-food items and food distribution, cash assistance, water and sanitation, protection and rule of law, and livelihood programming. Our work in these challenging settings gives rise to some of the most pressing issues facing contemporary humanitarian action, including questions of access, security, funding and coordination.

JobOverview/Summary:

UnderthesupervisionoftheChildProtectionProgramManager,theChildProtectionProgramOfficerwillmanage

andimplementchildprotectionprojectactivities,eitherdirectly orincollaborationwithlocalpartners.Theofficer

willoverseethe daily operationsofthe project,providingtechnicalsupportandguidance toensurethedeliveryof

high-qualitychildprotectionservicesintheprojectareas.Additionally,theofficerwillensuretheapplicationof

standardoperationalproceduresandminimumchildprotectionstandards,fosteringaneffectiveresponsethat

meetstheneedsofvulnerablechildrenandfamilies.TheChildProtectionOfficerwillalsoberesponsiblefor

reportingandprovidingaccurateinformation abouttheprojectsundertheir supervisiontotheProgramManager

promptly.

MajorResponsibilities:

ProgramDesign,Planning,Implementing andSupport

•Theresponsibilitiesincludeproviding technicaloversightand support forthe dailymanagementofchild

protection projectsboththrough directimplementation andin collaborationwith partnersin projectlocations.

This includessupervision ofthedailyservicesof casemanagement,StructuredPsychosocialSupport(SHLS)

sessions,parenting skillseducation,outreach psychosocial support(PSS)activities,awareness-raising activities,

supporting child protectioncommittees,organizing anddelivering trainingforserviceprovidersand community

leaderstoensurehigh-qualityservicesareprovidedconsistently.

•Ensuring adherenceto established casemanagementmethodologiesthroughtimelyreferrals,documentation,

and regular team caseconferences.

•Development andimplementationoftraining andtechnical supportto mainstreamchildprotection standards

acrossSyriaresponse.

•Identifycaseseligibleforcash assistance,registerthem, participateincashprotection committees,and

coordinatewith theEarlyRecoveryandDevelopment(ERD)program to ensure theprovision ofcash assistance

tochildrenandfamilies inneed according totheSOPs.

•Contributetoanyactivitiesrequiredfortheintegrated protectionprogram.

•Providing accurateinformation andsubmittingregular reportsontheprogressofthe projectandactivitydetails, both quantitativelyandqualitatively,to ensuretheprojectison therighttrack.

•Develop andregularlyupdateactivityimplementation,spending,and procurement plans.

•Developand/orimplement tools forChildProtectionAssessments, includingrevising tools, directingthechild

protectionstaff,and analyzing findings.

•Lead inclusion andchild protectionmainstreaming inIRC’s Health,EarlyChildhood andDevelopmentandEarly

RecoveryandDevelopment(ERD)programs.

Staffmanagement

•Recruit child protectionprojectstaffmembers asneeded.

•Coach,train, supervise, and mentor direct-reportstaffincluding communicating clear expectations,setting

annualperformanceobjectives, providing regular andtimelypositiveandconstructivefeedback,and providing

documented semi-annualperformancereviews.

•Develop,implement,andmanage capacity-building approachesto build thestrengths of theCPteam.

•Maintainopen andprofessional relationswithteam members,promoteastrongteamspirit,andprovide

oversightand guidancetoenable stafftosuccessfullyperformin theirpositions.

•Holdhigh-quality meetingswith eachdirectreportonaregular andpredictablebasis,atleastbi-weekly.

•Promoteandmonitor staffcareandwell-being. Modelhealthywork-lifebalance practices. Supportappropriate

interventions inresponse toidentifiedstaffcareneedsofstaff.

•Look foropportunitiesto supportstaffin theircareergrowth,whereappropriate.

•AdheretoandactundertheIRC GlobalHRPoliciesandProceduresand communicate through wordand

exampleahigh standard ofcompliancewithallapplicablepoliciesand regulations.

ProjectMonitoring andEvaluation

•WorkwiththeCPManager, MEALteam,andpartnersto ensureasafeandconfidentialmechanismforcollecting

informationonprojectactivitiesis implemented.

•Supportthe designand implementationofmonitoring andevaluation toolsthat are contextuallyappropriate

and will allowtheIRCto measure theimpactofprogramming.

•Conductingmonitoring field visitsto overseechild protectionprojectsfordirectandpartnerprojectsinvolves

assessingachievements,identifying challenges, andrecognizing gaps. This processincludesproviding detailed

reports,constructivefeedback,and adevelopment plan aimedat enhancingthe quality ofchild protection

services.

•Develop andmaintain an appropriatearchivingsystem/database totrackactivityprogressandquality.

•Ensurethatall internalandexternal reporting requirementsaremetandthat reportsare ofhigh quality and

submitted ontime.

Coordination &Representation

•Preparing presentations andinstructionalmaterialstopresentchild protection activities andprovidingtrainings

as needed.

•Supportthetimelyinformation sharing regarding challengesand needsatthe field level.

•RepresentIRC ininternalandexternalforums asneeded, including theprotection cluster and CPsub-cluster.

•Assistincontributing tothedevelopmentofreferralmechanisms incollaboration withIRCteams,otherNGOs,

and theProtection cluster.

JobRequirements

•Approximately2- 4years ofexperiencein child protectionprograms.

•Degreeinfieldssuch ashumanities,social sciences,sociology,psychology,education, andrelated disciplines.

•ExperienceinINGO ispreferred

•Ideallyexperience managingand running child protection projectsdirectly or through local partners.

•Demonstratedexperiencewith child protectioncasemanagementandpsychosocial support.

•Demonstratedexperiencewith capacitybuilding andtraining ofinternal and externalteams.

•Demonstratedunderstanding ofprotectionmainstreaming ofbestpracticesforintegrationofchild protection

interventions inhumanitarian action

•Reportwritingskills.

•Excellentrelationship-building, interpersonal skills,andtheabilitytoliaisediplomatically.

•Solid ability to provideleadership,management, team building, coaching, anddevelopment forstaff.

•Experienceworkingwith localstakeholders andpartners.

•Full professional competencyinMicrosoftOfficeSuite,especiallyWord,Excel, Outlook,andPowerPoint.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• A commitment to IRC’s mission, vision, values and IRC Way – Professional Code of Conduct.
• Credible written, presentation and verbal communication skills; ability to convey information effectively and solid experience providing training and staff development.
• Validated sense of professional discretion, integrity, and ability to handle complex situations diplomatically and to effective resolution.
• Excellent management and interpersonal skills and a solid ability to promote harmonious/cohesive teamwork, in a cross-cultural context.
• Validated ability to plan long-term, organize priorities and work under administrative and programmatic pressures with detail orientation and professional patience.
• Highly collaborative and resourceful; ability to establish positive working relationships with senior level management and all other partners to maximize cooperation and productivity.
• Curiosity, a desire to continually learn and develop is a must.
• Analytical ability in creating effective solutions to complex matters while adhering to labor laws and internal policies.

Language/Travel:

•English and Arabic are required.

•Travel: To field sites. as well as attending workshops and meetings.

KeyWorkingRelationships:

Position Reportsto:Child ProtectionManager

Positiondirectlysupervises:CPcaseworkers,PSSworkers, and CPassistants.

IndirectReporting:WillworkwithIntegrationProtection Officer,IMOfficer,PRolOfficer,andWPEOfficer.

OtherInternaland/orexternalcontacts:Regular coordination withrelevantIRC staff/departments.

Professional Standards: IRC staff must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Global Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality. In accordance with these values, IRC operates and carries out policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti-Workplace Harassment, Respect at Work Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

Returning National Candidates: We strongly encourage national or returning national candidates to apply for this position. If you are a citizen of the Country in which this position is based and are currently located outside of your home country and possess over two years of international work experience, the Middle East Region has introduced an attractive remuneration package. The package includes competitive compensation, return flight to post, shipping allowance, temporary housing and a relocation allowance. Certain restrictions may apply. IRC strives to attract, motivate and retain qualified national staff in our programs.

Accountability to Clients: IRC staff must adhere to the commitment of contributing to the sustainability and development of its (CR) Client Responsiveness Mechanisms, preserving the culture of prioritizing the needs of our clients and affected communities by systematically listening to their perspectives and using their feedback to make programmatic decisions and give them greater influence over program design and delivery.

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.

Diversity and Inclusion: at IRC MENA, we are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. Organizations that are diverse in age, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity, nationality, and perspective are validated to be better organizations. More importantly, creating a safe workspace environment where everyone, from any background, can do their best is the right thing to do. So, bring your whole self to work.

IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. In keeping with our core values of Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality, IRC strives to maintain a work environment built on mutual respect in which all individuals treat each other professionally, and free of bias, prejudice, and harassment. IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of IRC Persons in any work setting. All IRC staff, wherever they are located, are accountable for creating an environment free of discrimination, harassment, bullying, and retaliation.