Protection Manager

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

Background/IRC Summary:  

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is an apolitical, non-profit, and non-religious humanitarian organization that provides assistance to refugees worldwide. IRC implements programs to promote durable solutions for displaced persons, refugees, and host communities through public health, sanitation, shelter, rehabilitation, and education projects. IRC has been serving refugees since 1933 and is present in 40 countries in Europe, Africa, and Asia, as well as through a resettlement support program in the United States. IRC is an organization committed to freedom, human dignity, and self-reliance. This commitment translates into well-planned resettlement assistance, emergency global relief, rehabilitation, and advocacy for refugees.

The IRC started operations in Cameroon in 2016 to respond to the increasing concerns for people affected by violence linked to Boko Haram in the Far North of the country. Assistance to displaced populations extends across the Far North, notably Diamaré, Mayo Sava, Mayo Tsanaga and Logone & Chari through two field offices in Kousseri and Maroua. This includes delivering lifesaving programming to increase access to water and improving hygiene practices in vulnerable, displaced, and host communities, as well as cash programming to enable economically disadvantaged families to meet their basic needs and improve food security. This includes both education and child protection services to address children’s learning and safety needs and priorities. IRC also delivers protection programming to address gender-based violence for women and girls and support to victims of human rights violations.

Following the increasing crisis in the North-West and South-West regions of Cameroon, the IRC expanded its operations into the South-West region in August 2018 and into the North-West in 2019. The IRC is delivering lifesaving humanitarian assistance to internally displaced populations, with field bases in Buea and Bamenda.

Job Overview / Summary

Under the direct supervision of the Technical Protection Coordinator, the Protection Project Manager will be responsible for the effective implementation, monitoring, and reporting of protection projects in Cameroon, ensuring compliance with donor requirements, technical standards, and organizational policies.

The Protection Manager will ensure the quality and accountability of interventions, fostering a collaborative and constructive work environment that encourages learning, innovation, and problem-solving. He/she will develop and update all project management tools (expenditure plan, procurement plan, detailed implementation plan (DIP), monitoring and evaluation/accountability plan, risk register, etc.), while ensuring close collaboration with technical coordinators (Education, Economic Recovery and Development, and Protection).

He/she will represent the IRC in relevant coordination bodies and ensure that activities are aligned with the policies of the Cameroon Ministry of Social Affairs (MINAS).

In line with IRC Strategy 100, the Protection Project Manager will promote an integrated approach to programs, working closely with national coordinators from other sectors (Economic Recovery and Development – ERD, Environmental Health/WASH, Women's Protection and Empowerment – WPE, Protection and Rule of Law – PRoL).

Main responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the Integrated Protection Technical Coordinator, the Protection Manager will be responsible for the effective implementation, monitoring, and reporting of protection projects in Cameroon, ensuring compliance with donor requirements, technical standards, and organizational policies.

The Protection Manager will serve as the guarantor of program quality and accountability, fostering a constructive and collaborative working environment that encourages learning, innovation, and problem-solving. They will develop and maintain all key project management tools—including the spending plan, procurement plan, detailed implementation plan (DIP), MEAL plan, and risk register—while ensuring alignment with IRC technical advisors and sectoral coordinators (Education and Child Protection).

The Protection Manager will represent IRC in relevant coordination forums and working groups, ensuring that activities are consistent with the policies and priorities of the Cameroon Ministry of Social Affairs (MINAS).

In line with IRC’s Strategy100, the Education Project Manager will promote an integrated programming approach, coordinating closely with national coordinators in other sectors, including Economic Recovery and Development (ERD), Environmental Health (EH/WASH), Women’s Protection and Empowerment (WPE), and Protection and Rule of Law (PRoL).

Key Responsibilities

1. Project Planning

• Develop a comprehensive project implementation strategy, integrating technical, logistical, and financial planning.
• Lead the detailed design of implementation stages, ensuring teams prioritize critical activities and optimize the use of available resources.
• Convene and facilitate project inception, implementation review, and closure meetings in collaboration with the Grants team.
• Coordinate joint planning with implementing partners and lead quarterly review and joint field missions.

2. Project Implementation & Quality Assurance

• Oversee day-to-day project implementation, ensuring timeliness, quality, and compliance with donor and cluster standards.
• Monitor progress against objectives, budget, and work plans, updating core project management tools regularly.
• Conduct monthly budget and performance reviews in collaboration with the Grants and Finance teams.
• Lead weekly coordination meetings with project teams and partners.
• Identify, anticipate, and mitigate risks to implementation, staff safety, and beneficiary protection.
• Produce monthly activity reports, highlighting achievements, challenges, and corrective actions; support the preparation of donor reports.

3. Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning (MEAL)

• Conduct regular field visits to provide coaching, supervision, and monitoring of program delivery.
• Ensure timely and accurate collection, consolidation, and analysis of qualitative and quantitative data in collaboration with MEAL colleagues.
• Validate deliverables submitted by partner organizations to ensure compliance with contractual obligations.

4. Budget & Financial Management

• Maintain and update the project spending plan bi-weekly, aligning with procurement and recruitment forecasts.
• Monitor budget utilization closely, ensuring accuracy and compliance with donor guidelines and IRC financial systems (BvA, Integra, Power BI).
• Coordinate with Finance and Logistics to resolve discrepancies, recode transactions, and accelerate approvals.
• Submit monthly cash forecasts and ensure partners receive and report on funds in line with IRC procedures.

5. Procurement, Logistics & Travel

• Support preparation and monitoring of procurement plan in coordination with Logistics.
• Ensure timely procurement, delivery, quality control, and distribution of goods and services.
• Oversee management and accountability for project assets and inventory.
• Plan staff travel and field deployments in compliance with fleet management procedures.

6. Human Resource & Team Management

• Lead recruitment, onboarding, and performance management of project staff.
• Define clear roles, responsibilities, and objectives, conducting regular supervisory meetings and performance reviews.
• Promote a collaborative and respectful work culture, addressing conflicts constructively and ensuring staff well-being.
• Build staff capacity through training and coaching, aligned with project needs and career development goals.

7. Security & Risk Management

• Ensure project staff are fully briefed and compliant with IRC security protocols and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Regularly assess the security context in operational areas in collaboration with the Field Coordinator and Security team.
• Encourage staff to promptly report security incidents and risks, ensuring preventive and corrective measures are implemented.

8. Representation

• Actively participate, and sometimes in a leadership role, in meetings, report writing, minutes, and responding to external requests for information.
• Actively participate in protection coordination forums (CP AoR, GBV AoR, Protection Cluster, etc.);
• Organize meetings with other organizations and international agencies working in the field of protection (GBV and child protection) to ensure the provision of holistic services to survivors.

Required qualifications

• University degree (minimum bachelor's degree) in social sciences, education, community development, or a related field (master's degree preferred).
• At least 5 years of professional experience in the humanitarian or development sector, including 4 years in protection project management, preferably in an emergency context.
• Proven experience in Protection Monitoring, Case Management, Community-Based Protection, Child Protection, and GBV
• Previous experience in conflict and displacement-affected areas, knowledge of the Cameroonian context strongly desired.
• Experience of working with national partners, local/government authorities, UN agencies, and other humanitarian organizations.
• Strong skills in planning, budget monitoring, and evaluation.
• Excellent analytical, writing, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience in capacity building/training organization and post-training follow-up
• Good knowledge of the intervention area and local languages of the project area
• Good communication skills
• Organizational skills and attention to detail
• Be able to take relevant initiatives for the program as needed
• Fluency in French or English (spoken and written) with an advanced level in the other language.

Standards of Professional Conduct: IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC WAY - Standards of Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality. 

Safeguarding: Strictly adhere to IRC's Child and Adult Safeguarding Policy and all other policies, including those related to security and fraud prevention.

In line with safeguarding, the IRC has policies on protecting beneficiaries/clients from exploitation and abuse, child protection, anti-harassment in the workplace, fiscal integrity, and anti-retaliation.

Equal opportunity employer: The IRC is an equal opportunity employer. IRC considers all job applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, gender, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Diversity, Inclusion, and Gender Equality: IRC recognizes and honors the fundamental value and dignity of all individuals. We are an equal opportunity employer and consider all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, gender, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability. IRC is also committed to reducing the gender gap in leadership positions.

We offer benefits that provide an environment conducive to women participating in our workforce, including parental leave, gender-sensitive safety protocols, and other supportive benefits.

The deadline for receiving applications is 29th September 2026.

Standard of Professional Conduct: The IRC and the 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.

Cookies: https://careers.rescue.org/us/en/cookiesettings