Protection Project Manager

Overall purpose of the role:

• Under the supervision of the Area Manager, the Protection PM is responsible for the planning, implementation and follow up of the protection projects in the assigned area.
• In close coordination with the Technical Coordinator the Protection PM contributes to the development and implementation of DRC’s sector strategy in Iraq, as well as the harmonization and rollout of tools and guidelines.
• The PM will also lead on the identification and capacity development of local authorities and civil society organisations, representation of DRC in relevant humanitarian coordination fora, and will provide leadership and capacity building to the DRC team in Ninewa.

 

Responsibilities:

 

General Management

• Responsible for ensuring high quality, on time project implementation in accordance with donor and DRC regulations. This includes meeting donor targets (activity and budget), ensuring implementation is donor compliant and supervising the quality of protection programming;
• Produce and regularly update implementation plans. Plans should set out future activity and track progress to date on outputs and activities in the Project Management Tool for presentation at monthly Grant Review Meetings;
• Conduct regular field visits to project sites to ensure technical quality and adherence to key standards and processes;
• Maintain close communication with colleagues in (a) other sectors, (b) Area Office management, (c) Country Office technical supervision, and (d) support offices (Finance, HR, Supply Chain) regarding challenges and opportunities;
• Prepare high quality and timely narrative reporting for donors, liaise with technical coordinators for quality assurance and feed into checking of financial reports for accuracy;
• Develop procurement plans and liaise with relevant support departments to ensure that activities are carried out according to plan, including participation in supply chain processes and ensuring goods are in line with programmatic standards;
• Act as budget holder for protection programme, maintaining accurate budget forecasts for project activities and staffing, monitoring expenditure regularly, and implementing timely corrective action to prevent over or under expenditure;
• Maintain ongoing communication with Safety Team regarding relevant contextual developments and incident reporting;
• Support integration of Protection interventions with other core sectors, ensuring close collaboration between field teams;
• Regularly update the project monitoring tools, including (a) ensuring appropriate indicator and quality tracking (both quantitative and qualitative) and (b) working closely with MEAL to put in place accountability measures;

 

Partnership Management

• Act as a focal person of all partners working with DRC in protection-related activities.
• Work collaboratively with local partners to ensure proper and quality programme implementation as per the partnership agreement, and provide technical guidance for the implementation of DRC-funded projects.
• Actively engage in developing and executing capacity building plans, and deliver training for local partners.
• Engage with partners and ensure proper and quality program implementation per the partnership agreement.

 

Program Team Management

• Recruit and line manage project staff (including conducting appraisals, performance management and providing instructions to HR around contract amendments and termination);
• Provide regular constructive feedback to direct reports, following DRC’s performance management procedures, and support direct reports in performance management of their team members;
• Assess training and development needs within the Protection team, develop a capacity building plan and implement the plan, in line with DRC Iraq policy and guidelines;
• Liaise with line and technical management as necessary regarding team performance, ensuring technical protection standards are upheld.

 

Strategy implementation

• Ensure the roll out of the DRC Iraq protection sector strategy and its integration into the DRC Iraq program strategy and the response as a whole;
• Work closely with technical coordinators and line manager on identification of community needs and gaps in Protection services within DRC’s areas of intervention; conduct protection monitoring and protection analysis on a regular basis and upon need;
• Provide, upon request, technical input into the development (and implementation) of relevant SOPs and technical standards; work with the Technical Coordinator to develop innovative approaches to increase access to Protection services for targeted communities;
• Participate in the proposal development process by providing field specific context analysis, technical sector specific analysis, beneficiary information, feedback on the concept and activities. Lead on the development of area level project budgets, activities and targets during proposal development.
• In coordination with MEAL, provide inputs to tools and use the tools for data collection including indicator tracking tables.

 

Coordination and Representation

• Regular coordination and liaison with other protection partners in the field, with attention to the specific needs of vulnerable communities;
• Responsible for conducting donor visits in close coordination with the Country Office donor focal points;
• Pro-actively build good rapport with local authorities, CSOs and community representatives;
• Identify opportunities and material to contribute to communications work, and support facilitation of media visits.
• Work with DRC’s Country office regarding rollout of partnership policies and practice;

 

Other

• Ensure the respect of DRC Code of Conduct and DRC’s zero tolerance policy of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA), humanitarian principles and contribute to the integration of Protection and Age, Gender, Diversity (AGD) mainstreaming into DRC programming.
• Engage in and promote area level cross-department initiatives and approaches in collaboration with Area Management Team.
• Undertake any other duties that may be assigned by the Line Manager.

 

Experience and technical competencies:

• Minimum 5 years of experience with NGO project implementation, including at least 3 years’ experience managing people and teams.
• Experience providing technical guidance, training and capacity building of staff and CSO partners or government counterparts is essential.
• An excellent professional track record with a minimum of 3 years’ work experience in Protection, preferably in an emergency or early recovery context;
• Experience working in partnership with national/local NGOs and civil society organisations is essential.
• Significant knowledge of International Humanitarian and Human Rights Laws, particularly International standards relating to the protection of IDPs;
• Significant experience managing projects, ensuring tracking of targets and activities, and donor reporting;
• Proven communication, negotiation, advocacy and diplomacy skills;
• Prior experience implementing case management/PSS/legal assistance and community-based protection activities;
• Knowledge of Gender and Protection mainstreaming, AGD, PwSN and AAP approaches;
• Understanding of the context in Ninewa, humanitarian needs and Durable Solutions approaches.
• Willingness to travel to field locations within Ninewa Governorate.

 

Education:

University or Master’s degree relevant to humanitarian work: preferably in law, social sciences or humanitarian aid (significant proven field experience may be accepted in lieu)

 

Languages:

Proficiency in spoken and written English and Arabic is essential.

Knowledge of Kurdish and/or Turkmen is desirable.

 

Key stakeholders:

• Area Manager
• Protection Manager / Specialists
• Protection staff
• Other project managers
• Local authorities and community leaders

 

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’s five core competencies:

Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.

Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.

Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.

Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.

Demonstrating integrity: You uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to our values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment

 

We offer

• Contract Length: 1 year
• Salary Band: F.2 – Management
• Start Date: July 2023

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for National Staff.

 

 

Diversity & Inclusion:  DRC Iraq is committed to promoting an inclusive work environment according to our Age, Gender, and Diversity approach (AGD). We aim to have a more diversified leadership structure creating opportunities for qualified women to take on managerial roles. We also continuously work to make our workplace more accessible for persons with specific needs. We offer benefits related to psychosocial support, health insurance, maternity and paternity leave, child sick leave, and lactation breaks. As part of our commitment to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion, we strongly encourage applications from female candidates, persons living with disabilities, as well as representatives of minorities.