International Rescue Committee (IRC) is recruiting for the position of a Protection Officer in Nigeria.

Job Title: Protection Officer

Sector: Measurement

Employment Category: Regular

Employment Type: Full-Time

Open to Expatriates: No

Location: Adamawa, Nigeria

Job Description

The International Rescue Committee has been in Nigeria since October 2012 and came in response to a widespread flood disaster. IRC’s Emergency Response Team, with local partner, Civil Society Coalition for Poverty Eradication (CISCOPE), implemented projects to support food security, livelihoods, nutrition, and WASH in Kogi State.

Beginning of January 2014, IRC shifted geographical location to the Northeast, in Adamawa state to provide humanitarian response to the conflict-affected populations. In the Northeast, IRC has operational offices: Yola and Mubi field offices in Adamawa State, Damaturu in Yobe State and Bama, Monguno, Gwoza and Maiduguri field offices in Borno State-with the latter office opened in October 2015.

In both states, IRC is providing humanitarian support to internally displaced populations hosted in IDP camps, camp like settings, host communities and returnee populations. In 2023, the IRC began operations in Northwest Nigeria.

The IRC Nigeria country program is implementing multi-sectoral interventions in the sectors of: Health and Nutrition; Environmental Health; Child Protection; Education; Women’s Protection and Empowerment; Economic Recovery and Development and Protection Rule of Law. Most of these programs are driven in partnership with strategic local NGOs.

SCOPE OF WORK:

The IRC is implementing a protection program featuring strengthening of community-based protection structures, capacity building, protection monitoring, information dissemination and referral services.

The IRC will also building capacity of government authorities, local organizations and local communities around child Protection, protection mainstreaming, GBV  and protection monitoring. The IRC will also include legal assistance and counselling services. The protection program is currently implemented in the NE States of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe and Northwest States of Zamfara and Katsina. 

Under the supervision of the Protection Manager, Protection Officer is responsible for the overall oversight and management (planning, implementation, and monitoring) of the Sector’s projects.

S/he will support the Protection Manager in managing and supervising staff.

S/he is responsible for ensuring that projects run smoothly by providing technical leadership, supervising, training and mentoring staff, and coordinating the implementation of project activities.

The Protection Officer will contribute to the IRC Protection program development and proposal development.

S/he is will play an active role in establishing and managing relationships with local partners, humanitarian actors, state authorities, beneficiaries and local/traditional leaders and contribute to the achievement of IRC Protection program and IRC SAP goals.

Project planning and implementation

• Responsible for the planning and timely implementation of project activities in Adamawa State, ensuring adherence to IRC policies and procedures.
• Continuously monitor project quality; for example, strengthening data collection, reporting, accountability initiatives, and documenting the impact of IRC presence in the field.
• Ensure synergy between the Protection sector and other partners implementing  activities in Adamawa  State in close coordination and consultation with other Protection staff.
• Work with the Protection Manager and Coordinator to contribute to new project development, including both narratives and budgets.
• Contribute and support effective monitoring, evaluation and learning processes and initiatives, and ensure effective data and information management for project.
• Facilitate and coordinate referrals of GBV cases including child survivors disclosed as a result of protection monitoring to existing IRC services and or other partners within the location.
• Develop monthly work plans focused on key outputs and outcomes in consultation with other Protection staff.
• Ensure staff contributions to project monitoring and evaluation requirements to ensure project quality, relevance and accountability to IRC's target populations.
• Integrate community approaches, gender sensitivity, capacity building and mainstream protection, GBV and child safeguarding into all activities as appropriate.

Reporting and documentation

• Ensure IRC has up-to-date information on the affected and targeted community and coordinate beneficiary lists and numbers with Reporting/Database Assistant and different stakeholders.
• Ensure the timely and quality delivery of weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual project reports.
• Ensure high-quality IRC and donor reports on activities, indicators and achievements.
• Ensure that all reporting is disaggregated by age and gender.
• Keep proper records of all project activities.

Team Management

• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Support the Protection Manager in supervision, hiring and orientation new Protection staff as necessary.
• Contribute to IRC Protection sector team-building efforts, help solving arising problems and support the Protection Manager in the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.

Key Working Relationships:

• Position Reports to: Protection and AAP Manager

Qualifications

REQUIREMENTS

• University degree in law, Political science, psychology, social sciences or social work (bachelors as a minimum).
• Relevant experience in protection programming including focus on protection monitoring and responding to identified protection needs.
• Demonstrated experience using international human rights standards in protection programming.
• Knowledge of Project Cycle Management
• Experience of working in IDP sites (camps and host communities).
• Experience with coordination of humanitarian protection activities essential. Skills in advocacy essential.
• Ability to manage teams especially field teams in a challenging environment
• Ability and willingness to live and work in a challenging environment
• Good communication skills (written and verbal), cultural sensitivity, flexibility, ability to improvise, team player.
• Ability to live and productively work under stress and in insecure and harsh environments while maintaining a sense of humor

Languages:

• Fluency in English and other languages desirable. 
• Knowledge of the local language will be an added value.

Computer / Other Tech Requirements:

• Full professional competency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
•  Ability to Travel: 50% of time if applicable.

 Method of Application

Interested and qualified applicants should follow the link below to submit CV and application letter.

Location: Adamawa, Nigeria      

Degree Level: Bachelor's Degree

Job Schedule: Full time

Application Deadline: Not Specified

>> CLICK HERE TO APPLY ONLINE