Protection Team Leader

Protection Team Leader

About the job

Working directly under the North Protection Manager, the Protection Team Leader will be responsible for ensuring the overall quality, efficiency, and timely implementation of protection and peacebuilding activities in Mekelle and Afar. This includes planning, coordinating, and supervising field-level interventions while ensuring alignment with organizational strategies, donor requirements, and humanitarian principles. The Protection Team Leader will play a crucial role in overseeing and executing protection responses, including legal aid, psychosocial support, and community-based protection initiatives. Furthermore, S/he will be responsible for monitoring and evaluating project activities, identifying gaps, and providing technical guidance to improve program effectiveness. The role will also involve close collaboration with government authorities, local stakeholders, and humanitarian partners both in Mekelle and Afar. 

Your main duties and responsibilities will be:
Technical Management 
•    Provide technical guidance to ensure quality and adherence to national and international protection standards and guidelines. 
•    Technically guide the implementation of protection monthly reports; guide the smooth implementation of the info hubs (including information dissemination, referrals, assistance and sessions) and support to the peace committees  
•    Lead or contribute to protection/multisectoral assessments and mappings, and identify protection needs.
•    Ensure a strong service mapping is developed, regularly updated and shared and develop referral pathways where needed 
•    Provide relevant material (including messages) to the protection team and others to facilitate the legal information dissemination and awareness raising activities 
•    Develop and deliver protection training to staff, partners and key stakeholders on protection, service mapping, referrals, PFA, individual assistance, awareness raising, peace building and other related topics  
•    Take lead during protection need and conflict sensitivity assessment 
•    Support protection programme development, including project design and developing of proposals
•    Oversee the mainstreaming of gender-sensitive and inclusive approaches in peacebuilding initiatives.
•    Ensure protection and peacebuilding activities promote social cohesion, conflict resolution, and community resilience.
•    Ensure quality monitoring and evaluation of protection activities, working with relevant MEAL staff to coordinate and roll out MEAL systems, ensuring adequate monitoring, documentation and reporting of activities against relevant indicators. Maintain accurate and comprehensive files of protection activities, outputs, materials, and other relevant documentation.
•    Support staff to integrate protection concerns and awareness in other sectors as relevant.

Staff Management 
•    Manage and technically supervise the Protection officers and assistants under the position and provide leadership, day-to-day support and guidance and build the capacity of protection staff through mentoring and training
•    Promote team building and contribute to a positive working environment
•    Plan and oversee the protection activities under this position, produce work and activity plans and ensure implementation  
•    Coordinate inputs from DRC’s supporting units, particularly logistics and finance. 
•    In collaboration with the Protection Manager, ensure implementation of protection activities according to programme commitments.
•    Identify training and capacity building opportunities for staff and ensure they are well versed in key protection and peace building concepts relevant to the context, DRC's code of conduct, accountability, respectful dialogue with the refugee population, and prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse.
•    Attend and contribute to relevant coordination mechanisms. 
•    Ensure that ethical data collection and protection-related information management systems are in place for all activities under their responsibly.

Project Management

• Work closely with protection Manager and CO based technical staff to lead in activity planning, procurement of protection and peace building related goods and services, taking responsibility for quality assurance, and ensuring follow up.
• Work closely with Protection Manager to maintain detailed tracking of protection and peace building related spending and participation in budget management meetings.
• Ensure regular reporting for both internal and donor purposes are completed to a high standard and in a timely manner. This will include providing internal reports supported by key evidence. 
• Develop and maintain working relationships with key stakeholders, including community members and representatives, local government authorities, UN agencies, and other stakeholders. In line with this, represent DRC by actively participating in coordination meetings, working groups and any other meetings as requested.
• Perform any other duties as assigned by the supervisor, in line with the needs of the organization and project requirements. 

About you

• 3 years of experience working with displaced populations and familiarity with displacement dynamics, legal frameworks and humanitarian response related to forced displacement. A minimum of 2 years of management or technical protection experience working for an international NGO, UN agency or relevant ministry or authority.
• Experience working as a Protection teal leader and prior experience on protection and peacebuilding is an asset
•  Experience in Tigray and Afar is an additional asset.
• Excellent presentation, communication and interpersonal skills to work effectively and harmoniously with people from different backgrounds. This includes diplomacy, tact and negotiating skills.
• Commitment to learning and implementing organizational policies and procedures
•  Demonstrated professional experience leading protection, peace building gender and human rights related activities in the context of Tigray and Afar.

EDUCATION: (include certificates, licenses, etc.)
•    Advanced degree in International Law, Development Studies, Political Science, Psychology, social work or any Social Sciences or relevant field from a recognized institution.

LANGUAGE: (indicate fluency level)

• Excellent English skills both spoken and written is required.
•  Knowledge of Amharic, Afar and Tigrigna language is an advantage

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ 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: up to 31 Dec 2025
Required Employee: 1
Band: G – Management
Designation of Duty Station: Mekelle North Area Office, with frequent travel to Afar
 Start date: Soonest possible
Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for National employees; please refer to drc.ngo under Vacancies.

Application process

Candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English. Applications sent by email will not be considered.
Closing date for applications: 21st April 2025
For further information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult our website drc.ngo.