Senior Protection Officer - PRoL

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.
Program Brief
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 worldwide for a better future.
Since 2017, IRC has supported Rohingya Refugees and Bangladeshi nationalities communities in Cox's Bazar, Khulna, Barisal, and Chittagong with integrated services. The organization also addresses climate change impacts by building resilience and promoting economic recovery, education, and protection.
Purpose of the Role
The position will be responsible for oversight and support to field-level implementation of the protection case management (PCM), protection monitoring, community-based protection (CBP), and Individual Protection Assistance (IPA) in Bangladesh. The overall goal of the PCM, CBP, PM, IPA is to facilitate community resilience for community-based protection and provide actionable information about the protection environment in Bangladesh for the Rohingya refugees and host community for advocacy and response targeting, and to directly facilitate information provision and referrals for vulnerable refugee populations. S/he will ensure quality referrals and follow-ups, and ongoing responsibilities as they arise, including emergency assessments and focus groups on specific protection issues, identified. S/he will supervise and coordinate the work of the field-based Protection Officers to ensure quality implementation of household and community assessments, information dissemination and internal and external referrals.
Workstation: Ukhiya Office
Contract Duration: Till 31 March 2027 (with high possibility of extension)
Highlights of Key Responsibilities
Quality Program Implementation:
Capacity building, Mobilize, mentor and supervise community volunteers to the volunteers and field level staff in line with capacity need assessment.
Support to the Protection Officer-PRoL for identifying the protection need assessment towards the vulnerable people and support through protection case management, IPA (Individual Protection Assistance) and referral services.
Under the mentorship of direct supervisor, facilitate focus group discussions (FGD) with refugees, site management, state actors and service providers in the field on selected protection concerns.
Conduct FGD, KII and ensure the proper documentation and upload in the system. Accompany the field teams to ensure protection monitoring activities are done in accordance with standard methodology.
Under the mentorship of direct supervisor, facilitate focus group discussions (FGD) with refugees, site management, state actors and service providers in the field on selected protection concerns.
Liaison with government and other stakeholders to ensure support for the program and coordination including project need assessment, CIC/government approval, monthly project report to relevant government and protection focal.
Ensure that protection-related internal and external reporting programmatic including project completion report, 5W report, Sitrep, and protection monitoring report for IRC and Sector.
Ensure the security protocols are in place and followed by all protection program (including protection monitoring and IPA) to ensure that sensitive and identifying information is not shared and that procedures are understood for dealing with security breaches.
Support and supervise Protection Officers to ensure cases are referred to service providers. Conducting spot checks to ensure referrals are responded to in a timely manner.
Lead awareness program and Community engagement on different protection concerns in camp.
Work in emergency situations e.g., cyclone, monsoon, and other natural or man-made hazard with discussion with Protection Officers and Manager.
Ensure protection mainstreaming training, support to develop protection mainstreaming action plan for IRC and partner organizations and follow-up respectively. Besides, follow up of protection mainstreaming process score card for IRC and partners.
Coordinate with partners (IRCs and external) for service referral in camp and host community.
Maintain remote communication with volunteers whenever access to camp is restricted or during an emergency.
Lead the area-specific service mapping, ensuring the information is regularly updated and used by the protection needs assessors.
Contribute to the design and implementation of assessments and evaluations to determine program impact.
Assist manager and senior manager with procurement plan and purchase request.
Prepare Volunteer monthly payment requests to finance.
Monitoring and Reporting:
Submit bi-weekly reports on field protection concerns to Protection Manager including success and challenges.
Assist manager and senior manager in monthly report and donor report.
Engage closely with the MEAL officer to ensure the quality of data entered in the household and community level form is sufficiently detailed and accurate. Support in the verification of data as required.
Staff Support:
Support with the hiring, supervising, and building the capacity of protection officers and volunteers.
Provide technical guidance, on-the-job mentoring and coaching ongoing training and targeted technical capacity building for the protection team.
Put capacity development plans in place for the protection teams based on documented capacity needs assessments exercise.
Approve and manage all time, attendance and leave requests to ensure adequate departmental coverage ensure monthly, accurate timesheet submission and carry out probationary reviews.
Hold high-quality meetings with each direct report on a regular and predictable basis, at least monthly.
As required identify staff performance issues and work with Human Resources to document and address these in accordance with the National Staff Employment Policies.
Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promote a strong team spirit and provide oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.
Promote and monitor staff care and well-being. Model healthy work-life balance practices. Support appropriate interventions in response to identified staff care needs.
Coordination and Advocacy:
Dedicatedly develop and maintain effective working relationships with other programs, and key partners, including donors, government actors, UN agencies, international and local NGOs, and other relevant actors, establishing IRC as one of the leaders in protection.
Others:
Promote and actively participate in initiatives and efforts to build team engagement, inclusion and cohesion in IRC [team/office]
Maintain remote communication with volunteers whenever access to camp is restricted or during an emergency.
Experience and Competencies: Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Minimum 3 years of experience and 2 years of supervisory experience working ideally in protection or a related field
Previous experience working with an NGO or INGO required, experience with protection programming preferred
Experienced on representing the organization in the protection coordination meeting and camp coordination meeting
Experience in FD-7, FD-6, need assessment and monthly CiC report
Deep understanding of humanitarian protection principles and standards
Demonstrated organizational, management and reporting skills
Ability to understand and respond to contextual gender dynamics
Ability to work well both within a team and independently, strong communication skills
Ability to work under pressure with competing priorities and deadlines
Strong analytical skills wi