Country Protection Manager

About

DRC seeks a Country Protection Manager to provide national technical leadership, quality assurance and strategic alignment for its protection portfolio in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The role covers protection analysis and strategy, technical supervision, team management, programme development, coordination, representation and support to local partners. Salary: In accordance with Danish Refugee Council employment conditions, Band F / Manager. Terms of service: 6 months, with possibility of renewal subject to funding availability and performance. Duty station: Goma/Bunia, DRC (with frequent travel to field offices).

How to apply

Apply online through the official advert page on DRC's online application form at www.drc.ngo under Vacancies/Jobs. Submit a CV in French and a motivation letter explaining why you want to work for DRC and the skills that make you the ideal candidate for the role.

Responsibilities

• Lead protection analysis efforts and the development and implementation of the national protection strategy.
• Serve as technical lead for the sub-sectors of the protection portfolio.
• Oversee and lead the development, harmonization, adaptation and rollout of internal policies and guidelines, protection tools and standard operating procedures related to DRC protection interventions, in collaboration with local partners and their teams.
• Serve as technical reference point for colleagues in other sectors on protection mainstreaming.
• Promote technical consistency, quality standards and evidence-based adaptation across all protection interventions implemented by DRC and its partners.
• Ensure technical supervision and quality control of protection projects implemented by DRC teams and partners, ensuring compliance with agreed strategies, principles, implementation plans and donor requirements.
• Support area and project managers, field protection teams and partner focal points to identify technical needs and gaps, define actions and improve implementation quality.
• Lead and manage the team of protection specialists, including workforce planning, performance, wellbeing and development.
• Provide coaching and technical guidance to protection staff and contribute to strengthening field supervision systems to ensure adherence to workplans, technical standards and quality criteria.
• Oversee recruitment, onboarding and performance appraisal; set clear workplans and objectives and promote continuous professional development through targeted capacity-building opportunities and field coaching.
• Lead and contribute to the design and finalization of all sectoral protection interventions in proposals and projects, prioritizing opportunities with local civil society and ensuring co-design with local partners where applicable.
• Provide technical review of all proposals including protection measures.
• Technically oversee and validate internal and external protection-related communication and reporting products.
• Ensure technical oversight of overall protection programme performance, including progress against indicators, implementation quality and alignment with strategic priorities, in close collaboration with the Head of Programme, area managers and protection managers, as well as local partner counterpar
• Participate in protection programme/project review meetings, including grant opening, review and closure meetings, ensuring equitable and meaningful participation of local partners.

Qualifications

• Proven experience of at least 5 years in the protection sector and protection programme management.
• Proven experience working with local partners in protection and strong commitment to supporting local civil society.
• University degree, preferably in a field directly related to humanitarian protection, or an appropriate level and combination of expertise and experience.
• Expertise in international refugee law, international human rights law and international humanitarian law.
• Strong understanding of global protection sector standards, protection analysis and results-based protection.
• Knowledge and experience in designing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating protection interventions in at least two components of DRC’s protection sector: gender-based violence, child protection, protection information management, community-based protection, mental health and psychosocial suppor
• Proven skills in communication, interpersonal relations, representation, negotiation, advocacy and diplomacy.
• Strategic thinker able to rapidly develop a good understanding of the humanitarian, political and human rights situation in the relevant context.
• Proven analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Experience in technical management of teams.
• Experience in technical advice, mentoring, training and development, and facilitating learning activities.
• Strong understanding and experience of protection mainstreaming and integration of age, gender and diversity (AGD), conflict sensitivity and prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA).
• Experience in project development, including proposal writing, implementation and monitoring and evaluation for protection programmes.
• Experience in advocacy and policy development, and coordination of working groups/clusters in the humanitarian sector.
• Cultural sensitivity and adaptability.