Protection Project Manager

Job Posting Organization:
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is a humanitarian organization established in 1946, dedicated to assisting and protecting the rights of displaced and vulnerable people worldwide. With a mission to ensure that displaced individuals can find safety, dignity, and opportunities, NRC operates in over 30 countries, employing thousands of staff members who are committed to providing aid and support in crisis situations. The organization focuses on various sectors, including education, shelter, security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">food security, and protection, working closely with local partners and communities to deliver effective and sustainable solutions.

Job Overview:
The Protection Project Manager will play a crucial role in ensuring that projects implemented by partners prioritize individuals at the highest risk of protection. This position involves exploring and promoting better forms of assistance while providing technical inputs to existing coordination mechanisms, such as clusters or working groups. The manager will collaborate with the Monitoring & Evaluation team and the Protection Specialist to design specific protection indicators and tools for projects. Additionally, the role includes developing guidelines, methodologies, and technical tools in coordination with the Protection Specialist, ensuring their proper application by implementing partners. The manager will also strengthen organizational learning through technical analyses, lessons learned, and specialized reports on protection. Training and capacity-building processes for NRC staff and implementing partner teams will be a key focus, as well as contributing to the strengthening of key external actors by supporting their capacities in implementing protection activities. The role requires providing technical support to implementing partners to ensure quality, programmatic coherence, and alignment with NRC standards, while promoting the rights and protection of individuals affected by internal violence in line with NRC's advocacy strategy.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Protection Project Manager will be responsible for promoting the organization's protection approach with key stakeholders and in relevant coordination spaces at local and national levels, ensuring coordination with implementing partners. The manager will provide technical guidance and training to NRC staff and implementing partner teams to integrate the protection approach into programmatic activities, ensuring coherence with the Protection Policy, institutional resources, and international standards. Responsibilities also include contributing to the planning, design, and development of protection project proposals, including technical review of budgets, methodologies, and approaches. The manager will design, coordinate, and monitor the protection work plan in Ecuador, ensuring the transversal incorporation of the protection approach in projects. Regular visits to projects will be conducted to provide technical support and monitor quality, verifying implementation in accordance with NRC's Protection Policy, donor requirements, and international standards. The manager will prepare inputs for donor reports and other documents related to the implementation of integrated projects that include protection, ensuring the transversalization of the protection approach and integrating information reported by partners. Reviewing and providing feedback on project proposals and reports, along with specialists from other competencies, project coordinators, and area management, will be essential to ensure alignment with NRC's Protection Policy, donor policies, and international standards. The manager will supervise the quality and compliance of the work plan for integrated projects that include protection, ensuring the proper incorporation of the protection approach. Additionally, the manager will provide technical guidelines for the identification and referral of cases, activation of care pathways in risk situations, and monitoring of protection and community processes implemented by partners. The role also involves preparing thematic protection reports in coordination with the Protection Specialist, based on analyses and assessments of the area and findings from work with partners. The manager will follow up on budget usage by NRC and partners, coordinating with area management and the finance team to ensure proper execution in accordance with NRC and donor guidelines. Finally, the manager will execute other necessary functions to achieve the objectives of NRC's programmatic strategy and the development of the position.

Required Qualifications:
The ideal candidate for the Protection Project Manager position should possess a university degree in Law, Social Sciences, or related fields. A minimum of four years of experience in managing humanitarian programs/projects is required, along with at least two years of specific experience in managing protection projects. The candidate should have knowledge of national and international legal frameworks regarding human rights and displacement, as well as a strong understanding of protection and humanitarian principles. Familiarity with age, gender, and diversity approaches is essential, as is experience working with donors and international cooperation agencies. The candidate should also have experience or knowledge in case management, community processes, and/or protection monitoring, preferably in more than one of these areas. Experience working with implementing partners, including technical support, quality assurance, and/or programmatic supervision, is desirable. Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Office 365, Excel, PowerPoint) is required, along with strong organizational skills and the ability to handle information confidentially.

Educational Background:
Candidates must have a university degree in Law, Social Sciences, or other related fields. This educational background is essential to ensure a solid understanding of the legal and social frameworks relevant to protection and humanitarian work.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of four years of experience in managing humanitarian programs or projects, with at least two years specifically focused on protection project management. This level of experience is crucial to ensure that the candidate is well-versed in the complexities and challenges of working in humanitarian contexts, particularly in relation to protection issues.

Languages:
Fluency in English, both oral and written, is considered an added value for this position. Proficiency in Spanish is mandatory, as the role will be based in Ecuador and will involve working with local partners and stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
The position is full-time and based in Quito, Ecuador. The role may involve travel to project sites within the country. The NRC emphasizes the importance of a safe and inclusive work environment, and candidates should be prepared to work in potentially insecure settings. The organization is committed to empowering and building trust with communities and stakeholders, and candidates should demonstrate the ability to manage resources effectively to optimize results.