Safeguarding Officer

Job Posting Organization:
Relief International (RI) is an international non-profit organization that has been operational for over 60 years. The organization partners with communities affected by conflict, climate change, and disasters to save lives, build resilience, and promote long-term health and well-being. RI employs more than 7,000 staff and local volunteers and operates in 15 countries across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. The organization focuses on various programming areas including Health and Nutrition, WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene), Education, and Livelihoods, ensuring that its interventions are safe, local, conflict-sensitive, climate-smart, evidence-based, and reach those in need. RI is the result of mergers and alliances between four organizations and is led by a unified senior leadership team, which includes Relief International, Inc., Relief International-France, Relief International-UK, and Relief International-Europe.

Job Overview:
The Safeguarding Officer will play a crucial role in leading and coordinating safeguarding efforts within the RI field office in Upper Nile. This position is responsible for overseeing safeguarding procedures, capacity building, and monitoring compliance with safeguarding and PSEA (Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse) policies. The officer will act as the first point of contact for individuals with safeguarding concerns, ensuring that all stakeholders are properly received, logged, addressed, and resolved in a timely and transparent manner. The role requires collaboration with various departments to enhance the effectiveness of the complaints mechanism and build accountability and trust within the community. The Safeguarding Officer will ensure that all projects align with RI’s mission, values, and ethical standards, thereby contributing to the overall safety and well-being of vulnerable populations.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Safeguarding Officer will be responsible for promoting and championing safeguarding, PSEA, and child protection policies and procedures. Key responsibilities include ensuring that any suspected or actual safeguarding concerns are reported within 24 hours, training staff on safeguarding policies, responding to disclosures or concerns, maintaining accurate and confidential documentation on safeguarding cases, and undergoing regular refresher training. The officer will also coordinate a multi-agency approach to address safeguarding issues, compile monthly safeguarding reports, support the Safeguarding Coordinator in training delivery, and ensure that vulnerable individuals receive appropriate support. Additionally, the officer will ensure compliance with RI’s policies and procedures, report any violations of the Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Code of Conduct, and assist in activities aimed at preventing sexual abuse and exploitation.

Required Qualifications:
Applicants must possess a university degree in social work, development studies, psychology, or a related field in social sciences. A minimum of 2-3 years of experience in safeguarding, GBV (Gender-Based Violence), and PSEA, as well as child protection practices within a government or NGO setting, is required. Candidates should have experience in advocacy or policy implementation related to Child Protection/Safeguarding/PSEA or Human Resources, extensive experience in building networks, and the ability to plan and conduct training programs in safeguarding and PSEA. Strong communication, interpersonal, and report-writing skills are essential, along with the ability to provide remote support and establish supportive relationships.

Educational Background:
The position requires a university degree in social work, development studies, psychology, or equivalent social sciences. This educational background is essential for understanding the complexities of safeguarding and child protection issues, as well as for effectively implementing policies and procedures related to these areas.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of 2-3 years of relevant experience in safeguarding, GBV, and PSEA, as well as child protection practices. Experience in advocacy or policy implementation in the field of Child Protection/Safeguarding/PSEA or Human Resources is also necessary. The ability to plan and conduct training programs at various levels is crucial, as is experience in building internal and external networks.

Languages:
While the job description does not specify mandatory languages, proficiency in English is likely essential due to the international nature of the organization and the need for effective communication. Additional languages relevant to the local context may be considered advantageous but are not explicitly stated as requirements.

Additional Notes:
This is a national position based in Juba, South Sudan. The application process requires candidates to submit a motivational letter, national ID, CV, and copies of academic documents through the specified platform. The deadline for applications is set for 31st March 2026 at 4:30 pm SSD local time. The organization encourages qualified females to apply and emphasizes that the position is urgently needed, with shortlisting occurring on a rolling basis. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted within two weeks of the closing date.