Protection Cluster Coordinator

Job Posting Organization:
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an independent humanitarian organization established to assist people forced to flee their homes due to conflict and crises. With a workforce of approximately 15,000 staff members, NRC operates in 40 countries worldwide, providing life-saving assistance and long-term support to millions of individuals each year. The organization is committed to protecting the rights of displaced and vulnerable populations, ensuring that their immediate humanitarian needs are met while also working towards durable solutions. NRC's mission is to promote human dignity and uphold the rights of refugees and internally displaced persons, making it a vital player in the global humanitarian landscape.

Job Overview:
The Protection Cluster Coordinator plays a crucial role in ensuring effective coordination of the National Protection Cluster in South Sudan. This position requires collaboration with the UNHCR Protection Cluster Coordinator and the broader Protection Cluster Coordination team. The coordinator is responsible for representing the cluster in various coordination forums and with key stakeholders, while also supporting the design and implementation of country-level strategies and humanitarian funding processes. The role involves establishing a robust Protection Information Management system, facilitating information sharing for context analysis, coordination, and advocacy, and providing guidance to field cluster focal points and partners on effective response coordination and technical issues. The coordinator must ensure that the protection response is well-coordinated and that information is exchanged effectively among partners and stakeholders.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Protection Cluster Coordinator will facilitate and co-chair meetings of the national Protection Cluster, ensuring timely and accurate information sharing. Responsibilities include effective coordination of the protection response in South Sudan, representing the cluster's interests to government, donors, and other stakeholders, and providing practical support and guidance to cluster partners on needs assessments and project development. The coordinator will also build the capacity of partners through training and workshops, contribute to needs assessments and analysis, and ensure that cluster priorities are reflected in humanitarian strategies. Monitoring and reporting mechanisms will be established to review the progress of Protection Cluster activities, and the coordinator will support fundraising efforts for priority needs. Additionally, the coordinator will manage grants funding the position and ensure compliance with NRC's mandatory project cycle management steps.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a postgraduate degree in law" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">international law, political sciences, or a related field. A minimum of 5 years of experience working on protection-related issues in humanitarian emergencies is required, including inter-agency work and providing technical advice to field teams. Applicants should have a strong understanding of protection issues in emergency and displacement situations, as well as knowledge of humanitarian principles and relevant international legal frameworks. Strong leadership, coordination, and interpersonal skills are essential, along with excellent analytical, planning, and drafting abilities. Advocacy and representation skills are crucial, as is the ability to work under pressure and make timely decisions.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes a postgraduate degree in international law, political sciences, or a related field. This advanced education is necessary to understand the complex legal and political frameworks that govern humanitarian assistance and protection.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in protection-related roles within humanitarian emergencies. This experience should include inter-agency collaboration and the provision of technical advice to field teams, demonstrating a solid understanding of the challenges faced in such environments.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory, with excellent written and oral communication skills. Additional languages may be beneficial but are not specified as mandatory for this role.

Additional Notes:
The position is based in Juba, South Sudan, with a contract duration of 12 months, which is renewable based on funding and performance. The role involves approximately 20% travel within South Sudan. The salary and benefits are classified under grade 9 on NRC’s international or national contract. NRC is an equal opportunities employer, committed to diversity and inclusion without distinction to age, gender, religion, ethnicity, nationality, or physical ability. The organization encourages innovative ideas and provides opportunities for employees to take responsibility and be heard.