Protection Officer

Job Posting Organization:
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has been operational in Ukraine since 2014, responding to the needs of displaced populations and communities affected by conflict. The organization has significantly scaled up its efforts since the escalation of the war in 2022, focusing on emergency programming that encompasses protection, shelter, education, livelihood, and collective site management. NRC operates across various macroregions in Ukraine, including the south, east, and north, and is committed to upholding its core values of dedication, innovation, inclusivity, and accountability in all its operations.

Job Overview:
The Protection Officer position is crucial for delivering NRC's protection interventions in the Odeska, Mykolaivska, and Khersonska oblasts, with the base of operations in Mykolaiv. The role is managed by the Protection Coordinator and falls under the overall supervision of the Protection Manager, receiving technical support from the country-level Protection Specialist. The primary focus of this position is to implement various protection services, including Individual Protection Assistance, protection referrals, counseling, and community self-protection initiatives. The officer will also assist collective sites with essential non-food items (NFI) and support the self-management efforts of residents. All interventions must adhere to NRC's internal and global standards, ensuring that protection mainstreaming principles are respected throughout the process.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Protection Officer will be responsible for a wide range of duties, including but not limited to:

• Ensuring compliance with NRC policies, guidelines, and standards.
• Implementing protection interventions in ongoing projects within the southern oblasts of Ukraine.
• Maintaining accurate documentation and data collection in line with data protection principles.
• Contributing to financial tracking and reporting as required by management.
• Promoting and documenting ideas for technical improvements and program development.
• Ensuring that interventions target the most vulnerable beneficiaries and exploring new ways to assist them.
• Supporting local advocacy efforts to improve access to state-guaranteed services.
• Monitoring and providing technical support for project activities conducted by implementing partners. Specific responsibilities include providing Individual Protection Assistance, conducting safe referrals, performing protection monitoring activities, assisting collective sites, enabling protective environments, identifying local civil society organizations for partnerships, providing psychological first aid, and representing NRC at external meetings as delegated.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a minimum of 1 to 2 years of professional experience, preferably within the humanitarian sector, and have a track record of working with vulnerable populations. Strong reporting skills and proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook are essential. A working knowledge of English, both written and verbal, is preferred. Candidates should also have experience in Protection or Protection-related projects, knowledge of protection principles and best practices, and an understanding of the local context in Ukraine, including socio-cultural and political dynamics.

Educational Background:
While the specific educational background is not explicitly stated, candidates are generally expected to have relevant qualifications that align with the responsibilities of the Protection Officer role, which may include degrees in social work, humanitarian studies, or related fields.

Experience:
The position requires candidates to have at least 1 to 2 years of professional experience, ideally in the humanitarian sector, with a focus on protection or related fields. Previous experience working with vulnerable populations is highly valued, as is familiarity with protection principles and practices.

Languages:
Proficiency in English is preferred, both written and verbal. Knowledge of Ukrainian or Russian may be beneficial, given the local context and the populations served.

Additional Notes:
This position is open only to candidates who have the legal right to work in Ukraine, and the organization is unable to provide work permits or visa sponsorships. The role is likely to be full-time, and candidates should be prepared to work in a challenging and potentially insecure environment, demonstrating flexibility and creativity in addressing protection needs.