Community Protection Capacity Officer

Job Posting Organization:
The job posting organization is UNHCR, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, which was established in 195

• Its mission is to safeguard the rights and well-being of refugees and displaced people, ensuring that everyone has the right to seek asylum and find safe refuge in another state. UNHCR operates in over 130 countries, employing more than 18,000 staff members worldwide. The organization is dedicated to providing protection and assistance to those forced to flee their homes due to conflict, persecution, or violence, and works to find durable solutions for their plight.

Job Overview:
The Community Protection Capacity Officer position is designed to support the implementation of the localization-driven shifts as part of the 2025 Protection Strategy in the Kharkiv Field Office. The role focuses on enhancing community-level systems and strengthening community-based protection systems. The officer will be responsible for developing the capacity of the national workforce through technical training, mentoring, and coaching. This position aims to enhance the protection capacity of national and operational partners in the Kharkiv area, ensuring that protection measures are effectively integrated into the overall response to the needs of the community.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The Community Protection Capacity Officer will work under the supervision of the Head of Office and will be responsible for several key duties. These include supporting the Head of Office in implementing the 2025 Protection Strategy, focusing on localization approaches at the hromada/community level. The officer will collaborate closely with the protection and CCCM team, providing day-to-day mentoring and coaching to build their capacity. Additionally, the officer will guide and advise protection and CCCM partners in rolling out the 2025 programming, ensuring alignment with the protection strategy. The role also involves developing and implementing a tailored training curriculum for the Kharkiv office's area of operation, engaging with UNHCR-led Clusters and ICCG to provide protection advice and training, and mainstreaming protection in the overall response.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a legal background with solid knowledge of human rights and international law" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">humanitarian law, as well as relevant protection policies and tools, particularly those from IASC and UNHCR. A strong command of English, both spoken and written, is essential for effective communication and documentation.

Educational Background:
The position requires a legal education or equivalent qualifications that provide a solid understanding of human rights and international humanitarian law. Candidates should have formal training or education that supports their knowledge of protection policies and frameworks relevant to humanitarian work.

Experience:
Candidates should have demonstrated experience in protection programming and implementation within humanitarian and development contexts, particularly through community-based and localization approaches. Familiarity with the IASC Cluster system and government coordination mechanisms at local levels is crucial. Prior experience in training, capacity building, and mentoring community members and NGO partners is also essential. Experience working in areas affected by armed conflict is highly desirable, as it provides context-specific insights into the challenges faced by communities in crisis.

Languages:
A strong command of English is mandatory for this position, as it is essential for communication and documentation. Knowledge of Ukrainian or Russian would be advantageous, as it would facilitate better engagement with local communities and stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
The position is based in Kharkiv, Ukraine, and may involve working in a fast-paced and pressured humanitarian environment. The role is likely to be full-time, and candidates should be prepared to adapt quickly to the operational context in Ukraine. The organization values team players who share humanitarian values and can work effectively with diverse backgrounds and levels of experience.