The Danish Refugee Council is currently looking for a skilled and experienced Child Protection Officer to join our team in Przemyśl or Rzeszów, Poland.

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a leading protection agency whose mandate is to promote and protect durable solutions to conflict and displacement-affected populations on the basis of humanitarian principles and human rights. DRC is implementing a multi-sector response to support Ukraine refugees, IDPs, and host populations both within Ukraine and in the neighboring countries of Poland, Romania and Moldova, and wider Europe. DRC has been operating in Ukraine since 2014, following previous operations in the 1990’s and between 2007-2013. Over the years, DRC successfully maintained its presence in the government-controlled areas (GCA) and adapted its programs to provide early recovery and durable solutions to people affected by the conflict including IDPs and communities living along the contact line, as well as reduce the threats of explosive ordnance with a growing humanitarian mine action program.

Due to the ongoing conflict that began on Feb 22, DRC opened offices in Poland, Moldova, and Romania to provide support to displaced populations through a partnership with civil society organizations and national NGOs, duty bearers, and other actors. DRC continues to implement in these three countries through partnerships, technical assistance and capacity exchange, and direct implementation in some cases.

About the Job

Based in Przemyśl or Rzeszow, the Child Protection Officer (CPO) will be responsible for supervising the day-to-day activities of the Child Friendly Space (CFS) facilitator teams in Przemyśl and Rzeszow, ensuring adherence to DRC’s CFS Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Child Protection (CP) Minimum Standards, and other CP policies advised by the Country level CP Specialist.

The CPO will support in the delivery of mobile outreach activities in various collective shelters as well as contributing to the identification of other mobile outreach locations based on contextual changes and needs. The CPO will support the team in assessing CP-related needs through consultation with children, youth, parents; and designing activities in response to those needs with the CFS facilitators. The CPO will also assist in the identification of children at heightened risks and will lead on facilitating their referrals to Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) services provided directly or through external specialized service providers based on local referral pathways. They will also lead on the mapping of relevant services and take part in building relations with other CP actors to strengthen local referral pathways.

This is a full-time position based in Przemyśl or Rzeszów. The position may require working outside of regular working hours and on weekends. Women candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Duties and Responsibilities

Team supervision

• Supervise the day-to-day activities of the Child-Friendly Space (CFS) facilitator teams in Przemysl and Rzeszow.
• Provide day-to-day technical support to CFS facilitators.
• Ensure proper documentation and reporting on activities are delivered.
• Monitor data collection processes and the proper storage of sensitive programme-related data.
• Work with the Protection Team Leader to provide regular updates to the CP Specialist on activities, challenges and gaps in service provision.
• Monitor the team’s adherence to DRC’s CFS SOPs, Code of Conduct and Child Safeguarding policies as well as CP Minimum Standards, and other CP policies advised by the Country level CP Specialist.

Programming and Operations

• Plan, prepare and implement CFS interventions and provide regular reporting on their progress.
• Support in identifying new locations for mobile outreach and assessing CP related needs through consultation with children, youth, parents and design activities in response to those needs with the CFS facilitators.
• Oversee the development of take-home activity packs to be distributed to children during mobile visits as well as activities and schedules for CFS interventions.
• Identify children at heightened risk, facilitate their referrals to MHPSS services provided directly or external specialized service providers based on local referral pathways.
• Map relevant services and build relations with other CP actors to strengthen local referral pathways.

Coordination and representation

• Collaborate with partner organizations (eg: PSAR, ACF, Soleterre) ensuring smooth delivery of project activities.
• Participate in regular coordination meetings with other CP actors as neededto ensure effective referral and coordination mechanisms are in place.

About You

To be successful in this role we expect you to have a minimum of 2 years of proven experience working with vulnerable children and child protection programs. Moreover, we also expect the following:

• Experience in implementing CFS interventions
• Knowledge of child protection minimum standards, MHPSS and referral pathways in Poland
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work under pressure and meet thigh deadlines
• Commitment to humanitarian principles and values
• Good command of English
• Knowledge of Ukrainian and/or Russian will be an added value.

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies:

• Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.
• Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.
• Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.
• Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.
• Demonstrating integrity: You uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to our values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment.

We Offer

Contract length: until December 31st, 2023

Band: H

Base salary range: from 11,995 to 13,225 PLN gross per month, based on experience

Duty station: Przemyśl or Rzeszów

Start date: Asap

We offer competitive salary and benefits in accordance with the Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for national staff.

Application Process

All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV in English. Applications sent by email will not be considered.

All applicants must already have the legal right to live and work in Poland without visa sponsorship or be EU/EFTA/Ukrainian citizens.

Closing date for applications: June 30th, 2023

Applications will be reviewed, and interviews conducted on a rolling basis, and we, therefore, encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

For further information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult our website drc.ngo.