Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, working in more than 40 countries to provide adequate assistance and protection to refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons, returnees, people on the move and local vulnerable population/host communities. DRC is currently looking for a highly qualified Spanish and English-speaking Country Protection Coordinator for a 12 month contract (renewable depending on funding and performance) based in Caracas, Venezuela. This is an opportunity for an experienced Country Protection Coordinator to support DRC’s emergency response to the current situation in Venezuela.

About the job:

DRC is managing its operations in Venezuela, under the management of DRC Caracas country office and three field offices located in Sucre, Apure, and Zulia states. DRC Venezuela is implementing activities such as protection monitoring, legal aid, Individual protection assistance for PWSN, information sessions for PoC, prevention of human trafficking, Health infrastructure rehabilitation, and food security.

The CPC-V will be in charge of training and capacity building DRC protection staff as well as to manage DRC protection program in the country with the support of three field protection managers/Coordinators. The CPC-V will also oversee all technical reporting and coordinate with relevant inter-agency protection for at national level. The position will be based in Caracas, with travels to field offices as required.

Overall purpose

The Protection Coordinator is technically responsible for ensuring quality protection programming and is the overall country level technical lead within the protection sector.

DRC’s protection programming consists of: Legal Aid, Community-Based Protection, Prevention and Response to Gender-Based Violence and Protection Information Management.

The Protection Coordinator is responsible for leading country level protection analysis and strategy development and implementation; ensure quality protection sectoral programming and compliance with protection sector standards, including leading monitoring and evaluation efforts, staff capacity building and training, development of protection tools and approaches; and technically lead protection sectoral coordination and representation efforts.

Duties and Responsibilities

Protection Sectoral Technical Responsibility

• Lead protection analysis efforts and the development and implementation of the country level protection strategy
• Technically responsible for the overall protection portfolio
• Oversee and lead the development, harmonisation, adaptation and rollout of internal policies, and guidelines, protection related tools.

Technical Supervision

• Technically supervise, provide technical advice and guidance to protection sectoral staff
• Responsible for identifying protection sectoral technical gaps and establishing capacity building plans for protection sectoral staff
• Work closely with relevant protection staff in the development and delivery of capacity building efforts
• Provide regular technical support and guidance to protection teams and other relevant (protection, other sectoral, and others) staff in both a structured and on a case-by-case basis

Protection Programme Development and Oversight

• Lead and contribute to the design and finalisation of all protection sectoral interventions in proposals and projects.
• Oversee compilation of project related internal and external reports and communication.
• Maintain oversight of overall protection programme implementation, including budgets and indicators, in close collaboration with HoP, area managers and protection managers.
• Participate in protection programme / project review meetings, including grant opening, grant review and close out meetings.

Quality Assurance

• Lead, in collaboration with MEAL specialist on the development of quality assurance systems and ensure they are applied throughout the programme / project cycle
• Undertake regular quality review and site monitoring
• Identify, document, and share best practices between field offices
• Lead the self-assessment based on the Protection Minimum Operating Procedures (P-MOPs) once a year and contribute to the annual Protection Survey
• Oversee knowledge sharing across protection teams and sites

Coordination and Representation

• Represent DRC and actively contribute to protection sector coordination fora at the country level
• Lead DRC’s protection sector coordination and collaboration efforts with relevant stakeholders including government, civil society, NGOs, and UN
• Actively engage and contribute to DRC protection related advocacy efforts
• Promote integrated programming and ensure internal coordination and harmonisation of DRC protection interventions across sites and with other core sectors, as relevant
• Act as the main sector level point of contact with donors
• Be a resource for other sectors’ protection mainstreaming efforts

Experience and Technical Competencies:

• Proven experience of at least 5 years working in the protection sector and management of protection programmes
• Bachelor of Arts degree, preferably in a field directly relevant to humanitarian protection, or appropriate level and combination of expertise and experience
• Expert knowledge of International Refugee Law, International Human Rights Law, International Humanitarian Law
• Strong understanding of global protection sector standards, protection analysis, and Results-Based Protection
• Knowledge and experience designing, implementing, and monitoring and evaluating protection intervention within two or more of DRC’s Protection sector components: Gender-Based Violence, Protection Information Management, Community-Based Protection and/or Legal Aid.
• Proven communication, interpersonal, representation, negotiation, promotion, and diplomacy skills
• Strategic thinker with the ability to quickly develop good insight and understanding of humanitarian, political and human rights situation in the relevant context.
• Experience with technical management of teams
• Sound understanding and experience in protection mainstreaming and Age, Gender, and Diversity (AGD) mainstreaming, conflict sensitivity, and Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and abuse (PSEA)
• Experience in project development (including proposal writing), implementation and MEAL for protection programmes
• Experience in advocacy and policy development, and cluster / working group coordination in the humanitarian sector
• Cultural sensitivity and adaptability
• Ability to manage a high workload and manage stress

Language skills: Proficient in Spanish and English.

We offer:
Designation of Duty Station: Caracas, Venezuela (Non-family and non-accompanied Duty Station).
Start date: September, 2023
Contract Length: 1 year renewable depending on funding performance.
Individual Housing allowance.
Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for expatriate staff. Level: G1 – Non management.

Application process: Applications must be submitted through this page by clicking Apply button. All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than two 2 pages) in English. No application sent by email will be accepted. For information about the position, please contact DRC Venezuela Country Director [email protected] or DRC Venezuela HR Team Leader [email protected]

Closing date for applications: August 27, 2023. Please note that the applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

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.