Child Protection Manager

Background/IRC Summary:  

The Syria crisis is often described as the worst humanitarian catastrophe since the end of the Cold War. Today, 13.4 million people in Syria – more than half of the country’s population – are in need of humanitarian assistance with needs increasingly being exacerbated by economic decline. Of these, 6.8 million are refugees and asylum-seekers who have fled the country. This is no short-term humanitarian episode. The devastating human consequences to huge numbers of people will endure for decades. The destruction of relationships, communities, livelihoods, homes and infrastructure will take years to repair.

IRC is offering a robust humanitarian response to the Syria crisis a rapidly expanding portfolio, supported by more than 1000+ staff in Syria Country Program. IRC is undertaking programs in Syria and the neighboring countries of Turkey, Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan in the fields of health, child protection, early childhood development, education, women’s protection and empowerment, non-food items and food distribution, cash assistance, water and sanitation, protection and rule of law, and livelihood programming. Our work in these challenging settings gives rise to some of the most pressing issues facing contemporary humanitarian action, including questions of access, security, funding and coordination.

Job Overview/Summary:

The Child Protection Manager will lead the IRC’s efforts to meet conflict-affected children’s safety and protection needs, reducing risk and responding to cases of violence, exploitation and coercion in Ar-Raqqa governorate. This includes child protection case management, PSS support delivered in the community and in child safe spaces, developing family tracing and reunification programming, including scoping for establishing alternative care arrangements and early childhood development activities. The Child Protection Manager will manage existing Child Protection Programming in Ar-Raqqa governorate and will support in leading the expansion of child protection programming in Raqqa city. The CP manager with have effective management and oversight of Ar-Raqqa based programming to best meet the needs and aspirations of local communities and accountability to stakeholders.

Position objectives:

• Overseeing case management services, providing managerial and technical oversight to case management officers.
• Close out case management services in Raqqa and Deir Azzor governorates.
• Ensure the appropriate capacity building and ongoing support to the IRC child protection team
• Coordinate and collaborate with other managers – particularly with integrated protection – regularly reporting trends and advocating for vulnerable children and promote best-practices within case management
• Deliver child protection programming that is responsive to the community’s needs and to protection concerns
• Support in the rollout of the IRC’s PSS projects for Children, adolescents and their caregivers, ensuring teams are properly trained in implementing PSS content and integrate with existing programming.
• Engaging the communities in CP programming through identifying Child Protection Committees and caregivers’ committees.

Responsibilities:

Technical Quality

• Support the roll out of CP Case management SOPs, vulnerability criteria, referral pathways and procedures for child protection case management
• Ensure that each case management team is effectively implementing case management programming according to Standard Operating Procedures through formal trainings and regular meetings with CM Officers. Monitor timescales for response, services follow-up and review of cases, as reported by Officers
• Develop and lead the implementation a capacity building plan for the case management teams, the community-based protection team, and childcare workers in Women Centers and ERD childcare spaces.
• Provide ongoing technical support and capacity building to Officers through formal trainings and on-the-job training (i.e.: shadowing, observations, coaching sessions, etc.)
• Ensure effective monitoring and evaluation systems and tools that are in line with safe and ethical case management programming. Support in the roll out of the CPIMS+, assisting case management officer in providing support to their team on using the system
• Gather trends regarding vulnerable children as well as quality and impact of case management services. Analyse trends regularly and report to donor and key stakeholders, as needed.
• Support the identification of new partners and building their capacities to expand the child program portfolio in Northeast Syria.

Grant Planning & Implementation

• Support with grant spending and keeping on track with targets
• Support implementation by creating grant work plans, Item forecasts, spending plans and monitoring and evaluation plans, ensuring the team’s adherence to these through on-going support and monitoring
• Work closely and coordinate with IRC logistics, finance and grant staff to ensure timely and compliant program activities and expenditures, including active participation in grant opening/closing and review meetings
• Support in writing high-quality IRC and donor reports on activities, indicators and achievements

Data Protection and Monitoring

• Regularly review CP documentation practices to ensure children’s information is gathered, stored and shared safely. Ensure confidentiality and that data protection and information-sharing protocols are respected.
• Monitor and analyze child protection data collected by the Case Management teams and analyze data in order to adjust programming, inform capacity building, advocate for vulnerable children and promote best-practices within case management
• Develop and maintain effective and efficient oversight, support, quality control and reporting systems and processes.
• Support in the rollout of the Child Protection Information Management System (CPIMS+), including during the set-up phase and in implementation with caseworkers.
• Develop, maintain and update COMMCARE system in order to track activity progress and quality with MEAL team.

Coordination & Representation

• Lead case management meetings at least every two weeks with the CM officers 
• Participate in weekly integrated protection meetings to ensure deliver of CP programming that is in line with other protection streams
• Directly communicate effectively with other managers and key stakeholders in order to regularly report trends and advocate for the best interests of children, mainstreaming child protection through all interventions
• Actively develop and maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders, including donors, government actors, UN agencies, international and local NGOs, and other relevant actors, attending the Protection Working Group

Staff Management and Development

Other

• Consistently and proactively monitor/assess the safety and security of field teams; promptly reporting concerns or incidents to IRC management and liaising with community leaders and other external parties as required to maintain/enhance the security environment for IRC programs
• Provide briefings on child safeguarding and appropriate behaviour with children to all staff.  Ensure any concerns are reported and addressed immediately.
• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs

Staff Performance Management, Learning & Development

• Hire, supervise, and build the capacity of team members in relevant technical and project management competencies, exchanging knowledge within the team and providing professional development guidance
• Assist with the recruitment of Child Protection Staff, in coordination with the Senior Child Protection Manager.
• Develop and implement remote management capacity building approaches to build the strengths the teams in Syria.
• Coach, train, supervise and mentor direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting annual performance objectives, providing regular and timely positive and constructive performance feedback, and providing documented semi-annual performance reviews.
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.
• Approve and manage time, attendance and leave requests to ensure adequate departmental coverage; ensure monthly, accurate timesheet submission and carry out probationary reviews.
• Hold high-quality meetings with each direct report on a regular and predictable basis, minimally on a monthly basis.
• Provide a measurable development plan including on-the-job learning with the aim of strengthening technical capacity, exchanging knowledge within the team and providing guidance on career paths.
• As required, identify staff performance issues and work with Human Resources to document and address these in accordance with the National Staff Employment Policies.
• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.
• Promote and monitor staff care and well-being. Model healthy work-life balance practices. Support appropriate interventions in response to identified staff care needs of both national and international staff.
• Look for opportunities to support staff in their career growth, where appropriate. As part of succession plan and nationalization goals, identify, train and develop capability and capacity of national staff to successfully transition role and responsibilities, by the end of assignment.

Minimum Qualifications:

• University degree in relevant professional qualification in social work, human rights, or related degree preferred
• Minimum 4 years  of experience in child protection experience, ideally including experience as a caseworker or working in case management, preferably in humanitarian or development settings
• Minimum Two years’ experience in a managerial role, preferably in a similar field of work.
• Demonstrated understanding of working with children and particularly vulnerable children
• Personal qualities: Team leader, flexible, strong communication skills with children and caregivers, analytical skills, network-builder, able to handle pressure well and work in cross-cultural setting.
• Applied experience in case management and/or mental health programming.
• Strong team and people management and organizational skills.
• Strong program and budget management skills.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Works well in and promotes teamwork, is comfortable in a multi-cultural environment, flexible and able to handle pressure effectively and productively.

Demonstrated Skills and Competencies:

• A commitment to IRC’s mission, vision, values and IRC Way – Professional Code of Conduct.
• Credible written, presentation and verbal communication skills; ability to convey information effectively and solid experience providing training and staff development
• Validated sense of professional discretion, integrity, and ability to handle complex situations diplomatically and to effective resolution.
• Excellent management and interpersonal skills and a solid ability to promote harmonious/cohesive teamwork, in a cross-cultural context.
• Validated ability to plan long-term, organize priorities and work under administrative and programmatic pressures with detail orientation and professional patience.
• Highly collaborative and resourceful; ability to establish positive working relationships with senior level management and all other partners to maximize cooperation and productivity.
• Curiosity, a desire to continually learn and develop is a must.
• Analytical ability in creating effective solutions to complex matters while adhering to labor laws and internal policies.

Language/Travel:

English is required, while Arabic and Kurdish are desired.

Travel: frequent travel to field sites in Raqqa & Deir Azzor Locations as well as attending regional and global workshops and meetings.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: The Senior Child Protection Manager.  
Position directly supervises: 2x CP Officer in Raqqa, One CP Officer in Abu Kashab camp, 2x CP CM Officers in Raqqa.

Indirect Reporting (If applicable): N/A
Key Internal Contacts: Relevant IRC Departments, Technical Advisor, Women Empowerment and Protection Rule of Law teams

Key External Contacts: Other NGOs in the area, Working Group Coordinators, Child Protection Area of Responsibility Coordinator

Professional Standards: IRC staff must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way – Global Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality. In accordance with these values, IRC operates and carries out policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti-Workplace Harassment, Respect at Work Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

Returning National Candidates: We strongly encourage national or returning national candidates to apply for this position. If you are a citizen of the Country in which this position is based and are currently located outside of your home country and possess over two years of international work experience, the Middle East Region has introduced an attractive remuneration package. The package includes competitive compensation, return flight to post, shipping allowance, temporary housing and a relocation allowance. Certain restrictions may apply. IRC strives to attract, motivate and retain qualified national staff in our programs.

Accountability to Clients: IRC staff must adhere to the commitment of contributing to the sustainability and development of its (CR) Client Responsiveness Mechanisms, preserving the culture of prioritizing the needs of our clients and affected communities by systematically listening to their perspectives and using their feedback to make programmatic decisions and give them greater influence over program design and delivery.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

Diversity and Inclusion: at IRC MENA, we are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. Organizations that are diverse in age, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity, nationality, and perspective are validated to be better organizations. More importantly, creating a safe workspace environment where everyone, from any background, can do their best is the right thing to do. So, bring your whole self to work.

IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. In keeping with our core values of Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality, IRC strives to maintain a work environment built on mutual respect in which all individuals treat each other professionally, and free of bias, prejudice, and harassment. IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of IRC Persons in any work setting. All IRC staff, wherever they are located, are accountable for creating an environment free of discrimination, harassment, bullying, and retaliation.