BACKGROUND: The International Rescue Committee, one of the world’s largest humanitarian international NGOs, provides relief, rehabilitation and development support to vulnerable people and communities in over 40 countries. We began work in Ethiopia in 2000 in response to severe drought in Ethiopia’s Somali region and are currently providing assistance to Ethiopians and refugees in ten regions, in Ethiopia, implementing emergency and development programs in health, water and sanitation, economic recovery and development (ERD), women’s protection and empowerment, education, child protection, and multi-sectoral emergency response.

Job Overview/Summary:

The Child Protection (CP) Senior Officer will work with CP staff and IRC’s implementing partner(s) to ensure that activities are provided following IRC – CP standards, including policies and strategies. She/he will oversee the provision of safe and appropriate CP response and prevention services and interventions to reduce risks faced by children and their families. The CP Senior Officer will provide technical guidance, training, and support to the IRC CP staff and IRC’s implementing partner staff. Specifically, the CP Senior Officer will be responsible for:

Responsibilities: -

the post holder will be responsible for the following duties and responsibilities.

1. Program implementation and quality: Reinforcing adherence to the CP guiding principles throughout all CP and partners activities, specifically:

·         Plan, supervise and oversee provision of prevention and response activities for children and their families.

·         Oversee the referral mechanisms, and lead on the maintenance and regular/timely updating of the service mapping and referral pathways, and training of referrals service providers on the referral pathway and appropriate referral

·         Assess implementation progress and identify technical quality issues or other concerns, to be flagged to the CP Manager, and propose solutions.

·         Identify material needs together with CP Officers / CP Case Workers / PSS Workers, and work with CP Manager and Integrated Protection Program Officer to make the necessary procurements, in consideration of budget limits

·         Facilitate the program activities with the partner staff.

2. Budget management:  ensuring the adherence to the IRC and donor’s financial policy and regulations maintained accordingly. And

·         Ensure bulk PRs for the grants raised timely and procurement of supplies and services carried out in discussion with the SC and finance.

·         Ensure budget utilization progress is healthy and as per the spending plan through conducting regular and periodic budget review session with the CP manager, CP officers, finance and the SC and manage the under and overspending timely.

3. Program monitoring and reporting: Ensure all program activities and services are fully documented using agreed monitoring tools for systematic and timely data collection on activities, specifically:

·         Support the maintenance of the IRC’s Information Management System(s) in line with data protection, collection and sharing standards, and CP guiding principles.

·         Submit the updated weekly report and tracker on activities led, success stories, lessons learned, etc. to the designated IRC CP focal point on agreed-upon deadlines.

4. Staff supervision and development: Directly supervise CP staff by providing regular supervision, coaching, and guidance on CP prevention and response activities, specifically:

·         Directly supervise CP staff by providing regular supervision, coaching, and guidance on prevention, risk mitigation, and response activities in the field of child protection

·         Mentor and support staff’s professional development and foster a positive team spirit to encourage innovative and quality programming

·         In collaboration with the CP Manager, identify capacity building needs and support the organization and facilitation of trainings to meet those needs

·         Monitor field work to ensure staff meet program goals and utilize appropriate time management.

5. Coordination & representation: Work closely with CP Manager, IRC programs and partner(s), CP AoR, protection and other clusters, and other service providers on the provision of CP prevention and response activities, specifically:

·         Identify concerns related to and support adherence to CP referral protocols by all service providers and relevant stakeholders.

·         Advocate with peer agencies and other stakeholders to promote timely and quality responses for at-risk children and their families

·         Develop and maintain effective working relationships with other service providers and relevant stakeholders including community members and other implementing partners.

6. Other: the post holder will also work on other duties such as

·         Consistently and proactively monitor/assess the safety and security of the CP team, promptly reporting concerns or incidents to IRC Security department and management and liaising with community leaders and other external parties as required to maintain/enhance the environment for IRC programs.

Perform any other tasks as requested by his/her supervisor to ensure the smooth running of the program.

Job Requirements

Educational Requirements:

·         BA/BSC or MA or Diploma in Social Work, Sociology, Psychology, Social anthropology, Human Rights, Humanities, and other related Social Science field.

Preferred experience & skills:

·         Required Worker experience for BA/BSC 2 years, for MA 1 year, and for diploma holder 5 years of work experience in implementing child protection programs in humanitarian or development settings.

·         Understanding of case management and PSS to promote healing and recovery.

·         Demonstrated understanding of and ability to maintain confidentiality and respect for clients/beneficiaries.

·         Previous experience leading teams on CP response strategies and demonstrated understanding of working with children, particularly vulnerable children.

·         Excellent communication skills

·         Positive and professional attitude, including ability to lead and work well in a team setting.

·         High degree of flexibility and strong ability to organize work, meet deadlines, maintain composure, prioritize work under pressure, coordinate multiple tasks and maintain attention to detail.

·         Computer literate, including Microsoft Word and Excel

Language Skills: 

·         Language: Fluent in English required

·         Local language (Tigrigna) is plus

How to Apply

Candidates meeting the above qualifications are encouraged to apply only through the below IRC On-line recruitment website: 

Register using this LINK

Please include 3 references from current and former employers.

Applications will not be returned. IRC discourages phone calls or personal visits.

Only applicants meeting the minimum qualification will be short listed and contacted.

Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.

Your application letter/cover letter must include the following information.

• Name of the position you have applied for

• Date of application

• Summary of  your qualifications and experience

• Motivation/objective of why you have applied for the job

• Permanent Address and present address (if different from permanent) and telephone number if possible also email address

• Disclose any family relationships with existing IRC employees.

IRC is an equal employment opportunity employer.  IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability. 

Professional Standards: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity Anti-Retaliation and Combating Trafficking in Persons

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

Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.