Child Protection Coordinator at International Rescue Committee (IRC)

Band / Level / Grade: 6B

Department: VPRU

Location: Maiduguri, Nigeria

Duration: 1 Year Renewable dependent on funding

Job Overview/Summary: The Child Protection Coordinator will be responsible for providing strategic direction and vision to the IRC’s Child Protection programming in Northeast Nigeria. The Child Protection Coordinator will be responsible for the overall management and quality implementation of all aspects of the child protection program, including the integrated Health and Nutrition response, Families Make the Difference, SAFE, case management and community-based child protection. The Child Protection Coordinator will oversee the Child Protection Senior Manager, and other child protection staff, based on the revised staffing structure. The Child Protection Coordinator will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the program, focused on safe spaces for children and adolescents, a parenting intervention and provision of information and case management for children. The Child Protection Coordinator will work extensively with other sectors to ensure that protection principles are being incorporated into the emergency programs.

Who this position reports to: The Child Protection Coordinator will report to the Deputy Director of Field Manager and Deputy Director of Programs, and will be provided technical guidance from the Child Protection Technical Advisor based in HQ.

Major Responsibilities:

Technical Quality

• Provides technical and management leadership to the Child Protection program in accordance with best practice and IRC policy
• Leads, or contributes to, development of country sector strategic direction and plans, in consultation with the Violence Prevention and Response Technical Unit (VPRU) Child Protection team
• Provides technical guidance and training on confidential and safe data collection, case identification and referral mechanisms in line with sector-based global best practices.
• Provides technical guidance and training on the implementation of safe space programming for adolescents and children, including the caregiving component

Staff Supervision & Development

• Directly supervises the Senior Child Protection Manger, CPIMS Officer and other positions as determined by the DDP and Child Protection Technical Advisor, providing quality oversight to and mentoring of the child protection teams in the field
• Maintains 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
• Ensures timely completion and submission of monthly timesheets, probations reviews and annual performance reviews
• Overall responsible for staff work plans, work and vacation schedules, and staff training/development activities
• If/as required identify staff performance issues and work with Human Resources to document and address these in accordance with the National Staff Employment Policies

Grant Planning & Implementation

• Leads the overall implementation of the child protection program and provides guidance to staff to ensure that stated goals and objectives are met, that the projects are appropriately monitored and evaluated, and that project reports are written and submitted in a timely manner
• Prepares program work plans that meet the program objectives and prepares appropriate operational guidelines for project staff
• Ensures that project activities are implemented within the assigned budget parameters, management of all financial aspects of the programs, approve relevant expenses and review expenditures, in consultation with the Finance Team
• Analyzes child protection concerns and needs in Northeast Nigeria and proposes new areas of work in line with the strategy
• Leads proposal development and design for child protection

Grant Monitoring & Reporting

Development/ maintenance of effective and efficient oversight, support, quality control and reporting systems and processes for the child protection program

Ensures regular field monitoring and technical support to projects and program staff
Ensures IRC and donor reports are completed on grant activities and indicators as per set schedules (monthly, quarterly and annually)

Coordination & Representation

• Develops and maintains effective coordination and long-term relationships with external stakeholders, representing IRC’s position, promoting long-term strategy and resolving problems/conflicts
• Works closely and coordinates 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
• Effectively represents IRC and actively participates at Child Protection coordination forums, like the SAG, CP sub-working group, etc.
• Negotiates and maintains appropriate information sharing protocols within IRC programs and with external actors
• Maintains effective and safe referral pathways for child protection concerns and other vulnerable cases

Other

Consistently and proactively monitor/assess the safety and security of the team; 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
Other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs, including development of SOPs, technical tools, etc.

Professional Standards

All IRC staff are required to adhere to THE IRC Way Standards for Professional Conduct and the IRC country employment policies, as well as IRC’s Child Safeguarding Policy.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree or MA/MSc equivalent in health (MPH), MSW Social Work, social science, law, humanities or other related degree
• Minimum of 5 years professional experience in managing child protection projects in complex environments.
• Prior experience working in emergency settings or insecure environments
• Strong program/technical and budget management skills, planning, reporting, monitoring and evaluation skills
• Strong written and oral communication skills, effective in representation and liaison with external parties 
• INGO experience required
• Demonstrated experience in capacity building and mentoring of national and international staff
• Must be capable of applying their skills and knowledge in a range of capacities, including direct implementation, advisory functions, training and the transfer of technical knowledge and management skills to others

Personal qualities: works well in and promotes teamwork, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment, flexible and able to handle pressure well

Working Environment: The position will be based in Maiduguri, Nigeria. This position will require travel within Nigeria, including Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.

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, and Anti-Retaliation.