Child Protection Manager at International Rescue Committee (IRC)

Location: Mubi North, ADAMAWA  Application Link
Location: Maiduguri, Borno   Application Link
Sector: Child Protection
Employment Category: Fixed Term
Open to Expatriates: No

Job Description

• In the end of 2014 and the beginning of 2015, there has been a considerable upsurge in violence perpetrated by Boko Haram in Borno state which has made some parts of the state inaccessible.
• Currently, these areas are becoming accessible because of military actions making it possible to reach a large number of people who have been denied access to any form of humanitarian assistance. From the beginning of the insurgency, the host communities in MMC/Jere LGAs have been housing a large number of displaced persons from other nearby communities and local government areas of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states and had to share the limited available resources and amenities with them.
• These resources continued to dwindle as the internally displaced arrive these communities lacking the most basic services such as access to adequate shelter and simple household items; food; health care; safe drinking water and basic sanitation. In addition, the insecurity that has resulted from past has presented serious protection concerns for communities in the LGAs where children and women represent about 70% of the IDP/host community population. There is an immediate need to address the fundamental basic requirements of the IDPs and host community members.
• In the Child Protection response currently has a component of case management in all IRC Nutrition facilities which screens and identifies children admitted into these facilities to ascertain their vulnerability, identify protection concerns and provide them with case management while their caregivers also go through parenting skills sessions.
• This Job Description is reviewed to capture the current expectation of the CP staff to provide him/her with guidance of what is expected of him/her based on the current context and programming. This will enable his/her supervisor to hold him/her accountable to his/her responsibility and ensure accountability to our targeted clients, donors, and IRC Nigeria Country Program.

Job Overview / Summary

• The Child Protection Program Manager with the support of the CP Coordinator plays a key role in the CP developing strategy, partnerships and providing oversight on day-to-day project implementation in support of the CYPD Coordinator.
• The CYPD Coordinator will directly supervise the Child Protection Program Manager. The Child Protection Program Manager will also be in regular contact with relevant CYPD Technical Advisors.

Major Responsibilities

• Provide ongoing leadership, training, and guidance to staff and local partners to ensure programming meets best practice standards and prioritizes the security of beneficiaries and staff.
• Participate in program design and proposal writing.
• Conduct or participate in assessments to ensure appropriate interventions are implemented.
• Implement the psychosocial strategy to meet the needs of targeted clients.
• Ensure that CP programming is community driven and that community leaders fully understand and participate in the design of the project.
• Work with the teams at the different filed sites to ensure sustained programming.
• Collaborate with the CP Coordinator to implement the staff training plan for Program team member.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with all stakeholders – including community leaders (Camp chairman, National Emergency Management Agency, State Emergency Management Agency) NGOs, UN agencies, Local Partners, and other IRC sectors to enhance multi-agency and multi sectoral cooperation and coordination.
• Ensure monthly data cleanup and review meetings with the CPIMS focal persons at location before they are shared to the CPIMS officer for consolidation.

Key Working Relationships:

• Position Reports to:  The Child Protection Coordinator
• Position directly supervises:  Child Protection Officers
• Indirect Reporting: Senior Programs Coordinator
• Other Internal and/or external contacts: describe the nature of departments or groups the position influences or requires support from to accomplish objectives.
• Internal: IRC SECTORs, External: CPSS, PSWG

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Education, International Development, or related field is required; Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum six years of relevant experience designing, implementing, and managing large, complex projects that work to protect vulnerable children and youth.
• Minimum four years of project management experience in emergency context.
• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Education, International Development, or related field is required; Master’s degree preferred.
• Experience in overseeing a child protection projects including supporting the delivery of psychosocial activities, emergency response, child protection case management including family tracing and reunification, and setting up child safeguarding mechanisms.
• Experience in developing and implementing organizational child safeguarding policies and procedures, including for NGO partners.
• Experience developing monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning processes for safeguarding, preferably within the education context.
• Demonstrated ability to liaise and build networks with government officials, community leaders, civil society representatives, and, preferably, education actors within the context of safety and protection promotion.
• Demonstrated success incorporating innovation and participatory, flexible, and gender-sensitive programming into implementation.
• Significant previous experience working in conflict or crisis situations, preferably in Northeast Nigeria.
• Availability to travel throughout the Northeast Nigeria region.
• The candidate must be fluent in English; fluency in another Nigerian language preferred.

Working Environment:

• Frequent travel and relocation can be a requirement for this position.