Protection Officer at Save The Slum Initiative

Position Summary

• The Protection Officer is responsible for ensuring the safety, dignity, and rights of crisis-affected populations through comprehensive protection programming, monitoring, case management, and advocacy.
• This role involves direct service provision to vulnerable individuals and communities while promoting protection mainstreaming across all humanitarian interventions in emergency and post-crisis settings.

Key Responsibilities
Protection Programming and Implementation (40%):

• Design, implement, and monitor comprehensive protection programs incorporating age, gender, and diversity (AGD) considerations
• Conduct systematic protection monitoring and analysis to identify risks, violations, and protection needs
• Develop and implement community-based protection strategies and interventions
• Ensure compliance with international humanitarian law, human rights law, and refugee protection standards
• Prepare detailed protection assessments, reports, and recommendations for management and partners

Case Management and Direct Services (25%):

• Manage individual protection cases including gender-based violence (GBV), child protection, and trafficking cases
• Conduct initial needs assessments with beneficiaries and develop comprehensive case management plans
• Provide individual and group counseling support to persons of concern
• Facilitate access to legal assistance, documentation, and essential services
• Maintain confidential case files and databases in compliance with data protection standards
• Monitor case outcomes and provide regular follow-up support

Coordination and Partnership Management (20%):

• Represent the organization in protection cluster meetings and humanitarian coordination forums
• Coordinate protection activities with government authorities, UN agencies, NGOs, and community organizations
• Lead or participate in joint protection initiatives and inter-agency working groups
• Facilitate information sharing and best practice exchange among protection actors
• Support capacity building initiatives for local partners and government counterparts

Advocacy and Policy Engagement (10%):

• Conduct strategic advocacy with authorities and stakeholders to address protection violations
• Represent organizational positions in policy discussions and technical meetings
• Document and report protection incidents for advocacy and evidence-based programming
• Promote implementation of protection standards and accountability mechanisms
• Engage in public awareness campaigns on protection issues

Protection Mainstreaming and Technical Support (5%):

• Provide technical guidance to program teams on protection mainstreaming principles
• Ensure all humanitarian activities prioritize safety, dignity, and meaningful access while avoiding harm
• Train staff and partners on protection standards and "do no harm" approaches
• Develop protection-sensitive programming guidelines and tools

Essential Qualifications
Education:

• Required: Bachelor's degree in Law, International Law, Political Science, International Relations, Social Work, Psychology, or related field
• Preferred: Master's degree in International Refugee Law, International Human Rights Law, International Humanitarian Law, or related field

Experience:

• Minimum: 3-5 years of relevant experience in protection activities, case management, or humanitarian programming
• Field experience in humanitarian settings with direct work with displaced populations
• Demonstrated experience in protection monitoring, case management, and counseling
• Experience with project cycle management and program implementation
• Previous experience working in multicultural, international environments

Technical Skills:

• Deep understanding of international protection principles and standards
• Knowledge of human rights frameworks and issues surrounding violence against civilians
• Experience with protection mainstreaming concepts and implementation
• Proficiency in case management systems and protection information management
• Strong analytical and report writing skills

Language Requirements:

• Required: Fluency in English (written and spoken), Hausa and Kanuri.
• Preferred: Working knowledge of local language(s) or other UN languages (French, Spanish, Arabic)

Required Competencies:
Technical Competencies:

• Protection case management and counseling techniques
• Protection monitoring and data collection methodologies
• Understanding of trauma-informed approaches and psychological first aid
• Knowledge of legal frameworks for refugee protection and human rights
• Familiarity with humanitarian standards and accountability mechanisms

Behavioral Competencies:

• Cultural Sensitivity: Ability to work effectively in diverse, multicultural environments
• Confidentiality: Strict adherence to confidentiality and ethical standards in case management
• Resilience: Ability to work under pressure in challenging and potentially traumatic situations
• Communication: Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with beneficiaries and stakeholders
• Adaptability: Flexibility to work in rapidly changing humanitarian contexts

Leadership and Management:

• Ability to supervise and mentor junior staff and volunteers
• Strong coordination and relationship management skills
• Capacity to represent the organization professionally in external forums
• Problem-solving and critical thinking abilities

Working Conditions:
Physical Demands:

• Regular travel to field locations and communities
• Ability to work in basic field conditions with limited infrastructure
• Physical ability to conduct field visits and community meetings

Work Environment:

• Deployment to challenging, insecure, or post-conflict settings
• Exposure to traumatic situations and protection violations
• Work under pressure with competing priorities and tight deadlines
• Potential for non-family duty stations in high-risk locations

Schedule:

• Full-time position with potential for extended hours during emergencies
• Availability for weekend and evening work as required by operational needs
• Flexibility for emergency response deployments.