Protection Officer at Universal Humanitarian Aid Initiative (UHAI)

Job Overview/Summary

• Under the supervision of the Programme Manager, the Protection Officer is responsible for the overall oversight and management (planning, implementation, and monitoring) of the Sector’s projects. S/he will support the Protection Manager in managing and supervising staff.
• S/he is responsible for ensuring that projects run smoothly by providing technical leadership, supervising, training, and mentoring staff, and coordinating the implementation of project activities.
• The Protection Officer will contribute to the UHAI Protection program development and proposal development.
• S/he will play an active role in establishing and managing relationships with local partners, humanitarian actors, state authorities, beneficiaries, and local/traditional leaders and contribute to the achievement of UHAI Protection program and UHAI set goals.

Major Responsibilities

Project planning and implementation

• Responsible for the planning and timely implementation of project activities in Maiduguri of Borno State, ensuring adherence to UHAI policies and procedures.
• Continuously monitor project quality; for example, strengthening data collection, reporting, accountability initiatives, and documenting the impact of UHAI presence in the field.
• Ensure synergy between the Protection sector and other UHAI sectorial activities in Borno State in close coordination and consultation with other Protection staff.
• Work with the Programme Manager and MEAL to contribute to new project development, including both narratives and budgets.
• Contribute and support effective monitoring, evaluation, and learning processes and initiatives, and ensure effective data and information management for the project.
• Develop monthly work plans focused on key outputs and outcomes in consultation with other Protection staff.
• Ensure staff contributions to project monitoring and evaluation requirements to ensure project quality, relevance, and accountability to UHAI’s target populations.
• Integrate community approaches, gender sensitivity, capacity building, and mainstream protection into all activities as appropriate.

Reporting and documentation

• Ensure UHAI has up-to-date information on the affected and targeted community and coordinate beneficiary lists and numbers with Reporting/Database Assistant and different stakeholders.
• Ensure the timely and quality delivery of weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual project reports.
• Ensure high-quality UHAI and donor reports on activities, indicators, and achievements.
• Ensure that all reporting is disaggregated by age and gender.       Keep proper records of all project activities.

Staff Performance Management, Learning & Development:

• 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 semiannual 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.
• Hold high-quality meetings with each direct report on a regular and predictable basis, at least monthly.
• 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.
• Adhere to and act in accordance with the UHAI HR Policies and Procedures, and communicates through word and example a high standard of compliance with all applicable policies and regulations.

Team Management

• Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
• Support the Programme Manager in the supervision, hiring, and orientation of new Protection staff as necessary.
• Contribute to UHAI Protection sector team-building efforts, help solve arising problems and support the Programme Manager in the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.

Key Working Relationships

• Position Reports to:  The Programme Manager
• Position directly Supervises: Community Engagement and Protection Assistants, Incentive workers.

Qualifications

Education:

• University degree in law, Political science, psychology, social sciences, or social work (bachelor’s as a minimum).

Work Experience:

• Relevant experience (at least 4 years) in protection programming including focus on protection monitoring and responding to identified protection needs.
• Demonstrated experience using international human rights standards in protection programming.
• Knowledge of Project Cycle Management
• Experience working in IDP sites (camps and host communities).
• Experience with coordination of humanitarian protection activities essential. Skills in advocacy are essential.
• Proficiency in designing and implementing monitoring and evaluation systems to measure the impact of protection programs and make data-driven decisions for improvement.
• Ability to manage teams especially field teams in a challenging environment.
• Ability and willingness to live and work in a challenging environment
• Good communication skills (written and verbal), cultural sensitivity, flexibility, ability to improvise, and team player.
• Ability to live and productively work under stress and in insecure and harsh environments while maintaining a sense of humor.

Languages:

• Fluency in English and other languages desirable.
• Knowledge of the local language will be an added value.

Computer / Other Tech Requirements:

• Full professional competency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.

Location:

• The position is based in Maiduguri.

Travel:

• Ability to Travel: 20% of the time if applicable.