Protection Program Manager
Danish Refugee Council, Strong City, KS, United States
National/Expatriate Contract (Non-Family Duty station) — 15/05/2026
Competitive salaries and benefits are offered.
Introduction
The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and displaced persons around the world. We provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunities for a better future.
Context
DRC has been operational in Chad for the past two years, implementing humanitarian operations in the country with the main objective of responding to the crisis in the east in coordination with DRC Sudan.
Key Specific Responsibilities
Management
Manage and oversee implementation of all protection projects in the area, in alignment with agreed strategies, principles, implementation plans, and donor requirements.
Develop, coordinate, plan, implement, and quality assure DRC’s protection activities and services.
Write internal and external reports about protection activities and projects within agreed deadlines, in line with DRC and donor formats.
Technical Support
Provide technical support, supervision and guidance to protection team members at the Area level and ensure that direct staff adhere to protection policies, standards and best practices.
Authority to instruct – including issuing instructions and providing strategic direction on issues related to the protection sector in the work area.
Provide capacity building and on-the-job coaching related to direct staff roles and responsibilities.
In collaboration with the Protection Coordinator, develop and roll out protection tools and Standard Operating procedures.
People Management
Responsible for managing and providing direction to and monitoring protection staff in their daily work and implementation of their assigned activities to ensure adherence to work plans and quality standards.
Provide day‑to‑day training and capacity building for all direct protection staff.
Responsible for undertaking recruitment, onboarding, and appraisal of protection staff.
Set clear work plans and objectives for protection teams and promote professional development of staff by identifying and implementing capacity building opportunities.
Programme Development and Quality Assurance
Contribute to the strategic direction of the protection sector at the area level and national level through active participation in strategic planning processes, including protection analysis and strategy development.
Contribute to the development of proposals, budgets, and concept notes in coordination with relevant DRC colleagues.
Ensure quality assurance of protection activities according to minimum standards, including the development and implementation of standard operating procedures, tools and lessons learned documents.
Ensure Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) and Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) are mainstreamed into protection projects and programmes.
Ensure appropriate collection of data of the projects, activities and contexts in respect with ethics and DRC Data Protection Policy in collaboration with Protection Information Management or MEAL team.
Support protection needs assessments, analyses, monitoring, periodic reports and other protection‑related quality documents in collaboration with the Protection Information Management team.
Finance and Administration
Responsible for budget management, including monitoring, forecasting, and performing budget holder responsibilities for protection projects.
Coordination and Representation
Ensure effective coordination and collaboration with other DRC sectors and promote complementarities of programmes.
Actively participate in and represent DRC in relevant regional or local protection inter‑agency coordination (clusters or sectors).
Liaise, coordinate, and foster professional relationships with relevant stakeholders, including government, local authorities and institutions, UN, civil‑society and NGOs.
Actively engage and contribute to DRC protection‑related advocacy efforts.
Promote integrated programming and ensure internal coordination and harmonisation of DRC protection approach across sites and with other core sectors, as relevant.
Liaise with projects’ donor when necessary to support fundraising efforts.
Actively contribute to new viable partnerships for the Protection sector at the Area level.
Keep abreast of protection activities implemented by other organizations in the geographical working area within CHAD, assess referral opportunities and support the capacity development of the duty‑bearer.
Contribute to the technical strategy with emphasis on needs of the affected communities, expansion to relevant sectors, and programme integration. Support the Protection Coordinator and Area Manager on creating the Protection Strategy.
Qualifications
Master’s degree in social sciences, human rights, intervention development, gender/protection studies or other relevant field.
Experience working with local partners, local authorities and other INGOs within a consortium.
Previous professional experience in West and Central Africa.
Knowledge of International Refugee Law, International Human Rights Law, and International Humanitarian Law.
Knowledge and experience designing, implementing and monitoring and evaluation of protection activities within two or more of DRC’s Protection sector components: Community Based Protection, Gender‑Based Violence, Child Protection, Protection Information Management, Community‑Based Violence Protection, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support, and/or Legal Aid.
Proven experience in capacity building, including preparation and delivery of materials and mentoring of staff.
Strong cultural sensitivity and experience working with people from various backgrounds.
Demonstrated experience in team management, including previous experience in the direct line management of staff.
Solid experience in project cycle management, including proposal writing, budget management and donor reporting.
Full professional command of French, with excellent writing skills. Proficiency in English will be highly prioritized.
Very good knowledge of humanitarian principles.
Sound understanding and experience in protection mainstreaming and Age, Gender, and Diversity (AGD) mainstreaming, Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) and Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA).
Demonstrated ability to think strategically, plan and manage work time effectively, prioritize, and meet deadlines.
Ability to adapt the work focus based on the needs and oversee the projects implementation in different field locations concurrently.
Strong work ethic, collaborative mindset and ability to take responsibility for own actions.
Strong organizational, interpersonal, negotiation and communication skills.
Ability to cope with heavy workloads and work under pressure.
Highly motivated, results‑oriented and creative problem solver.
Good understanding of and commitment to DRC values.
Skills and Qualities Required
Strive for excellence: focus on achieving results while ensuring an efficient process.
Collaborate: cooperate with and involve stakeholders, actively seeking their opinions and sharing key information.
Take the lead: prioritize work in line with DRC's overall vision and objectives, initiative and innovation when faced with challenges.
Communicate: write and speak effectively and honestly, adjusting style and tone to the situation.
Demonstrate integrity: respect and promote ethical standards in line with DRC values and code of conduct, including protection from sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.
Proactivity with a cooperative and collaborative approach.
Excellent communication skills, attentiveness and patience.
Good organizational skills.
Exemplary sense of ethics.
Ability to work as part of a team, with a good sense of humor.
General Regulations and Ethics
The Employee shall comply with DRC's safety, confidentiality and ethical requirements, including compliance with the Code of Conduct and the Humanitarian Accountability Framework.
The Employee shall not engage in any other employment during his/her employment with DRC without prior authorization from his/her manager.
The Employee shall not engage in any activity that is detrimental to DRC or the implementation of its projects during his/her employment with DRC.
The Employee must not give interviews to the media or share project‑related content without prior authorization.
The Employee shall return to DRC any DRC equipment or property at the end of his/her employment contract.
Applications will close on May 4, 2026.
Equal Employment Opportunity
DRC guarantees equal employment opportunities and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, gender, color, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability. The DRC encourages all candidates to apply and does not discriminate in any way during the recruitment process. However, applicants should bear in mind that DRC cannot employ, under an international contract, a national of the country in which they will be working.
As part of this recruitment process, Chadian applications will be given priority.
Danish Refugee Council is an equal opportunity employer and considers all applicants based on individual merit and qualifications, regardless of personal characteristics or attributes. We are committed to increasing the diversity of our workforce, aiming for a 50% balance of men and women in management roles and ensuring that at least 50% of management roles are filled by national staff. We recognize that a diverse and inclusive team is crucial for achieving our organizational goals and making a positive impact on the communities we serve.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Competitive salaries and benefits are offered.
Introduction
The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and displaced persons around the world. We provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunities for a better future.
Context
DRC has been operational in Chad for the past two years, implementing humanitarian operations in the country with the main objective of responding to the crisis in the east in coordination with DRC Sudan.
Key Specific Responsibilities
Management
Manage and oversee implementation of all protection projects in the area, in alignment with agreed strategies, principles, implementation plans, and donor requirements.
Develop, coordinate, plan, implement, and quality assure DRC’s protection activities and services.
Write internal and external reports about protection activities and projects within agreed deadlines, in line with DRC and donor formats.
Technical Support
Provide technical support, supervision and guidance to protection team members at the Area level and ensure that direct staff adhere to protection policies, standards and best practices.
Authority to instruct – including issuing instructions and providing strategic direction on issues related to the protection sector in the work area.
Provide capacity building and on-the-job coaching related to direct staff roles and responsibilities.
In collaboration with the Protection Coordinator, develop and roll out protection tools and Standard Operating procedures.
People Management
Responsible for managing and providing direction to and monitoring protection staff in their daily work and implementation of their assigned activities to ensure adherence to work plans and quality standards.
Provide day‑to‑day training and capacity building for all direct protection staff.
Responsible for undertaking recruitment, onboarding, and appraisal of protection staff.
Set clear work plans and objectives for protection teams and promote professional development of staff by identifying and implementing capacity building opportunities.
Programme Development and Quality Assurance
Contribute to the strategic direction of the protection sector at the area level and national level through active participation in strategic planning processes, including protection analysis and strategy development.
Contribute to the development of proposals, budgets, and concept notes in coordination with relevant DRC colleagues.
Ensure quality assurance of protection activities according to minimum standards, including the development and implementation of standard operating procedures, tools and lessons learned documents.
Ensure Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) and Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) are mainstreamed into protection projects and programmes.
Ensure appropriate collection of data of the projects, activities and contexts in respect with ethics and DRC Data Protection Policy in collaboration with Protection Information Management or MEAL team.
Support protection needs assessments, analyses, monitoring, periodic reports and other protection‑related quality documents in collaboration with the Protection Information Management team.
Finance and Administration
Responsible for budget management, including monitoring, forecasting, and performing budget holder responsibilities for protection projects.
Coordination and Representation
Ensure effective coordination and collaboration with other DRC sectors and promote complementarities of programmes.
Actively participate in and represent DRC in relevant regional or local protection inter‑agency coordination (clusters or sectors).
Liaise, coordinate, and foster professional relationships with relevant stakeholders, including government, local authorities and institutions, UN, civil‑society and NGOs.
Actively engage and contribute to DRC protection‑related advocacy efforts.
Promote integrated programming and ensure internal coordination and harmonisation of DRC protection approach across sites and with other core sectors, as relevant.
Liaise with projects’ donor when necessary to support fundraising efforts.
Actively contribute to new viable partnerships for the Protection sector at the Area level.
Keep abreast of protection activities implemented by other organizations in the geographical working area within CHAD, assess referral opportunities and support the capacity development of the duty‑bearer.
Contribute to the technical strategy with emphasis on needs of the affected communities, expansion to relevant sectors, and programme integration. Support the Protection Coordinator and Area Manager on creating the Protection Strategy.
Qualifications
Master’s degree in social sciences, human rights, intervention development, gender/protection studies or other relevant field.
Experience working with local partners, local authorities and other INGOs within a consortium.
Previous professional experience in West and Central Africa.
Knowledge of International Refugee Law, International Human Rights Law, and International Humanitarian Law.
Knowledge and experience designing, implementing and monitoring and evaluation of protection activities within two or more of DRC’s Protection sector components: Community Based Protection, Gender‑Based Violence, Child Protection, Protection Information Management, Community‑Based Violence Protection, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support, and/or Legal Aid.
Proven experience in capacity building, including preparation and delivery of materials and mentoring of staff.
Strong cultural sensitivity and experience working with people from various backgrounds.
Demonstrated experience in team management, including previous experience in the direct line management of staff.
Solid experience in project cycle management, including proposal writing, budget management and donor reporting.
Full professional command of French, with excellent writing skills. Proficiency in English will be highly prioritized.
Very good knowledge of humanitarian principles.
Sound understanding and experience in protection mainstreaming and Age, Gender, and Diversity (AGD) mainstreaming, Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) and Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA).
Demonstrated ability to think strategically, plan and manage work time effectively, prioritize, and meet deadlines.
Ability to adapt the work focus based on the needs and oversee the projects implementation in different field locations concurrently.
Strong work ethic, collaborative mindset and ability to take responsibility for own actions.
Strong organizational, interpersonal, negotiation and communication skills.
Ability to cope with heavy workloads and work under pressure.
Highly motivated, results‑oriented and creative problem solver.
Good understanding of and commitment to DRC values.
Skills and Qualities Required
Strive for excellence: focus on achieving results while ensuring an efficient process.
Collaborate: cooperate with and involve stakeholders, actively seeking their opinions and sharing key information.
Take the lead: prioritize work in line with DRC's overall vision and objectives, initiative and innovation when faced with challenges.
Communicate: write and speak effectively and honestly, adjusting style and tone to the situation.
Demonstrate integrity: respect and promote ethical standards in line with DRC values and code of conduct, including protection from sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.
Proactivity with a cooperative and collaborative approach.
Excellent communication skills, attentiveness and patience.
Good organizational skills.
Exemplary sense of ethics.
Ability to work as part of a team, with a good sense of humor.
General Regulations and Ethics
The Employee shall comply with DRC's safety, confidentiality and ethical requirements, including compliance with the Code of Conduct and the Humanitarian Accountability Framework.
The Employee shall not engage in any other employment during his/her employment with DRC without prior authorization from his/her manager.
The Employee shall not engage in any activity that is detrimental to DRC or the implementation of its projects during his/her employment with DRC.
The Employee must not give interviews to the media or share project‑related content without prior authorization.
The Employee shall return to DRC any DRC equipment or property at the end of his/her employment contract.
Applications will close on May 4, 2026.
Equal Employment Opportunity
DRC guarantees equal employment opportunities and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, gender, color, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability. The DRC encourages all candidates to apply and does not discriminate in any way during the recruitment process. However, applicants should bear in mind that DRC cannot employ, under an international contract, a national of the country in which they will be working.
As part of this recruitment process, Chadian applications will be given priority.
Danish Refugee Council is an equal opportunity employer and considers all applicants based on individual merit and qualifications, regardless of personal characteristics or attributes. We are committed to increasing the diversity of our workforce, aiming for a 50% balance of men and women in management roles and ensuring that at least 50% of management roles are filled by national staff. We recognize that a diverse and inclusive team is crucial for achieving our organizational goals and making a positive impact on the communities we serve.
#J-18808-Ljbffr