Protection Manager

Candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled

Danish Refugee Council, one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, is currently looking for a highly qualified Protection Manager for our operations in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with frequent field travel.

About the job

The Protection Manager in the DRC Ethiopia Country Office provides strategic leadership and technical oversight for DRC Ethiopia’s protection programming, including protection monitoring and analysis, case management, psychosocial support, community-based protection, legal aid, and gender-based violence prevention and response.

The role ensures quality and consistency across all protection interventions by developing harmonized tools and approaches and mainstreaming protection across sectors. As the technical lead of the sector, the Protection Manager coordinates with humanitarian actors, participates in national-level coordination forums, and promotes a rights-based, accountable approach in line with international and DRC standards.

The Protection Manager directly supervises the Country Office protection team and provides technical management to protection staff in project locations cross DRC Ethiopia’s operations

Your main duties and responsibilities will be:

Technical Support

• Oversee the continuous improvement and implementation of DRC Ethiopia protection sector strategy, and ensure protection mainstreaming across DRC interventions
• Ensure the development of high-quality, harmonized standards and approaches and develop guidelines and standard operating procedures for activities as relevant. Ensure the team are trained in the use of the SOPs and tools
• Support project teams with technical supervision, regular visits, mentoring, and coaching to ensure quality implementation and adherence to best practices.
• Ensure that protection programming and other sector interventions are based on continuous protection risk analysis
• Ensure ethical and methodologically-sound protection information management systems are in place and used for analysis, planning, evaluation, and advocacy.
• Conduct and support regular sectoral analysis and advocacy work for the country office and produce reports to be used for information or contribute to evidence-based advocacy.
• Strengthen AGD mainstreaming in the country office by providing support to the country office and field offices as well as the other sectoral teams
• Provide technical input into DRC Ethiopia’s partnership strategy and ensure that partnerships with protection actors are managed with sufficient technical and capacity development support

Coordination & Representation

• Represent DRC in national coordination forums (e.g., Protection Cluster, PC Strategic Advisory Group, GBV Working Groups, etc.) and ensure DRC contributes to joint strategies and standards as agreed with the Head of Programme.
• Coordinate with the Authorities relevant for the sectors, UN agencies, INGOs and NNGOs and other key stakeholders on the provision of sectoral services;
• Represent DRC sectoral programming in meetings with donors as requested by the Senior Management Team
• Work closely with other agencies to implement common sectoral standards and develop common strategies and responses
• Promote improved understanding of sectoral issues among all relevant stakeholders and ensure the observance of international sectorial and humanitarian standards.

People Management

• Directly manage the Addis-based protection team and provide technical oversight to field-level protection managers and team leaders.
• Responsible for the recruitment of staffs in Addis office and participate in the recruitment of sectoral Managers and Teams leaders on the field in coordination with the line manager (revise JD, design technical test, correct the technical parts of the tests and member of the interview panel).
• Support onboarding, probation evaluation, performance appraisal, and objective setting for technical staff.
• Promote professional development by identifying training and capacity development opportunities and ensure technical staff are well versed in core technical thematics areas, DRC’s code of conduct, accountability, respectful dialogue with the affected communities, and prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse.
• Provide technical supervision to technical staff across DRC’s project location sites, in collaboration with Area managers;
• Develop staff capacities on protection approaches through training, mentoring and coaching.
• As a member of the DRC CO ESMT, actively participate and contribute to the coordination and strategic aspects of the country office

Participation in the Project Cycle Management

• Review technical aspects of needs assessments TOR, questionnaires and reports and provide technical inputs to improve the quality and use of the data for DRC
• Participate in the design of project proposals and budgets by preparing or reviewing technical components to ensure high quality standards are met and proposed activities are in line with DRC global and country strategies, cluster strategies and government strategies.
• Ensure the implementation strategy of the sectoral activities is in line with DRC technical guidelines
• Undertake quality control, site monitoring, and feedback loops to ensure that services provided are according to international best practice standards for DRC and partners’ activities.
• In coordination with the MEAL Manager, review strategic MEAL tools and products to improve their quality and use
• In coordination with the Grants Manager, develop content and review strategic donor reports to ensure quality assurance to donor and other DRC reports relevants to the sector;
• Participate in relevant internal project monitoring meeting (Kick off meeting, Project Monitoring Meeting and Close Out Meeting)
• Contribute to protection mainstreaming in all DRC field offices

Experience and technical competencies:

• Minimum 4 years’ work experience within the field of law or protection, particularly within the field of migrant/IDP/refugee protection;
• Previous experiences as a protection manager or coordinator with management experience is preferred
• Specific experience in protection monitoring, community based protection, PSS and GBV is desirable
• At least 4 years with humanitarian NGO’s, UN agencies, relevant ministries and/or local authorities in migrants/refugee/IDP settings in complex emergencies;
• Demonstrated experience coordinating with and supporting national and local authorities as well as humanitarian coordination forums;
• Prior experience or familiarity with issues relating to mixed migration is a strong advantage;
• Ability to work effectively and efficiently unsupervised;
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize, meet deadlines and adapt in a complex and challenging environment;
• Experience with capacity building, and in convening and facilitating trainings and workshops;
• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to establish effective and working relations with staff members and other stakeholders.

 EDUCATION: (include certificates, licenses, etc.)

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree in law, social sciences, social work, international development, or other relevant field from a recognized institution.

  LANGUAGE: (indicate fluency level)

• Excellent verbal and written proficiency in English.

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies: 

Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.

Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.

Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.

Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.

Demonstrating integrity: You uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to our values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

We offer

• Contract length: 12 Months
• Contract Type: National Contract
• Band: F1 – Management
• Designation of Duty Station:  Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with frequent field travel
• Start date:  1 September, 2025
• Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for National employees

 

HOW TO APPLY

Application process

Candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, as applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages) in English through: https://drc.ngo/job?id=174233. Applications sent by email will not be considered.

Closing date for applications: 17 August 2025

For further information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult our website drc.ngo.

Gender Equality: DRC is committed to achieving gender parity in staffing at all levels. In light of this, women candidates are particularly encouraged to apply to bridge the gender gap.

Equal Opportunities: DRC is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment based on mutual respect for all employees. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, disability status, religion, ethnic origin, colour, race, marital status, or other protected characteristics

We strongly encourage female candidates to apply for the position!

We encourage only qualified Ethiopian Nations to apply. DRC considers all applicants based on merit.