Protection Officer

Estonian Refugee Council (ERC) is a value-driven non-governmental EU-certified humanitarian organization. ERC was established 22 years ago in Estonia and currently provides humanitarian assistance to displaced people and other vulnerable people in 5 crisis-affected countries (Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia, Jordan and Turkey) and different support services to beneficiaries of international protection in Estonia. Estonian Refugee Council works and provide help in Ukraine since 2014 year and now covered 9 regions with ongoing humanitarian projects and monitoring visits. Our Mission is to stand for the rights and well-being of refugees and other vulnerable groups in Ukraine and abroad.

We are looking for Protection Officer to join our international team!

Protection Officer will be responsible for working with local and national authorities to ensure that vulnerable individuals and communities can effectively navigate their social benefit entitlements. This includes providing guidance on accessing civil documentation, housing, land, and property (HLP) rights, as well as other essential social services.

Main tasks: 

• Referral Management: Oversee and support programme teams to build referral mechanisms to link humanitarian cash beneficiaries, particularly vulnerable individuals and groups, to services, through PeReHIDHid, referral workshops, and SOPs.
• Project Scaling: Prepare to scale up operations to the hromada level, including planning and resource allocation. Identify program gaps, areas of growth, and strategies and support in adapting program design to effectively meet beneficiary needs, the changing context, and other factors.
• Liaison: Work closely with local authorities to facilitate the understanding and navigation of social benefit entitlements for beneficiaries.
• Support Services: Provide support to individuals in accessing civil documentation, housing, land, and property (HLP) rights.
• Team Management: Provide direct supervision to Protection Assistant, providing guidance, support, and performance evaluation.
• Reporting: Prepare and submit detailed reports on project progress and challenges to senior management.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Engage with various stakeholders including NGOs, government agencies, clusters and communities to ensure comprehensive support for beneficiaries.

           Protection Programming:

• Oversee implementation of the protection monitoring and information dissemination program through managing project work plans and budgets (budget forecasting, development of spending plans and budget follow-up), ensuring timely recruitment, quality implementation and accurate reporting in accordance with ERC and donor regulations.
• Participate in cross-departmental collaboration to ensure that linkages between programs are made and programs gain from protection best practice, in particular with regular contact and coordination with Coordinators in Livelihoods, MPCA and Shelter.

          PeReHID Initiative Learning Framework:

• Assess Coordination: Evaluate the effectiveness of coordination between local authorities and humanitarian actors to ensure seamless collaboration.
• Develop Referral Systems: Support in design and implementation of a referral system to streamline access to services and support.
• Engage in Coordination Mechanisms: Actively participate in coordination mechanisms to oversee and align transitional top-ups.
• Monitor Processes: Analyse key processes including cross-referrals, communication protocols, and lead times for enrollment in social assistance programmes.
• Develop Briefing Papers: Contribute to the preparation of a briefing paper on lessons learned to inform future strategies and practices.

Expectations towards the candidate: 

• Education: Masters or Bachelor degree in Law, Social Work, Social Sciences, Project Management or related field.
• Experience: Minimum of 3 years of experience in a relevant field of Protection and community engagement. Experience with NGOs will be an advantage.
• Skills: Excellent understanding of Ukrainian social benefit systems, civil documentation, and HLP rights. 
• Language: Intermediate level of English or higher and fluency in Ukrainian.
• Other: Ability to work independently and as part of a team. Strong organiszational and problem-solving skills.
  
  What do we offer offer:
• competitive salary
• medical insurance
• 28 vacation days
• international environment
• Location: Dnipro
• work from home a few days per month
• official employment
• salary transferred twice per month

How to apply

How to apply
Please apply by uploading your cover letter and up-to-date CV on our website.
ERC only accepts duly completed applications submitted through the ERC HR portal.
Due to limited resources, only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Send your CV and Cover letter in English with a title «Protection Officer» to [відгукнутися]. Please, also mention your salary expectations.

Learn more about Estonian Refugee Council here:   https://www.pagulasabi.ee/en/news