Line Management:

The Protection Field Coordinator is a roving position, supporting the protection component of a multi-sector programme across several locations in North Iraq. Project staff working on protection activities are line-managed on a daily basis by the coordinator. The Protection coordinator will provide support to staff working on protection components and ensure compliance with implementation and reporting and monitoring requirements.  Close coordination is required with the other sector leads in each location, and with the support staff, MEAL and Security Staff.

Background:

Mission East worked in Dohuk from 2003-2005. In response to the recent IDP crisis Mission East re-established a presence in Iraq in September 2014 in order to provide emergency assistance for displaced people. Our current multi-sector programme in Iraq focusses on psychosocial support, livelihoods and cash assistance, and WASH and shelter in Ninewa and Kirkuk Governorates.

Mission East condemns all forms of child abuse and child exploitation, takes a zero-tolerance approach to all abuse and exploitation against children and seeks to ensure children are not exposed to the risk of maltreatment by its representatives.

More information on Mission East can be found at: http://www.missioneast.org

Overall responsibility:

- Ensure quality and timely implementation of protection activities of Mission East Iraq’s multi-sectoral programming.  

- Build capacity of Mission East and partner-NGO staff in psychosocial support and protection activities.

- Ensure Protection sector compliance with Mission East policies and procedures, such as Code of Conduct, Child Protection commitment, Child Safeguarding policy etc.

- Report to Protection Manager any Protection concern from the field directly

Key responsibilities and tasks:

1. Management of protection component of multi-sector programmes.

Ensure psychosocial support and protection activities are planned and implemented in keeping with project documents and guidance from Protection Manager

• Oversee preparation and implementation of protection activities and ensure that they meet appropriate standards (CHS, SPHERE Standard Protection Principles, CPMS [child protection minimum standards], GBV).
• In close collaboration with the location-specific Mission East and partner-NGO staff, establish support and strengthen i) Community Centres (including child- and youth- targeted activities, such as PSS, resilience, other life skills), ii) Family/Women Protection Units with relevant referral mechanisms in collaboration with other actors, and iii) outreach with street-involved children.
• In close collaboration with Protection Manager ensure that protection activities are carried out in line with donor commitments, in line with agreed work plans and budgets, in order to achieve planned targets
• Provide coordination and administrative support to ensure that implementation of protection activities builds the capacity of communities and is conducted in a way that is consultative, participatory, gender-sensitive and inclusive of people with disabilities
• Support mainstreaming of protection and gender across Mission East Iraq programme.
• Ensure that protection-related lessons learnt from monitoring and evaluation (M&E) activities are integrated and cascaded down to protection staff.
• Monitor protection-related trends at field level, understand and apply protection standards and (inter)national guidelines relevant to Mission East activities in Iraq.

1. Human resources for protection

Support recruitment of protection-related staff

• Provide recommendations on human resource needs necessary to implement psychosocial/protection interventions.
• Draft/revise job descriptions and written tests for protection staff. Grade tests and conduct interviews with the protection staff candidates and actively participate in the recruitment process.
• Develop an induction plan and support relevant staff in carrying it out for any new ME staff involved in protection activities.

1. Development of ME and partner staff

Provide supervision, coaching and technical support to protection staff

• Build the capacity of both national ME and partner-NGO’s staff (both theoretically and through on-the-job guidance) to implement high quality protection activities, according to Mission East procedures and guidelines, relevant donor and international standards and best-practices, through supervision and regular feedback, coaching, technical support.
• Develop training objectives, plans and content for technical topics (ex. Psychosocial Support, Child Protection Principles, Psychological First Aid, etc.)  and carry out internal / partner training.

1. Internal and external coordination

Ensure coordination of Mission East protection activities with relevant internal and external stakeholders

• Coordinate with local- and regional- level government officials and I/NGOs where required in relation to protection activities
• Ensure strong Mission East representation at regional and national Protection Cluster (and sub-cluster/working groups) meetings and awareness of cluster strategies and approaches personally attending meetings or by appointing and coaching attendees as required
• Ensure information from Cluster is regularly shared with relevant staff within ME,
• Ensure data about ME projects and activities is regularly fed into the Cluster information system
• Supervise ME coordinators and officers in relation to psychosocial /protection project implementation, in close collaboration and communication with AMs and HOP when required and for approval).
• General coordination with key ME management team; mainly AMs and HOP;
• Collect data from all ME bases in Iraq in close collaboration with M&E Manager and provide relevant analysis suggesting way forwards for improvements in relation to protection.

1. Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting

Ensure timely monitoring, evaluation and reporting for protection activities

• In coordination with M&E maintain the monitoring system to ensure precise information on protection activities at each site.
• Support improvement of beneficiary accountability mechanisms in relation to protection activities (feedback systems, complaints handling etc).
• Practically support baseline, mid-term, and end line surveys as required.
• Prepare and consolidate progress reports as required by the protection manager related to protection activities.

1. Other

• Other possible duties, as agreed between the position holder and the Protection Manager
• Acting Protection Manager during leaves of absence

Selection Criteria:         

Qualifications Required:

• A higher education qualification (degree or equivalent) in any relevant discipline relating to Protection in Emergencies (psychology, sociology, pedagogy, psychosocial support, gender, child protection), or similar.

Experience Required:

• Demonstrable practical protection experience, including in relief/development contexts.
• Solid knowledge of Gender Based Violence (GBV) and Child Protection (CP) is required; experience in GBV or CP case management is highly desirable.
• Knowledge of and experience with standards relating to protection activities and emergency response in general
• Experience in project management (including developing and implementing detailed work plans), capacity building, coordination in emergencies, and monitoring and evaluation
• Previous experience working in sensitive security environments
• Previous experience working in Iraq or elsewhere in the Middle-East is an advantage.
• This position is a national position. 

Necessary Skills and Competencies:

• Excellent technical and interpersonal skills
• Ability to self-motivate, proactive with a lot of initiative
• Excellent writing skill
• Ability to manage, motivate, train and develop staff
• Strong external representation skills
• Fluency in written and spoken English; knowledge of Arabic or Kurdish language is an advantage
• Excellent computer skills
• Sympathy with Mission East organisational values
• Candidates will be expected to comply with Mission East Child Safeguarding Policy’

Qualified Candidates should submit their CV's in English on iraqvacancy@missioneast.org with indicating the "Protection Field Coordinator (ME/NIN/SIN/114/122020)" in the subject line of the email no later than Jan 04^th, 2021. Only Shortlisted candidates will be contacted.  

Due to the urgency, Mission East reserves the right to recruit any suitable candidates before the above-mentioned deadline. 

Mission East is an equal opportunity employer.