Protection Manager- Country Technical Lead

(Sana’a or Aden- Yemen)

Job Description

Who are we?

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfillment of the wish to return home.

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956, and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced.

All of our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.

DRC has been active in Yemen since 2008. Throughout its eight field offices and a workforce of 273 staff, DRC Yemen upholds its main programmatic objectives to provide immediate and life sustaining assistance, to strengthen the protective environment, and to reduce displacement related risks and vulnerabilities by promoting self-reliance at household and community level. Sectors of implementation cover Protection, Camp Coordination and Camp Management, Economic Recovery, Humanitarian Disarmament, and WASI (Wash, Shelter and Infrastructure).

DRC Yemen’s protection

DRC Yemen has been implementing protection interventions in the country since 2008 and is recognized as one of the leading protection actors in the country. DRC provides case management, protection cash assistance, legal aid, mixed movement emergency response, and Victim Assistance to mitigate protection risks faced by IDPs, host communities, and other at risks groups, including the Muhamasheen and individuals on the move. At the same time, DRC supports affected populations through prevention programming, including psychosocial support and community-based protection, to strengthen resilience and reduce future risks.

About the job

  The country-level Protection Manager (Country Technical Lead) is responsible for the strategic development and technical supervision of DRC’s protection programming through technical guidance, support, oversight, strategy development, resources, capacity development, and representation. The Country Protection Manager will directly manage and supervise a team of three protection specialists and one coordinator. The country-level Protection Manager is ultimately responsible for the overall quality and impact of the programme and is the technical supervisor of the Protection Managers at area level.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Programme Strategy & Development

• Lead the contextual revision and rollout of the DRC Yemen protection strategy, aligned with the DRC Yemen Strategic Plan and Global Strategy and responsive to the changing context in Yemen.
• Lead the technical design and review of protection related concept notes, logical frameworks, budgets and full proposals in coordination with the HoP, area teams, and Grants team.
• Map donor priorities within Protection sector and identify new fundraising opportunities.
• Lead on developing and strengthening methods and tools for country-level protection analysis, including assessments and activity-based data collection, to inform evidence-based programme design and implementation.
• Propose innovative project design ideas and explore their feasibility.
• Foster and ensure integration of Protection activities with other DRC sectors, particularly Economic Recovery, Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding (HDP), and CCCM.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge and understanding of the evolving context in Yemen, the specific dynamics impacting the protection environment, and protection risk patterns across the country and specific to particular areas.
• Maintain close working relationships with DRC Regional and HQ counterparts to ensure that DRC Yemen’s programmatic priorities align with and respond to regional and global priorities. 

Quality Assurance and Learning

• Ensure DRC Yemen’s protection programme is relevant to the evolving context, in-line with global protection sector standards and DRC’s relevant guidance, and that it is consistent across all areas of operation.
• Ensure all Protection tools, SoPs and guidelines are in place for all activities and regularly updated, provide sound and coordinated revision when needed, and ensure all relevant staff are trained and are implementing as per the standards. 
• Lead in developing approaches and tools and ensuring relevant staff are trained to mainstream protection and age, gender and diversity throughout the protection programme, and support mainstreaming in other sectors.
• Facilitate contextual and programmatic learning processes related to protection, and ensure learning is documented and shared with relevant colleagues.
• Regularly visit programme activities and provide support and feedback to staff and implementing partners on programme approaches and methodological issues. 
• Provide oversight and monitoring of overall sector budget, in coordination with PMs, Area Programme Managers and Area Managers or Base Managers, monitoring for timely sector-level spending, and initiate corrective action, including internal and donor budget realignments.
• Provide oversight of overall protection programme implementation progress and quality, including identification, resolution and/or escalation of issues affecting implementation.
• Support the MEAL department in rolling out qualitative and quantitative monitoring and evaluation approaches aiming to building contextually grounded learning into programme activities; as well as developing harmonized tools and databases to monitor and track efficiency and quality of programming and improve information management.

Human Resources and Staff Development

• Oversee the development of harmonized job descriptions and structures for protection teams across all areas and support recruitment of technical protection staff.
• Provide supportive supervision and line management to the country protection team including three protection specialists (MHPSS, Legal Aid, Protection) and the West Coast-Taiz Protection Working Group Co-Coordinator.
• Provide technical supervision and guidance t to area-level Protection Managers.
• Identify technical gaps and support capacity building for protection teams, and contribute to setting performance objectives and performance appraisals of Protection Managers and Specialists.
• When necessary, and with approval of HoP, provide stop-gap support in absence of area-level Protection Managers.

External Representation, Coordination and Partnerships

• Represent DRC in relevant coordination forums and technical groups, and provide high quality technical inputs to maintain DRC’s reputation as one of the leading protection actors in Yemen.
• Directly attend the national level protection-related coordination meetings and supervise DRC’s representation at the sub-national level.
• Act as the main sector-level point of contact with donors as requested by the Head of Programme, including providing protection programme updates and support donor visits to the field.
• Liaise with local, regional, and national government authorities and relevant stakeholders.
• Identify opportunities for partnerships and develop collaborative relationships with local and national civil society actors towards achieving sustainable protection outcomes.
• Support with capacity assessment and capacity building efforts to strengthen technical capacities of DRC’s partners.
• Take active role in sharing DRC’s protection advocacy messages in relevant coordination forums. 

Grants Management

• Work closely with the Head of Programme and the Grants Manager to secure strategic funding opportunities and develop concept notes and proposals based on identified gaps and needs.
• In coordination with the Grants Department, produce and revise quality reports to ensure accurate, coherent and timely reporting.

Other

• Ensure adherence to DRC’s Age, Gender, and Diversity policy and AGD programmatic minimum standards  
• Ensure compliance with zero-tolerance to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse policy.  
• Ensure documentation and consolidation of success stories, in coordination with DRC’s communications and advocacy team, which can be communicated externally and to ensure that DRC is able to articulate and document relevant best practice.  
• Ensure compliance with DRC guidelines and policies on HR, admin, finance, and supply chain in accordance with the Operational Handbook.
• Perform other relevant tasks as requested by and in discussion with the Head of Programme. 

   About you

   To be successful in this role you must have:

·                     Minimum 5 years of experience in humanitarian protection programming at international level in conflict-related internal displacement contexts; experience in mixed migration programming would be an advantage.

·                     Strong knowledge of global protection sector standards in DRC’s core specializations (protection monitoring, GBV prevention and response, child protection, protection case management (adult/non-GBV), community-based protection, legal aid, psychosocial support); priority given to protection monitoring, case management, legal aid, and PSS.

·                     Significant knowledge of International Human Rights Law, International Humanitarian Law.

·                     Strong familiarity with the Results-Based Protection (RBP) approach, Protection Analytical Framework (PAF), and Protection Information Management (PIM) standards; approaches and tools to mainstream protection and age, gender and diversity.

·                     Experience with managing teams with diverse backgrounds and providing technical guidance and training.

·                     Proven communication, interpersonal, representation, negotiation and diplomacy skills.

·                     Proven strong analytical and communication skills.

·                     Strategic thinker with the ability to quickly develop good insight and understanding of the conflict, the human rights situation and the political environment of the programme country.

·                     Sound understanding of humanitarian architecture.

·                     Cultural sensitivity and adaptability.

·                     Able to manage high workload, stress and be flexible.

·                     Strong commitment to humanitarian and protection principles, and to DRC’s values.

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 act in line with our vision and values. 

Moreover, we also expect the following:

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher education relevant to humanitarian work: preferably in law, social sciences or humanitarian aid

 Languages:

·         Proficiency in spoken and written English is essential

·         Arabic is an asset

We offer:

Contract length: One - year Contract Length, renewable based on funding availability.  

Band: F1- manager

Duty Station: Sana’a or Aden Yemen, with Frequent travel to the Felid.    

Designation of Duty Station: Non-Family Duty Station

Start date: As soon as possible.

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment.

How to Apply

Application process:

Interested? Then apply for this position by clicking on the apply button. All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages). Both must be in English. 

If you have questions or are facing problems with the online application process, please contact job@drc.dk Please note that applications sent directly to the email will not be considered.

Talentech - Protection Manager -Protection Country Technical Lead ( re-advertised)

Applications close on 31 December, 2025.  Kindly note that we will review CVs on a rolling basis

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