Protection Assistant

About the Position

Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a leading protection agency with a mandate to protect, advocate, and promote durable solutions for displacement-affected populations.

DRC has been operating in Ukraine since 2014, currently employing over 600 staff in Ukraine and planning to scale up in 2024 to implement emergency response in the Protection, Livelihoods, Shelter/NFIs, and Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding (humanitarian mine action) sectors.

DRC is currently looking for a Protection Assistant for its activities in Kharkivska oblast.

This position will be line managed by the Protection Team Leader.

Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Protection Officer and Team Leader, the Protection Assistant will:

• Provide case management services to vulnerable individuals, including completing assessments of the client’s needs, developing action plans, sharing information, and referring them to other service providers, and carrying out follow-up with the client.
• Safely refer clients to other service providers when needed, including health, legal, shelter services, and support clients to advocate for their needs with other services.
• Provide cash or in-kind assistance to vulnerable individuals to reduce their protection risks.
• Accompany the client to facilitate their access to services when required.
• Carry out awareness-raising sessions with affected communities to share information about case management services being provided by DRC and other protection information topics.
• Provide Targeted Individual Assistance (i.e., conditional cash grants) to direct and indirect victims of EO/EW accidents contributing to the improvement of their socio-economic situation.
• Complete and ensure the safe storage of documents for the case management activities, including referral forms and consent forms.
• Implement programme activities related to protection monitoring activities, such as focus group discussions, household surveys, and key informant interviews.
• Coordinate with other departments in DRC to facilitate referrals and information sharing.

Requirements

Required:

• Comfortable in speaking about sensitive topics and working with people in distress.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to work effectively with vulnerable individuals, staff members, and stakeholders from diverse backgrounds.
• Strong analytical skills and report writing skills.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks and manage multiple responsibilities.
• Strong sense of personal integrity and understanding of confidentiality and ethics.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer, Outlook/Exchange, Windows operating systems.
• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Counseling, Law, or any other related field.
• Ukrainian and Russian language skills required.

Desirable:

• Familiarity with social or humanitarian work.
• English language skills an advantage.

We Offer

• Contract length: 3 months probation period, with the possibility of extension based on funding and satisfactory performance.
• Level: I
• Designation of Duty Station: Kharkiv
• Start date: As soon as possible.
• Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for national staff.

About the Company

Founded in 1956, Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is Denmark’s largest, and a leading international NGO. We have continuously been ranked as one of the best NGOs in the world and are one of the few with a specific expertise in forced displacement. In over 30 countries, we protect, advocate, and build sustainable futures for refugees and other displacement-affected people and communities.

By working in DRC, you will be joining a global workforce of over 6,000 employees. We pride ourselves on our:

• Professionalism, impact & expertise
• Humanitarian approach & the work we do
• Purpose, meaningfulness & own contribution
• Culture, values & strong leadership
• Fair compensation & continuous development

DRC’s capacity to ensure the protection of and assistance to refugees, IDP’s, and other persons of concern depends on the ability of our staff to uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment. DRC conducts thorough and comprehensive background checks as part of the recruitment process.

Danish Refugee Council is an equal opportunity employer and we consider 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.

Application Process

All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages in English).

Applications sent by email will not be considered.

Closing date for applications: 23 October, 2026

We encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible, interviews might be conducted on a rolling basis. DRC reserves the right to select a candidate before the vacancy close date once a suitable candidate has been identified.

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