Protection Assistant (Psycho-Social Support Assistant)

About the Position

Protection Assistant (Psycho-Social Support Assistant)

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 800 staff in Ukraine and implementing 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 (Psycho-Social Support Assistant) in Sumy for its activities in the Sumy oblast (the position involves occasional work trips to Shostka).

Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Psycho-Social Support Team Leader, the Protection Assistant (PSS) will provide psychosocial support to individuals and communities affected by the war. He/she will work closely with individuals, families, and communities to assess their mental health and psychosocial support needs, provide appropriate assistance, and facilitate recovery and resilience-building processes.

• Facilitate PSS group sessions to promote mutual support, socialization, and positive coping strategies.
• Provide individual PSS sessions to persons in need, tailored to their specific emotional and psychological needs.
• Participate in the development and delivery of information and training sessions on psychosocial topics (stress management, stress-coping skills, available services, etc.).
• Collaborate with other service providers, such as healthcare professionals and social workers, and make appropriate referrals and follow-up when needed.
• Foster community participation and engagement in psychosocial support activities, encouraging the active involvement of individuals, families, and community stakeholders.
• Participate in capacity-building sessions as needed and required.
• Contribute to developing and continuously updating a service mapping system detailing available services and assistance in DRC’s areas of operation.
• Identify risks in the area of social and legal protection and participate in monitoring the needs of the population.
• Collect and organize data (quantitative and qualitative) in accordance with monitoring tools.
• Any other duties as may be assigned by the Protection manager, relevant to the achievement of protection objectives.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in psychology.
• Experience working with individuals on sensitive topics and in situations of distress.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to work effectively with vulnerable individuals, staff members, and stakeholders from diverse backgrounds.
• Strong 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 ethical principles.
• Confident user of MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Full professional proficiency in Ukrainian.

Nice to Have

• Proficiency in English is preferred.
• Experience working with internally displaced persons (IDPs) and conflict-affected populations is desirable.

We Offer

• Contract length: 3-month probation period, with the possibility of extension based on performance and available funding.
• Band: I
• Designation of Duty Station: Sumy
• 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, DRC Danish Refugee Council 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: 15.06.2026.

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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