Protection Team Leader - General Protection

About the Position

Protection Team Leader - General Protection

We are seeking a dedicated Protection Team Leader to join our team in Malakal, South Sudan. The Protection Team Leader will ensure the implementation of protection programming and coordination activities in Malakal, including frequent travel to Kodok and Lul. This role involves supervising protection activities funded by the SSHF grant, reporting to the Area Manager, acting as the focal point for the Protection Cluster at the state level, and maintaining strong relations with relevant stakeholders.

Responsibilities

Project & Budget Management

• Manage and oversee the implementation of the SSHF project.
• Ensure compliance with donor guidelines, including reporting and budget management.
• Prepare procurement plans, procurement requests, and follow up with support departments.
• Monitor and update work plans, budgets, and prepare reports in collaboration with finance and grants teams.
• Contribute to planning and preparing donor visits.
• Prepare documentation for activities (movement plans, order requests, payment requests).
• Reconcile expenditures for each activity.
• Any other tasks as required by management to ensure quality protection programming.

Protection Activities & Service Delivery

• Implement protection activities in accordance with agreed strategy, operational plan, budgets, and DRC and donor regulations.
• Conduct protection assessments, monitoring, and analysis to identify risks and respond accordingly, including advocacy at the state level.
• Support persons at risk of protection issues through direct interventions and referrals.
• Ensure mainstreaming of protection across DRC’s response in Upper Nile State.
• Produce high-quality protection information products (reports, snapshots, briefings) on the dynamic protection context and protection concerns.
• Oversee data collection and processing, ensuring effective data and information management.
• Submit monthly protection monitoring reports to the Protection Coordinator and stakeholders.
• Contribute to monitoring, evaluation, and learning processes and initiatives with the MEAL department.
• Manage protection databases and train protection colleagues on the use of the database.
• Work closely with the Protection Coordinator in designing training modules and tools on topics such as human rights and basic protection principles for Community Protection Committees and other community structures.

Programme Leadership & Coordination

• Lead DRC protection programming in Malakal (POC, town, Kodok, Lul).
• Ensure quality protection activities are planned and implemented in line with international standards and DRC guidance.
• Contribute to the strategic direction of the DRC Protection department.
• Coordinate internally and externally on protection concerns, ensuring synergy with other sectoral activities.
• Proactively engage with the state-level protection cluster.
• Engage in other coordination mechanisms when appropriate.
• Liaise regularly with the Area Manager and Juba colleagues to flag issues and provide updates on the GP Programme.
• Liaise and build partnerships with community leaders, civil society organizations, and other actors to enhance community-driven approaches.
• Promote respectful engagement with affected populations and accountability measures.

Team Management & Capacity Building

• Supervise, mentor, and support protection officers and assistants.
• Recruit and manage the GP protection team in Malakal.
• Prepare weekly and monthly work plans for the protection team.
• Train staff regularly on protection principles, guidance, and activities.
• Design training modules and tools with the Protection Coordinator for community structures.
• Ensure staff are well versed in the DRC Code of Conduct, accountability measures, humanitarian principles, protection principles, respectful engagement with the affected population, and protection from sexual exploitation and abuse.
• Ensure staff compliance with DRC Code of Conduct, humanitarian principles, and security procedures.

Requirements

• At least four years’ protection experience, including community-based training experience on human rights and/or protection, and protection monitoring/human rights experience in South Sudan.
• Proven technical knowledge of human rights, protection principles, project cycle management, SPHERE standards.
• Experience in project implementation (including budget management).
• Understanding of and experience in engaging the cluster system in IDP sites.
• Ability for rapid analysis of very complex issues, strong decision-making, and translation of programmatic learning and priorities into operational strategies.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, cross-cultural communication, and ease in managing a multi-ethnic team.
• Good team leadership and conflict resolution skills, consensus team building, and adaptability.
• Patience and understanding to work with and develop capacity of staff.
• Experience delivering programs to tight deadlines.
• Good computer and IT skills and strong communication and writing skills.
• Fluency in written and spoken English language.
• Ability and willingness to work in remote and isolated locations with limited access to services and changing security scenarios.

Education

• A degree in political/social sciences, law, development studies, international development, or equivalent degree qualifications.

We Offer

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

About the Company

Founded in 1956, the 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.