Protection Officer

Protection Officer (General)

[Diyala-Jalawla / Baquba]

In 2003 , DRC became onngof the first organisations to provide humanitarian assistance in the country. Today, DRC continues to provide humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable displacement-affected families, including IDPs, returnees, and host communities in Basra, Baqubah, Jalawla, Gatoon, Baghdad, Muqdadiya, Balad, Aziz Balad, Samarra, Mosul, Duhok, Tel Afar, Baa’j, Sinjar, and Erbil.

Find more about DRC operations in Iraq here: Iraq | DRC Danish Refugee Council

Overall purpose of the role:

Under the supervision of the Protection Team leader, the Protection Officer will support the daily operations in the intervention of DRC activities, which includes planning, Implementation, and follow-up of all Protection services. 

Provision of General Protection services, including Community-Based Protection activities, Violence against women and men and Protection case Management in Diyala. 

The Protection Officer General Protection will also be responsible for maintaining case data within relevant trackers and databases, following up on referrals, and contributing report inputs.

Responsibilities:

Programming and operations

• Support the day-to-day management and monitoring of protection projects and ensure that they are implemented in line with DRC policies and procedures.
• Support Core protection activities, which include, but are not limited to, protection assessments, protection monitoring, case management, Community engagement, Violence against women and men, CASH FOR PROTECTION and protection referrals.
• Support the Protection Team Leader by engaging with relevant government institutions, civil society, organizations, and other partners (when specifically requested to do so).
• Support the design and development of technical protection interventions targeting at-risk and vulnerable populations, including by managing protection assessments where appropriate.
• Provide on-the-job coaching and technical guidance to Protection Assistants on protection Case Management by leading individual and group supervision. 
• Maintain up-to-date mapping of the multi-sectoral service providers operating in the area and, when necessary, coordinate with the Legal Aid team.
• Identify capacity building needs amongst Protection Assistants and provide support to the Protection Team Leader and the Area Programme Manager in capacity building planning.
• Provide a monthly or weekly work plan to the Protection Team Leader.
• Support the Protection assistant in maintaining a safe and confidential record-keeping system and ensuring referrals of cases are confidential, safe, and prompt.
• Support the Protection Monitoring system through joint protection monitoring analysis and data collection when needed.
• Ensure protection is mainstreamed during the implementation of protection activities.
• Conduct household visits to vulnerable families and complete protection monitoring exercises.
• Update the service mapping regularly.
• Manage and support the community volunteers in the assigned area of work. Ensure that all community volunteers follow the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Guidelines, and Tools.
• Conduct internal and external referrals when needed, monitor referrals to ensure assistance has been provided.
• Work closely with the DRC legal team and provide assistance when required.
• Conduct awareness sessions with the community, local leaders, government officials and other people.
• Ensure that urgent and challenging cases are immediately discussed with the Area Programme Manager.
• Prepare and send daily/weekly field reports to the Protection Team Leader, also raise any protection concern or rights violation noticed in the area, according to best practices in terms of confidentiality and safety of beneficiaries.

Coordination and representation

• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with relevant stakeholders, including partner agencies, community leaders, service providers, Partner Organization, and other DRC departments. 
• Report any major issues to the protection management.
• Collaborate with DRC colleagues to resolve problems and issues as they arise.
• Collaborate with relevant internal and external technical experts in the development of Protection reports, guidance notes and capacity building materials.

Logistics/Finance/MEAL

• Proactively plan and coordinate logistics and movements of staff from and to different operational areas.
• Support protection assistants with financial procedures (cash advances, settlements, documentation) required during implementation of CM and CASH FOR PROTECTION.
• Support the implementation of monitoring and evaluation exercises (Partner), tracking target achievements of General Protection and Prevention activities and CASH FOR PROTECTION.
• Drafting- and assisting in procurement requests.

Other

• Ensure compliance with DRC guidelines and policies on HR, admin, finance, and supply chain.
• Ensure adherence to DRC national staff policy guidelines and Code of Conduct.
• Ensure compliance with DRC AGD policy and AGD programmatic minimum standards.
• Ensuring compliance with the zero-tolerance to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse policy. 
• Perform any other relevant tasks as requested by the Protection Team Leader.

Required experience and competencies.

• Understanding of protection principles, protection minimum standards 3 years
• Experience in facilitation of CBP activities, Case Management, Violence against women and men, and the delivery of community programs to vulnerable groups is preferred.
• Prior experience or familiarity with DRC and/or persons of concern (including internally displaced persons, returnees, and refugees).
• Excellent IT skills (Microsoft Excel, Outlook, Word, and PowerPoint)
• Excellent communication and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and always prioritize the safety and dignity of beneficiaries.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in international law, Political Science, Psychology, Social work, Humanities and Social Science.

Language

• Fluency in Arabic
• Advanced English proficiency

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies: 

1. Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process. 
2. Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback. 
3. Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation. 
4. Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly. 
5. Demonstrating integrity: You uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to our values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

WE OFFER

• Start Date: 15 September 2026 ( Conditional to donor agreement signature )
• Contract End Date: 28 February 2027
• Salary Band: H
• Comprehensive health insurance for staff, spouse, and up to two children under 18.
• Personal Accident insurance coverage in the event of work-related accidents during working hours.
• Psychosocial support for staff and family members.
• Learning & Development opportunities for professional growth.
• Salary and conditions will be in accordance with the Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for National Staff. 

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: [12-September-2026]- Due to the urgency of this recruitment, DRC reserves the right to review applications and conduct interviews on a rolling basis. The vacancy may be filled before the closing date once a suitable candidate has been identified.