Protection Specialist

Protection Specialist

[Diyala]

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 direct supervision of the Area Programme Manager and technical supervision of the Protection Coordinator, the Protection Specialist will provide technical leadership and support to ensure the quality, consistency, and effectiveness of DRC’s programming addressing violence against women and girls.

The position will focus on strengthening case management, protection response, referral pathways, staff capacity, quality assurance, data management, and coordination. The Protection Specialist will work closely with Protection Project Managers, Protection Managers, case workers, Legal teams, MEAL, and other relevant teams to ensure that protection services are delivered safely, ethically, confidentially, and in line with international standards and DRC policies. The position will also contribute to programme development, needs analysis, technical guidance, and the continuous improvement of protection services across DRC’s areas of operation.

Responsibilities:

In collaboration with the Protection Coordinator, and in alignment with DRC’s relevant policies, ensure programme tools, technical guidance notes, and risk mitigation measures required for quality implementation are in place.

• Develop analysis of protection needs related to Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and provide evidence-based recommendations for response programming through a phased approach.
• Ensure Do No Harm through effective coaching, mentorship, and training required for implementation.
• Ensure a minimum standard of capacity and awareness on referrals across protection teams, including sensitive legal cases, and other sector teams to reinforce effective specialized responses.
• Provide regular technical support and guidance to Area Programme Managers and Protection Team Leaders to strengthen the capacity of protection teams in delivering high-quality case management services, ensuring that appropriate supervision and coaching structures are in place at field level.
• Undertake field visits to monitor the quality of implementation and provide technical advice and customized, needs-based capacity building to protection staff, with specific regard to case management related to Violence Against Women and Girls.
• Ensure that ethical, consistent, and sound data collection and management systems are in place for protection activities, ensuring availability of data analysis for informed decision-making and programme design.
• Support team members with consistent client and data tracking and data visualization using Power BI; support Protection teams with the establishment and regular update of the MEAL plan, including appropriate indicator and quality tracking and accountability mechanisms.
• Coach field teams in the adoption of standardized methodologies, including those developed internally or by consultants, together with associated monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.
• Stay abreast of developments affecting the protection environment in Iraq and provide ongoing analysis of key protection issues.

Capacity Building

• Lead the development and delivery of participatory training materials, including on case management, Violence Against Women and Girls, PFA, and PSS, while providing ongoing coaching, mentorship, and technical support.
• In coordination with Area Programme Managers and Protection Team Leaders, assess training and development needs within the Protection team and develop a capacity-building plan.
• Participate in the recruitment, capacity building, onboarding, and evaluation of protection staff, as required.
• Establish processes, systems, and learning events that contribute to the capacity building and professionalization of DRC staff and partners on protection.

Programme Design

• In close coordination with the Protection Coordinator, contribute to the development and implementation of DRC’s protection strategy in Iraq, including the harmonization and rollout of tools, SOPs, and guidelines with a focus on Violence Against Women and Girls.
• Recognizing DRC’s existing human rights case management capacities, propose concrete strategies for strengthening and extending case management capacity to address Violence Against Women and Girls in selected areas.
• Provide strategic recommendations on linkages between Violence Against Women and Girls programming, protection risk mitigation, and other sectors, including women’s access to assets and livelihoods.
• Work closely with the Protection Coordinator, Area Programme Managers, Protection Team Leaders, and Legal Specialists to identify protection needs and service gaps affecting women, girls, and other vulnerable communities.
• Support the development of guidance on communication with communities, mobile modalities, integration of protection with other core sectors, and participatory, community-based approaches.
• Provide technical input into the development and implementation of relevant SOPs, tools, and technical standards.
• Participate in proposal development by providing context analysis, sector-specific technical analysis, beneficiary information, and technical feedback on programme concepts.

Coordination and Representation

• Actively participate in, contribute to, and represent DRC in the Protection Cluster and other relevant coordination bodies, working groups, and protection-related meetings.
• Coordinate internally and externally with relevant actors to ensure teams use updated service mapping and effective referral pathways.
• Ensure that DRC’s work is coordinated with other agencies to address the specific protection needs of vulnerable communities.
• Provide relevant context, needs analysis, technical updates, and recommendations to national coordination mechanisms through the Protection Coordinator.

Required experience and competencies.

• Minimum 4 years of experience in international protection programming, including case management and programming addressing Violence Against Women and Girls, preferably in conflict-affected contexts.
• Knowledge and experience in ethical information management, including data collection, case management data systems, data analysis, and data protection.
• Proven experience in capacity building on Psychological First Aid (PFA) and Psychosocial Support (PSS), preferably in accordance with relevant inter-agency standards.
• Experience providing technical guidance and developing and delivering participatory training and capacity-building activities.
• Experience in report writing, data and information analysis, monitoring, evaluation, and learning.
• Strong information management skills, including database development and server-based information collection tools.
• Strong analytical, communication, representation, negotiation, advocacy, and diplomacy skills.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to develop a strong understanding of conflict, human rights, protection risks, and the political environment in Iraq.
• Knowledge of Protection Mainstreaming, AGD, People with special needs, and Accountability to Affected Populations approaches.
• Experience working in multicultural environments and willingness to travel to conflict-affected areas.

Education

• University or Master’s degree relevant to humanitarian work, preferably in law, social work, gender studies, social sciences or humanitarian aid.

Language

• Fluency in Arabic and English required; Kurdish is an asset.

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 Length: 4 months
• Salary Band: G- Non Management Level 2
• 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: [10-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.