Our organization responds to the world’s worst humanitarian emergencies and helps people affected by humanitarian crises, including the climate crisis, survive, recover and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the organization works in more than 50 countries to create a lasting impact by providing healthcare, helping children learn and empowering people and communities to be self-sufficient, always seeking to address the inequalities faced by women and girls.

The humanitarian crisis in Venezuela continues to escalate. Venezuelans face hyperinflation, putting them out of reach of basic goods and services, including healthcare and food. Shortages of medical supplies make it difficult to diagnose and treat communicable diseases and sexual and reproductive health needs, among other services. Lack of food has led to hunger and malnutrition. Between 2015 and 2018, more than three million Venezuelans left to seek goods and services, mainly in neighboring countries.

Our Organization provides emergency response services in the states of Zulia, Lara, Falcón, Táchira and Apure, working in collaboration with Venezuelan civil society organizations, we provide essential services to vulnerable people, including Primary Health Care (PHC), Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH), Nutrition, Gender-Based Violence (GBV) prevention and response, child protection prevention and response, Education in Emergencies, Food Security and Livelihoods. This strategic approach allows us to provide vital care to people in need in Venezuela, aligning ourselves with the commitment to strengthen localization and empower national actors.

Job Overview:

The Senior Protection Officer will support the implementation of the project, and is responsible for the quality of the programs, the correct execution and activities against the logical framework, the work schedule and the budget plan. The Officer is expected to be frequently in the field to lead the implementation hand in hand with the team, inform decision making, raise early warnings particularly during community awareness activities, training, project selection and conflict resolution.

Main responsibilities: Technical Quality and Program Development

• Under the supervision of the Comprehensive Protection Coordination, lead the follow-up of implementation and monitoring activities and the design of work strategies in Táchira.
• Provide advice and technical support to the field team, together with the Comprehensive Protection Coordination, in the implementation of programs such as case management, psychosocial support and networking, specialized protection methodologies and safe spaces, according to the specific needs of each partner and in compliance with the organization’s guidelines.
• Guide ongoing data collection processes on protection-related service needs and offers in Táchira in order to ensure that CIR programs and responses respond to the changing needs of the context.
• Support the design and implementation of work plans, expenditure plans, trackers, and project monitoring activities to ensure that all aspects of the expected outcome are completed. In this regard, receive, review, and follow up on narrative and budget reports, as well as those from monthly databases (goals and indicators) and report on aspects of care to the comprehensive protection coordination.
• Support compliance with interagency case referral protocols and guiding principles of protection.
• Support the contextualization and adaptation of CIR programs related to the protection of women, children and adolescents that could be applicable to the regional context.
• Coordinate with staff from other areas in CIR (e.g. Health, Education and Livelihoods) to ensure that client needs are met and ensure an effective and up-to-date referral process.
• Review monthly narrative reports, progress of indicators and budget
• Provide monthly reports on compliance with goals achieved, as well as other regular reports.
• Update implementation tracking tools such as: project work plans, program work plan, programmatic quality tools, mapping of services to partner programmatic activities.
• Support the Community Mobilization strategy.
• Ensure the implementation and efficiency of safeguarding and PQR processes.
• Ensure compliance with Safeguarding protocols and their availability to customers.

Project planning and execution

• Identify the team’s support needs and provide technical support as needed.
• Manage CIR’s relationships with partner organizations on the ground, ensuring timely and relevant responses to emerging situations, as well as early warnings to field implementation challenges
• Ensure the proper implementation of CIR protection projects, complying with the standards of the sector, CIR and donors.
• Ensure collaborative work with support areas such as supply chain, finance, MEAL, relying on CIR procedures and tools.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning

• Support monitoring and follow-up activities to improve the client (beneficiary) experience and evaluate project results.
• Conduct monitoring visits to assess progress and identify implementation issues, providing solutions as needed.
• Ensure that the feedback and complaints management mechanism is effective.
• Ensure the functionality of the client referral or reference process.
• Upload information in a timely manner to CommCare, and make updates in a timely manner.

Coordination and Representation

• Participate in working groups such as the Gender-Based Violence Responsibility Area and Gender Equality Network, Trafficking Working Group, to disseminate program successes, analyze implementation challenges, and share best practices.
• Undertake/participate in liaison, coordination and information exchange activities with national and international organizations in the sector, donors and governments

Coordination and referencing

• Act as focal point in protection working groups in the territory when delegated by the Comprehensive Protection Coordinator, as well as in other coordination instances that are organized.
• Coordinate work with other GBV case management providers and other humanitarian actors in the territory.

Responsibilities of SG- SST:

All supervisory positions must ensure adequate working conditions and environment in their area of ​​action, department, area or program, analyzing the work being carried out and identifying possible potential risks and will take whatever is necessary to proceed to minimize or reduce them, complying with and enforcing the established safety and health objectives, monitoring compliance with good practices. Likewise, they must participate in the investigation of work accidents that occur in their respective area, department or program, participate in and promote the participation of those under their supervision in prevention activities, and promote the participation of staff in safety and health committees, workplace coexistence, road safety and emergency brigades and will be accountable to the competent authorities and interested parties, periodically and/or when requested. Failure to comply with safety and health responsibilities and functions will be considered a serious offense, and will be grounds for disciplinary proceedings and measures and/or termination of the employment contract.

Job Requirements:

Education:

• Professional in psychology (Collegiate, with a university degree registered in the Public Registry and the Ministry of Popular Power for University Education), Social Work (with a university degree registered in the Public Registry), social sciences or other related field.

Preferred experience and skills:

• At least 2 years of experience in implementing gender-based violence and child protection programs and implementing response protocols and providing associated services.
• Experience in methodological transfers and capacity building.
• Experience in supervising and coordinating work teams.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Highly proficient in the Microsoft Office suite.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with stakeholders at all levels.
• Ability to manage and work through change in a proactive and positive manner.
• Proactive and professional attitude.
• Previous experience working in emergency environments, insecure environments, or remote administration situations is preferred.

Work environment ***:***

• Changing work environment.
• The geographic presence and movement of work and the scope of the program may change as the program grows.
• Frequent travel is possible

Standards of professional conduct

Workers must adhere to the values ​​and principles outlined in IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct. In accordance with these values, the organization operates and enforces policies on beneficiary protection against exploitation and abuse, child safeguarding, workplace harassment, fiscal integrity and anti-retaliation.

Gender Equality : The organization is committed to reducing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce, including parental leave, gender-sensitive safety protocols, and other supportive benefits and allowances.

Equal Opportunity Employer : We are an equal opportunity employer. We consider all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.