Global Surge Team Roster: Emergency Protection Coordinator

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

The IRC’s Global Surge Team (GST) is a roster of esteemed and highly qualified humanitarian professionals who deploy on short notice to non-emergency and emergency contexts to support the IRC’s mission. Members of the GST provide specialist support where talent is most needed for short-term deployments of up to three months. The GST is a flexible, occasional employment opportunity. Deployment needs vary based on demand. Staff can take on additional deployments as opportunities arise and if they are interested.

Job Overview:

Violence Prevention and Response in Emergencies (VPRIE) is a program area that sits jointly within IRC’s Emergency Unit (EmU) and VPR Unit. With few predictable and effective protection service providers in emergencies, there are major gaps in scale and scope to provide effective life-saving and life-sustaining VPR interventions to emergency-affected populations. The scope of VPRIE programing in acute emergencies span integrated protection, Child Protection (CP), Women’s Protection and Empowerment (WPE) and Gender-Based Violence (GBV), and Protection Rule of Law (PROL). In acute crises, VPRIE responses focus on four core service offerings: Social Work in Emergencies, Focused Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Interventions, Responsive Information Services in Emergencies, and Community Risk Mitigation and Access. These interventions are complementary and mutually reinforcing, designed to mitigate and respond to the most urgent protection threats facing emergency-affected communities in all their diversity.

The Emergency Protection Coordinator, Global Surge is responsible leading integrated protection programming in acute emergency responses. This may include rapid assessment, program start-up, strategy development, proposal development, technical oversight, staff recruitment and management, budget management, grants compliance and local partner relations. A successful candidate will demonstrate track record working independently in fast-paced environments and applying creative, flexible design to protection programming in acute emergency contexts.

Major Responsibilities:

Context evaluation

• Following the onset of an emergency, identify areas with greatest impact, highest needs, and emerging safety protection risks for diverse populations (integrated protection, CP, WPE / GBV, PROL).

• Conduct stakeholder analysis: continually review existing actor mapping with a view to identifying key actors and establishing partnerships with focused on the delivery of protection services

• Design and conduct multisector needs assessments

Program design and management

• Provide strategic direction, leadership and overall technical management of IRC’s protection response aligned to the response strategy and emergency safety outcomes, while ensuring high program quality and alignment with IRC’s standards and approaches

• Lead and directly contribute to the start-up, implementation and coordination of emergency protection programming, including (depending on the context): emergency case management; cash for protection; rapid group MHPSS interventions; emergency safety and wellbeing sessions; two-way, responsive information services; community-based protection and risk mitigation; group cash transfers for community-led protection actions; and safe, inclusive programming and protection mainstreaming.

• Work with potential partners to develop a VPRIE strategy to respond to identified protection risks and needs, outlining a problem statement, response modalities, activity sequencing, and required resources

• In collaboration with response leadership and technical coordinators, input into the design of an overall emergency response strategy, including partnerships so that the IRC is working in ways that are complementary to and in support of partners

• Participate in cross-departmental collaboration and coordination with other sector colleagues to ensure that linkages between programs are made and programs gain from protection best practice

• Ensure – through program design and practice, team capacity and behavior – that clients, including girls, boys, women, and men participate in the design and implementation of IRC programs, and that their access to services and programs is meaningful and safe

• Develop and/or adapt technical tools and approaches, and deliver creative solutions to mitigate challenges in the operating context, to facilitate response start-up and day to day implementation

• Support emergency protection staff to implement and monitor work plans ensuring that activities reflect the commitments IRC made to the donor and the community

• Oversee IRC’s relationship with partners, ensuring co-design, regular exchange, and project performance monitoring to achieve program objectives

• Design and implement appropriate monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems ensuring consistent reporting and analysis of results to improve program effectiveness and quality

• Provide a comprehensive handover to successor, including ensuring transfer of all related documentation, program data and staff performance information

Grant and financial management

• Manage emergency grant/program implementation including recruitment and training, work plan development, procurement and inventory planning, budget management, and M&E plans

• Develop high quality technical proposals and reports with relevant program staff in line with IRC and donor requirements

• Collaborate with IRC grants and finance staff to finalize proposals and respond to any requests for additional information

Staff management

• Recruit, onboard, and supervise emergency protection staff, and provide ongoing training and targeted capacity building, including technical guidance, on the job coaching and supervision, and capacity development plans on technical and managerial skills

• Comply with and ensure that new protection staff understand the IRC Code of Conduct and policies related to Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Child Safeguarding. This includes ensuring that staff and communities have knowledge of and safe, confidential access to reporting mechanisms and support services

• Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions

Coordination and representation

• Actively develop and maintain effective working relationships with key actors, including donors, government actors, UN agencies, international and local NGOs, and other relevant actors

• Regularly attend emergency protection coordination and task force meetings, at appropriate levels to feed in IRC priorities from the field

• Ensure protection concerns and challenges are brought to relevant fora to advocate for standards and procedures that systematize how protection programming is implemented and coordinated at the field level

Job Requirements:

• Post-graduate degree in social work, psychology, international humanitarian law, other related field, or equivalent work experience

• At least five years’ experience working in the field of Protection, Child Protection, or WPE / GBV programming at the Coordinator level or above required, with proven track record managing multi-donor portfolios in acute emergency response, program and project start-up

• Experience working with IRC and an understanding of IRC’s systems and processes is strongly preferred

• Familiarity with key donor regulations such as UNHCR, FCDO, BPRM and ECHO

• Experience in working with and coordinating with the UN, donors, INGOs and other humanitarian actors

• Demonstrated experience in staff supervision, capacity building, project design and budget management

• Demonstrated skills in effectively leading and building programs and/or operations in high-pressure, fluid environments. Leadership and team management skills are critical.

• Proven communication, writing and editing skills, including the ability to effectively write and edit grant proposals and reports.

• Flexible work attitude: Be flexible and yet focused & reliable in an environment of limited resources and changing demands. Ability to work well, promote teamwork, be comfortable in a multi-cultural environment.

• Good digital literacy: Facility with MS Word, Excel, and email/internet software.

• Fluency in English. Working knowledge of Arabic, French and/or Spanish strongly preferred. Excellent oral and written communication skills.

Standards of Professional Conduct: The IRC and IRC workers adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing 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 security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers 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.

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.

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Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers 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.

Why Choose the IRC?

Work that has meaning: Every day at the IRC is a chance to make a difference through a purpose-driven career. Whether you're working directly with communities or providing support behind the scenes, you will be part of a dynamic team that is always innovating, scaling, and testing new and better solutions to ensure the best possible outcomes for the people we serve.

Global scale, dynamic workplace: At the IRC, we believe that the dynamic, global make-up of our team is our strength. When you join us, you're not just starting a job—you will be part of a global organization positively impacting millions of lives in over 40 get to work with colleagues from all around the world—working across time zones and regularly exchanging different ideas, perspectives and insights. You’ll join a team that is dedicated to fostering a supportive environment to create a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and heard.  

Challenging work, innovative solutions: We’re committed to excellence and innovation, and pride ourselves in setting industry-leading standards while practicing evidence and data-lead strategies. Come challenge norms, shatter conventions, and pioneer change while working on real, nuanced and complex issues we face in the world today.  

Community centered: We’re an empathetic community that truly cares for one another. Our comprehensive safety and security initiatives ensure a safe work environment, while our continuous learning and development programs provide ongoing opportunities for personal and career advancement.

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Our Typical Recruitment Process

The interview process typically includes three rounds, though the number may vary depending on the role and level of seniority. It usually begins with a conversation with our recruiting team to learn more about you and your goals. This is followed by an interview with a hiring manager or business stakeholder to explore your background and provide more insight into the role. The final round focuses on assessing your role-specific expertise and may be conducted as a panel interview to evaluate your cross-functional strengths. Before extending an offer, we generally conduct reference checks, and after an offer is made, a standard background check is completed. While we strive for consistency, the process may differ based on the role, business unit, location, job type, legal requirements, and other factors.

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