Requisition ID: req59262

Job Title: Child Protection Manager

Sector: Child Protection

Employment Category: Fixed Term

Employment Type: Full-Time

Open to Expatriates: No

Location: Dnipro, Ukraine

Work Arrangement:

Job Description

Job Overview
Under the technical supervision of the Child Protection Coordinator and the direct supervision of the Child Protection Senior Manager will be responsible for managing the implementation of IRC’s Child Protection Program in Dnipropetrovsk/Zaporizhzhia Oblasts. The program targets children at risk or experiencing violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation (including unaccompanied and separated children) in areas with large IDP and host community populations, as well as newly accessible areas affected by the ongoing humanitarian crisis. The CP Manager will provide leadership in ensuring that activities are implemented in line with the project proposals, while maintaining and updating key planning tools such as work plans, spending plans, procurement plans, and monitoring and evaluation plans. They will be accountable for program delivery, ensuring that implementation is timely and within budget.
The role has a strong emphasis on project implementation, requiring the CP Manager to oversee all program components while maintaining consistent communication with field teams, technical supervisors, and local partners. The manager will lead efforts to adapt programming to local contexts, ensure adherence to child protection best practices, and provide technical and operational guidance to teams in all designated regions.
Under the day-to-day supervision of the Child Protection Senior Manager, the CP Manager will develop monthly and weekly plans, manage activity budgets in accordance with approved spending plans, and oversee the submission and follow-up on procurement requests, ensuring smooth implementation of distribution plans. They will supervise and support CP teams in Dnipro and Kharkiv, ensuring that activities are completed within agreed timelines and budgets. The CP Manager will also conduct regular field missions in Odesa/Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk/Zaporizhzhia, and Kharkiv Oblasts to monitor, support, and guide the field teams, ensuring quality and consistency in the implementation of child protection activities. Additionally, the CP Manager will work closely with the CP MEAL Officer to maintain a robust monitoring and evaluation plan, ensuring that data collection informs program decisions, reporting, and fundraising. The role involves consolidating and writing weekly, monthly, and other reports as required, while ensuring that project documentation is properly archived, adhering to confidentiality standards. The CP Manager will be based either in Odesa, Dnipro or Kharkiv and will directly work with Child Protection Managers in the regions, ensuring effective program delivery and coordination with local partners and stakeholders.
The CP Manager will serve as the primary focal point for coordinating with partners, donors, and local authorities to strengthen child protection outcomes.
The CP Manager will also play a key role in working with IRC’s local partners, providing support and follow-up in line with PEERS (Partnership Excellence for Equality and Results System) principles. This includes ensuring that partners are technically supported and equipped to deliver child protection activities effectively, while fostering strong relationships and collaborative efforts with local actors. The CP Manager will ensure proper monitoring of partner activities, providing technical guidance and capacity building where necessary to ensure quality programming.

Primary Responsibilities:
Program Delivery and Project Management:
The manager will be responsible to provide support for the implementation of the Child Protection program in three regions (Odesa/Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk/Zaporizhzhia, and Kharkiv oblasts) under specific project
Ensure continuous and effective communication with all field teams for coordination and resolution of emerging issues.
Regularly engage with the donor, providing timely reports on activities, including qualitative data and achievements.
Develop and regularly update work, financial, and procurement plans to ensure consistency and transparency in the implementation process. monitoring meetings with the donor to discuss progress, achievements, and identify emerging needs.
Ensure that activities are implemented in line with the project proposal, specifically adhering to the Child Protection work plan, spending plan, procurement plan, and monitoring and evaluation plans developed for the respective grant.
Develop monthly and weekly plans to ensure that the Child Protection program in Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kharkiv Oblasts is implemented on time and within budget.
Support CP Manager to manage activity budgets in accordance with approved budgets and spending plans.
Develop, submit, and follow up on procurement requests, ensuring the implementation of distribution plans is executed smoothly.
Supervise and support Child Protection teams to ensure that activities are completed within agreed timelines and budgets.
Conduct regular field missions to monitor, support, and guide teams in the field, ensuring quality and consistency in program delivery.
Collaborate closely with the CP MEAL Officer to maintain a robust monitoring and evaluation plan, which includes systematic collection and analysis of data to inform programming, reporting, fundraising, and advocacy.
Ensure the effective use of management, monitoring, and evaluation tools by the teams to facilitate program success.
Consolidate and write weekly and monthly reports, along with any other project reports as requested, to ensure transparent communication of progress and challenges.
Ensure proper archiving of project documents in both hard and soft copy, taking into account confidentiality standards.
Technical Quality Assurance:

Ensure high technical standards in program implementation, including adapting global IRC models to the context of each region.
 Hold regular meetings with field teams to analyze the progress of tasks, identify issues, and provide operational support.
Organize monitoring visits to the three regions to assess the quality and effectiveness of activities and ensure consistency in standards.
 Work on developing sustainable mechanisms for data collection and feedback that will help improve planning and program implementation.
Offer technical support to field teams to ensure the implementation of high-quality Child Protection activities in accordance with best practices, donor requirements, IRC guidelines, and program models.
Ensure that robust case management, referral, and information management systems are established for the appropriate identification, response, and follow-up for children harmed or at risk of harm.
Ensure that Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) for children, adolescents, and caregivers are delivered in alignment with IRC program models and curricula, ensuring they are appropriately adapted to the local context.
Uphold ethical standards in the collection of data, ensuring meaningful participation and adherence to confidentiality principles.
Promote respect for children's participation in all activities, consulting them regularly and proactively to enhance the quality and relevance of interventions.
Proactively identify new or emerging needs, gaps, and opportunities for IRC's Child Protection programming, aimed at enhancing the safety of children and families in their homes and communities.
Ensure regular communication with the Child Protection Senior Manager, CP Coordinator, CP Managers and other program teams to strengthen safety outcomes for children and families.

Staff Supervision & Development
Provide technical and managerial support to staff in the regions, helping them achieve optimal results in program implementation.
Maintain a positive work environment in the teams, fostering their professional development through training and mentoring.
Lead the performance evaluation process and implement plans to enhance the professional skills of staff members.
Assist in the recruitment of Child Protection staff, in coordination with the CP Coordinator, Senior Child Protection Manager, Managers and HR.
Ensure the timely completion and submission of monthly timesheets, probation reviews, and annual performance reviews for team members with Managers in the field.
Provide ongoing coaching, technical support, and capacity building for staff in both technical and management skills, fostering their professional development.
Identify training needs and opportunities to further strengthen the capacities of staff members.
Maintain open and professional relationships with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight to enable staff to perform effectively in their roles.
Foster ongoing learning, honest dialogue, and reflection at team level to strengthen safeguarding, wellbeing and duty of care, and to promote IRC values and adherence to IRC policies.
Lead by example and support IRC’s commitment to taking all necessary preventive measures and creating an environment where people feel safe and can report misconduct.

Partner Management
Maintain effective working relationships with IRC’s local Child Protection partners, ensuring collaboration that aligns with PEERS principles (Participation, Empowerment, Equity, Respect, and Safety).
Support the regular performance monitoring of partners to achieve the set project objectives, in close collaboration with the Senior Child Protection Manager and Partnerships Teams, ensuring accountability and transparency in all interactions.
Provide regular technical support and guidance to IRC’s local Child Protection partners in line with partnership agreements, promoting capacity building and ensuring adherence to best practices and standards in child protection.
Coordination & Representation
Act as the main focal person for the donor and key stakeholders at the regional level.
Organize regular meetings to discuss interim results, share experiences, and align next steps with donors, partners, and local authorities.
 Actively develop and maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders, including local authorities, UN agencies, international and local NGOs, community stakeholders, and other relevant actors.
Attend child protection coordination meetings at the sub-national and national levels to contribute to coordination and advocacy for child protection responses across agencies

Other Duties:
Consistently and proactively monitor and assess the safety and security of field teams, promptly reporting concerns or incidents to IRC management and liaising with other external parties as required to maintain and enhance the security environment.
Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop IRC programs.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Position directly/administratively reports to: Senior CP Manager
Position technically reports to: CP Coordinator
Direct reports: Technical support for CP managers & CP Senior Officers
Other internal contacts: Protection & Rule of Law (ProL), WPE, MEAL, ERD, Health, Finance, Supply, Grants, HR and other relevant departments

Requirements

The Child Protection Manager will need to meet the requirements below:

- A degree desired in social work, social sciences, human rights law or other related field, or equivalent work experience.
- At least 1-2 years’ experience in a management / leadership position
- Experience with grant management and managing relationships with donors
- Experience working with children experiencing or at risk of violence, abuse, neglect or exploitation
- Technical expertise in programming in one or more of the following areas: child protection case management, MHPSS, positive parenting, CP risk reduction activities
- At least 1-2 years’ experience implementing humanitarian protection programs
- Demonstrated experience in staff supervision, project and budget management
- Ability to lead effectively, mentor and coach staff, resolve conflicts and manage complexities
- Strong team and people leadership, management, organizational and development skills
- Experience in working with and coordinating with local authorities, UN, national NGOs, and other relevant stakeholders
- Good presentation skills
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills with strong analysis and writing skills
- Proven networking, team building, organizational and communication skills
- Additional qualities: ability to multi-task, ability to handle pressure well, ability to improvise, flexibility, adaptability to transitions.
- Good skills in spoken and written English; fluent in Ukrainian and/or Russian