Kenya: Child Protection and Gender Manager

SHOFCO is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Child Protection and Gender Manager to lead on interventions addressing violations of children’s rights to protection from abuse, exploitation, violence and abuse. The Child Protection Manager will be responsible for ensuring that quality programs are implemented and capacities developed to provide these kinds of protection to children in SHOFCO areas of operations. This role will strengthen existing child protection and case management responses for vulnerable children and oversee, support the implementation of case management responses. They will be in charge of managing a robust Adolescent girls & boys’ safe spaces programming in schools and communities in specified counties.

Key Responsibilities and Job Dimensions: 

1.1 Oversight:

• Develop a clear child protection/case management plan on identification of children in and out of school who are at risk of being harmed.
• Set up/strengthen Rights of children clubs/safe spaces in schools and communities together with the team, including training and awareness raising on child safety and linking children to available services.
• Take the initiative in developing an evidence-base, documenting lessons learnt, best practice and case studies to shape in-county strategies and program approaches, and contribute to broader learning within child protection and GBV response.
• To provide technical guidance to the Child Protection and Gender team in coordination with the Head of Department on implementation of activities successfully.

1.2 Technical Quality:

• Provide technical and management leadership to the child protection case management programs, and the adolescent safe spaces programming in accordance with best practices and SHOFCO child protection policy.
• Ensure that solid CP case management, referral and information management systems are in place for appropriate identification, responses and follow-up for children harmed or at risk of being harmed, and that these processes are happening in a timely manner.
• Ensure the adolescent safe spaces programming are contextualized and supported with appropriate technical support.
• Develop and implement capacity building plans for all areas of child protection programming within the county.
• Ensure regular communication with the Head of department and the Child Protection and Gender team to integrate appropriate technical priorities in program design, in order to provide updates on achievements and challenges

1.3 Staff Supervision & Development: 

• 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.
• Ensure timely completion and submission of monthly reports, probations reviews and annual performance reviews.
• Assist with the recruitment of need Child Protection and gender staff, in coordination with the Head of Department.
• Ensure training, support and ongoing capacity building opportunities for staff on technical and project management skills.

1.4 Grant Planning & Implementation: 

• Supports implementation and ensure adherence to grant work plans, spending plans and monitoring and evaluation plans.
• Work closely and coordinates with, finance and grant staff to ensure timely and completion of program activities and expenditures; including active participation in grant opening/closing and review meetings.
• Develop and maintain effective and efficient oversight, support, quality control and reporting systems and processes.
• Ensure regular field monitoring and modifications as required.
• Monitor and consolidate information collected from weekly and staff activity reports
• Ensure high-quality donor reports on activities, indicators and achievements

1.5 Partner Management: 

• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with child protection actors, government and children’s department.
• Advocate with peer agencies, government and other stakeholders to promote timely and quality case management responses for children
• Actively develop and maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders.
• Regularly attend coordination group meetings at appropriate levels to contribute to the case management responses across agencies.

1.6 Program Development: 

• Contributes to the development of the CP sector strategic direction for responding to children issues across the county
• Contribute to proposal development activities (narrative and budget) through planning and program design with relevant field-based staff and ensure technical standards are taken into consideration
• Coordinate with other actors, government ministries to receive and provide input and support regarding responses for children.
• Work with the existing community children’s structures to recruit children promoters, champions within the children officers to oversee and respond to children issues in the communities.
• Work with SHOFCO MEL team in data analysis and information dissemination to the appropriate coordinating mechanisms, field teams and beneficiaries.

Academic Qualifications: 

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in implementing child protection and Gender programs, preferable social work or case management, in humanitarian or informal development settings.
• Bachelors Degree in social work, human rights, or related degree desired
• Master’s degree in Environment, Climate Change, or Natural Resources Management, or comparable professional experience

Professional Qualifications: 

• Any training certification relevant to the role

Other Requirements (Unique/job specific): 

• Previous experience supervising and managing a team in a cross-cultural setting
• Demonstrated understanding of working with children from diverse cultures and environments.
• Demonstrated experience in capacity building and mentoring of staff members.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders

How to Apply: 

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity in our organization, all interested applicants should send their applications together with a detailed Cover letter and CV to recruitment@shininghopeforcommunities.org with a clear subject line “Child Protection and Gender Manager”. 

Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. 

Applications should reach us no later than 15th July 2024. Assessment and interviews will be done on a rolling basis.