Poland: Child Protection Manager

The International Rescue Committee responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, IRC offers life-saving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in more than 40 countries and in 22 U.S. cities, IRC restores safety, dignity, and hope to millions who are uprooted by conflict or disaster. IRC leads the way from harm to home.

The Ukraine crisis could become the worst humanitarian crisis Europe has seen in decades. More than 5.3 million people have fled across borders to seek safety in the 1st month since the escalation of conflict in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, and over 6.5 million people are reported to be displaced. Reports indicate almost all arrivals in Poland are women and children, including those that are unaccompanied and separated, as well as older persons.

Between February 7-23, 2022, an IRC team undertook a scoping mission covering Poland and Ukraine to better understand the context, humanitarian and civil society landscape, and anticipated service gaps in the event of an escalation of conflict in Ukraine and consequent displacement into neighbouring Poland. As of February 24th, the IRC has pivoted to emergency response, and has identified partner agencies in Ukraine and Poland to facilitate immediate assistance that can be used where it is most needed. Simultaneously, the IRC has established operations across Ukraine and Poland offering a robust humanitarian response to complement partner response services either in breadth or scale.

Key Working Relationships:

• Position reports to: Deputy Integrated Protection Coordinator, Warsaw
• Position technically supports: SHLS Facilitators and Child Protection Caseworkers in Katowice and Gdynia.
• Internal collaborations within IRC: Senior Women’s Protection and Empowerment (WPE) Manager; Senior Protection and Rule of Law Manager; Senior Integrated Protection Manager; Integrated Protection Managers; Protection Analysis Manager; Partnerships Manager; Economic Recovery and Development (ERD) Coordinator; Education Coordinator.
• External collaborations to IRC: Child Protection actors, organisations, and agencies.

The Child Protection Manager will roll out IRC’s child protection program in Poland, which is responsive to emerging child protection risks and needs related to the Ukraine crisis. S/he will engage actively with key strategic stakeholders to promote the CP program outcomes, standardize processes, support local capacities, and advocate on behalf of refugee children and caregivers.

Specifically, the Child Protection Manager will be responsible for:

1) Context evaluation: Working with other sector teams, monitor unfolding events in Poland, specifically:

• Continually identify areas of displacement, high needs and emerging child protection risks, feeding into protection analysis and contextual background tools/briefs.
• Conduct stakeholder analysis: continually review existing actor mapping with a view to establish/strengthen partnerships focused on the delivery of child protection services.
• Feed into available inter-agency referral pathways and oversee the timely and effective referrals of Child Protection program clients.

2) Program design: Based on emerging needs in Poland, work with prospective and current partners, as well as with IRC internal teams, to design quality and responsive child protection interventions, specifically:

• Collaborating with partners in the design and implementation of child protection services, based on needs and context.
• Facilitating, co-designing training sessions with partners, other sectors, and other relevant stakeholders.
• In collaboration with other protection streams and other sectors, ensuring complementary and aligned interventions, through partnerships and direct implementation.

3) Program management and delivery: Lead child protection program start-up, mid-term review, and adjustment, including:

• Support in the recruitment of Child Protection staff.
• Training of Child Protection staff in areas including Psychosocial Support, Case Management, Parenting Skills, Referrals, and Child Safeguarding.
• Training and workshops materials preparation.
• Case management forms and PSS activities forms drafting.
• Development and monitoring of work plan.
• Conduct program quality monitoring.
• Programme report writing.

4) Coordination & representation: Working with relevant stakeholders, including technical team, support the development of coordination system, specifically:

• Participate in coordination mechanisms and inter-agency technical fora such as reoccurring meetings, actor and service mappings.
• Represent IRC in external fora, including in coordination such as the Child Protection Working Groups, with donors and others.

5) Program quality: Support program quality through technical oversight and training, ensuring adherence to global standards, specifically:

• Develop/contextualize program tools and processes.
• Conduct program monitoring with a view to support oversight of quality.
• Deliver training sessions on child protection topics and programs.
• Integrate technical capacity sharing approaches into partnerships.

Requirements:

• Language: English required; Polish and/or Ukrainian desired.
• Bachelor of Arts or Science in Social Work, Psychology, Law, Human Rights, Social Science, Public Health, Humanities, or another related field, desirable. Postgraduate degree a distinct advantage.
• At least three years of experience in Child Protection programs.
• International experience in humanitarian settings a distinct advantage.
• Experience facilitating group activities, trainings and workshops and mentoring others.
• Counselling or case management experience desirable.
• Experience in working in refugee camps or other emergency programming settings a distinct advantage.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Demonstrated understanding of and ability to maintain confidentiality and respect for clients/beneficiaries.
• Positive and professional attitude, including ability to lead and work well in a team setting.
• High degree of flexibility and strong ability to organize work, meet deadlines, maintain composure, prioritize work under pressure, coordinate multiple tasks, maintain attention to detail, travel, etc.
• Strong commitment to humanitarian and protection principles and IRC values.
• Computer literate, including Microsoft Word and Excel.

This position will be based in Warsaw, with frequent travel to Katowice, Gdynia, and other locations as necessary (up to 30%). As this is a fluid and rapidly changing context, the location of this position and length of the assignment may change based on the needs of the program.

Must have the right to work in Poland.

Standards of Professional Conduct:

The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and makes sure policies on Beneficiary Protection from Exploitation and Abuse, Child Safeguarding, Harassment-Free Workplace, Fiscal Integrity, Anti-Retaliation, Combating Trafficking in Persons, and several others.

Gender Equality:

The 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.

Diversity and Inclusion:

At the IRC, our diverse clients, partners, and staff have the power, voice, and agency to shape programs and operations. We actively work to end all forms of systemic discrimination and foster an inclusive working environment where everyone feels respected, heard, valued, and supported. The IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers all applicants based on merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability. The IRC encourages women to apply and work with us to reach the people most in need of humanitarian assistance, such as women, widows, and children. The IRC is committed to providing a decent and safe work environment that considers needs of women in the workplace, including through maternity leave and safety protocols.

How to Apply: 

Please apply on our career site: Career Site (csod.com)