Protection Coordinator

HEKS/EPER is actively engaged in addressing the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, responding to the far-reaching consequences of the ongoing conflict. The organization provides emergency assistance, focusing on those most affected by war, including displaced individuals and vulnerable communities. Its efforts emphasize the provision of essential services such as shelter, food security, and psychosocial support, alongside facilitating integration and resilience-building measures.

Safeguarding and Child Protection: At HEKS/EPER, the safety and well-being of children and vulnerable individuals are of utmost importance. To uphold this critical value, the organization enforces stringent safeguarding measures throughout the recruitment and onboarding processes. This includes comprehensive background and reference checks for selected candidates, ensuring adherence to the highest standards of safety and protection against harm or exploitation. These meticulous procedures reflect HEKS/EPER's unwavering dedication to fostering secure environments for the most vulnerable.

HEKS/EPER is equally committed to the principles of diversity, equality, and inclusion. We endeavour to cultivate an inclusive and supportive workplace where all employees feel valued, respected, and empowered to reach their full potential. Role Overview:

The Protection Coordinator in Ukraine is a strategic and versatile position to oversee and manage a multi-themed program. The Protection Coordinator will provide regular technical support and monitoring visits to Protection teams working in all program areas to ensure that interventions are technically sound, take into account international best practices, and are appropriately meeting the needs of survivors in target communities. The Protection Coordinator will be expected to spend a significant amount of time in field locations, working with, training and mentoring field teams. This position is responsible for programmatic resource development, advocacy related to the emergency response, and overall strategic direction of the protection program, including providing technical support and mentoring to implementing partners.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Major Responsibilities:

• Lead the implementation of high-quality GBV and MHPSS interventions in Ukraine, aligning with assessed needs and available resources.
• Guide the development of a strategic vision and direction for the protection program (GBV/MHPSS), ensuring a process that incorporates input from Protection field teams, other sectors, senior management, and key external stakeholders.
• Collaborate and coordinate with NCA Head Office Advisors and other technical experts, particularly GBV and MHPSS Advisors, to develop and implement a comprehensive program.
• Recruit and build the capacity of national staff from HEKS/EPER and local partners to ensure HEKS/partner ownership of the program and its sustainability.
• Contribute to the development of a scale up strategy and the continuation of the proposed intervention, with the support of the Grants team, identify local fundraising opportunities (e.g., UHF, UNFPA, ECHO).
• Work closely with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) team to ensure detailed and accurate monitoring of project progress against indicators. Ensure that any underachievement is raised and addressed in a timely manner.
• Assist in the development/update/implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) as required for the protection activities, and to enhance program quality.
• Ensure that all project activities are implemented within the assigned budget parameters. Alongside with the support of finance team, manage all financial aspects of the project including preparation of spending-plans, detailed budget follow-up and launching financial requests (i.e. recruitment requests, advances and purchase requests).
• Ensure that ethical and sound data collection and information management systems are in place for appropriate planning, evaluation, and advocacy.
• Actively develop and maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders, including donors, government actors, UN agencies, international and local NGOs, and other relevant actors. 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.
• Directly supervise the Protection Team Leaders and MHPSS Advisor and ensure regular performance reviews.
• Assist with the recruitment of Protection staff, in coordination with HR and senior management.
• Ensure training and ongoing capacity building opportunities for staff in technical and project management skills. Grant Planning, Implementation and Reporting:
• Support implementation and ensure adherence to grant work plans, spending plans and monitoring and evaluation plans.
• Lead proposal development activities (narrative and budget) through planning and program design with relevant field-based staff, to ensure technical standards are taken into consideration before submission.
• Support development and maintenance of effective and efficient oversight, support, quality control and reporting systems and processes.
• Ensure high-quality HEKS/EPER and donor reports on activities, indicators, and achievements. Partner Management:
• Establish, develop, and oversee HEKS/EPER's sub-grants with implementing partners, with the support of the Grants team and other departments.
• Ensure the provision of technical and organizational capacity-building support for partners, with assistance from HEKS/EPER operations departments.
• Ensure regular performance monitoring of partners to achieve the set protection program objectives. Coordination & Representation:
• Actively develop and maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders, including donors, government actors, UN agencies, international and local NGOs, and other relevant actors.
• Regularly attend protection-related sub-cluster meetings, including GBV, MHPSS, etc., at appropriate levels to feed in HEKS/EPER priorities from the field.
• Coordinate with other HEKS/EPER sectors (i.e., WaSH, Livelihood, and NFI programs) to provide relevant input and support for the integrated response approach, enhancing protection mainstreaming and the empowerment of women and girls. ​ Other duties:
• Consistently and proactively monitor/assess the safety and security of field teams, promptly reporting concerns or incidents to HEKS/EPER management and liaising with other external parties as required to maintain/enhance the security environment.
• Other duties as assigned by the supervisor to enable and develop HEKS/EPER programs. Role Competencies:
• University degree in psychology, social work or a related degree.
• Extensive experience in humanitarian GBV and MHPSS program development and implementation.
• Good collaboration and communication skills.
• Ability to be proactive and work independently.
• Excellent thematic technical skills and experience in humanitarian program development and implementation.
• Strong expertise in capacity building.
• Ability to operate in a high stress and unpredictable environment.
• Fluency in Ukrainian and good knowledge of English.
• Proficiency in IT skills, including Google and Microsoft office applications (Word, Excel, Google Form, PowerPoint, etc.).
• Behavioural Competencies: Empathy, communication skills, active listening.
• Team Management, conflict resolution, emotional resilience.
• Adaptability, stress tolerance.
• Learnability.