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.

Job Overview

IRC Ukraine is currently looking for a strategic and versatile leader to oversee and manage a complex multi-donor, multi-year Protection and Rule of Law (PRoL) portfolio composed of access to justice, protection monitoring, information services, psychosocial services, and case management They has practical experience in emergencies context; strong diplomacy, coordination and networking skills; solutions oriented and pragmatic with the capacity to solve problems efficiently; and previous change management experience preferred. They have strong leadership abilities to create an environment that cultivates innovative thinking and new approaches firmly anchored in the realities of the local context and aligned to national systems.

The Protection Coordinator will work to oversee the quality and timely implementation of all aspects of the ProL portfolio, providing cohesion and strategic direction. They will work closely with IRC staff and key partners ensuring the interventions are context appropriate, leverage cross-programmer synergies and complementarities and align to national systems and international standards.

One of the key responsibilities of the Protection Coordinator is to ensure technical quality and provide strategic leadership across the entire project management cyclefrom design and planning to implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. Additionally, the Protection Coordinator will play a critical role in setting the overall programmatic direction, strategy development, donor and external engagement, as well as program and project design. The Protection Coordinator will be responsible for shaping the PRoL portfolio to ensure alignment with IRCs global and regional strategies and meeting donor expectations.

The Protection Coordinator is also responsible for ensuring integrated programming across different sectors of IRCs operations in Ukraine. The Protection Coordinator will work closely with other sector leads to develop multi-sectoral interventions that enhance the overall effectiveness and impact of PRoL activities, ensuring synergy and cohesion across programs.

The Protection Coordinator will be expected to spend substantial time in field locations, training, mentoring, and supporting field teams. The Protection Coordinator will play a key role in capacity building for both IRC field staff and partners, empowering them to take ownership of PRoL programming under the decentralization plan. This includes ensuring the quality of field-level implementation while working collaboratively with technical teams to maintain IRCs PRoL standards.

Key responsibilities include programmatic resource development, advocacy related to IRCs PRoL response, and providing strategic direction for PRoL activities. The Protection Coordinator will also offer technical guidance and mentoring to partners to enhance their capacity to deliver high-quality PRoL services.

Furthermore, the Protection Coordinator will be responsible for the systematic use of research, data, and evidence to inform decision-making, design interventions, and assess the effectiveness of programs, ensuring that ensures that interventions are grounded in solid empirical evidence aiming to improve outcomes and accountability. This includes leading initiatives for research and impact evaluations to assess and enhance the effectiveness of PRoL interventions.

This position will be based in any of the IRC Field sites Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Odesa, with travel for monitoring and coordination purposes as necessary.

Primary Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership and Program Management:

Lead the management of a complex, multi-donor, multi-year PRoL (PRoL) portfolio that includes case management, psychosocial support, and PRoL risk reduction activities. Ensure the effective delivery of these programs through IRC and partner organizations by:

Setting clear objectives and priorities for the PRoL portfolio in alignment with IRCs global and regional strategies.

Coordinating and integrating PRoL activities across various sectors to enhance program synergies and effectiveness.

Developing comprehensive programmatic frameworks that guide the implementation of PRoL initiatives, ensuring they meet the diverse needs of populations affected by crisis.

Supporting MEAL team in establishing robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to assess program impact, gather insights, and inform decision-making.

Engaging with donors and stakeholders to secure funding, provide program updates, and demonstrate accountability while aligning with their expectations and requirements.

Facilitating capacity-building opportunities for staff and partners to enhance the quality and sustainability of PRoL interventions.

Regularly reviewing and adapting program strategies in response to evolving needs, contexts, and best practices in PRoL.

Technical Quality Assurance

Uphold the highest standards of technical quality throughout all stages of the project management cycle, from design and planning to implementation, monitoring, and evaluation, by:

Developing and implementing robust project designs that are evidence-based, contextually relevant, and aligned with best practices in PRoL.

Facilitating participatory planning processes that involve key stakeholders, including affected communities, and community members, to ensure interventions are responsive to their needs.

In collaboration with the Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) team, establishing clear performance indicators and outcomes for all PRoL activities, ensuring they align with IRCs standards and donor expectations.

Providing ongoing technical support and strategic guidance to field teams to enhance the quality of program implementation, addressing challenges as they arise.

Conducting regular field visits to monitor program delivery, gather feedback, and identify opportunities for improvement in service provision.

Leading/supporting capacity-building initiatives for staff and partners in areas such as monitoring and evaluation, reporting, and data management to ensure effective tracking of program performance and impact.

Collect, compile, and revise internal and external reports for the PRoL sector, ensuring timely submission to donors. Collaborate with the Grants Team to ensure the quality of external reports, maintaining consistency and accuracy in messaging to effectively communicate IRCs impact and outcomes in PRoL initiatives.

Analyzing data and feedback collected during monitoring and evaluation processes to inform adaptive management, facilitating timely adjustments to strategies and interventions.

Documenting lessons learned and best practices from program implementation, sharing insights across the organization to foster continuous learning and improvement in PRoL programming.

Program Development, Proposal Design and Integrated Programming:

Take a lead role in program development, project design, and proposal writing to secure funding and support for PRoL initiatives by:

Collaborating with key stakeholders, including field staff, technical teams, and partners, to identify emerging needs and opportunities for PRoL programming that align with IRC’s strategic goals.

Leading the design of innovative and evidence-based project proposals that address the…