Protection Coordinator (Women’s Protection and Empowerment)

The Protection Coordinator (Women’s Protection and Empowerment) leads and manages a complex multi-donor, multi-year WPE program in Ukraine, providing strategic leadership, technical quality assurance, program development, coordination, and staff supervision to ensure effective delivery of GBV response and prevention services. The role involves collaboration across sectors, donor engagement, partnership building, and capacity strengthening to address the needs of women and girls at risk of gender-based violence.

Responsibilities

• Lead the management of a complex, multi-donor, multi-year WPE portfolio including GBV case management, psychosocial support, and prevention activities
• Set clear objectives and priorities for the WPE portfolio aligned with IRC strategies
• Coordinate and integrate WPE activities across sectors to enhance program synergies
• Develop programmatic frameworks guiding WPE initiatives
• Support MEAL team in monitoring and evaluation mechanisms
• Engage with donors and stakeholders for funding and accountability
• Facilitate capacity-building for staff and partners
• Review and adapt program strategies based on evolving needs
• Develop and implement evidence-based project designs
• Facilitate participatory planning involving affected communities
• Establish performance indicators aligned with standards and donor expectations
• Provide technical support and guidance to field teams
• Conduct field visits to monitor program delivery and gather feedback
• Create mentoring and capacity-building plans for staff and partners
• Compile and revise internal and external reports ensuring donor compliance
• Analyze data to inform adaptive management
• Document lessons learned and best practices
• Lead program development, budgeting, and proposal writing
• Collaborate with stakeholders to identify needs and opportunities
• Conduct WPE landscape analyses including risk assessments
• Ensure proposals include robust M&E frameworks
• Track and monitor budgets ensuring compliance
• Promote multi-sectoral interventions and program synergy
• Build relationships with donors and present programmatic needs
• Write and refine proposal drafts adhering to quality standards
• Represent and engage in national forums on women rights and GBV
• Establish relationships with authorities, NGOs, and agencies for coordination
• Facilitate joint initiatives and information-sharing among stakeholders
• Communicate national-level concerns to relevant stakeholders
• Build networking plans to connect women-led organizations
• Shift programs towards feminist partnerships with local organizations
• Identify and develop partnerships aligned with IRC standards
• Conduct stakeholder mapping and analysis for coordinated response
• Strengthen partnerships with national and local organizations
• Engage in continuous dialogue with partners for mutual learning
• Maintain open and professional relationships with team members
• Provide technical guidance, mentoring, and coaching
• Assist in recruitment of WPE staff
• Facilitate training and capacity-building opportunities
• Support field teams through training and mentoring
• Collaborate with HR on performance management and staff development
• Foster ongoing learning, safeguarding, wellbeing, and adherence to IRC values
• Model accountability and commitment to safeguarding

Requirements

• MA/S or equivalent in health (MPH), social science, social work, humanities, or other related degree
• At least 5 years of experience, including substantial management experience in VAWG/GBV programming and at least 2 years’ experience in direct service provision for survivors of gender-based violence (ie: survivors of sexual violence or intimate partner violence), ideally with experience in frontline settings as well
• Demonstrated knowledge and implementation of the GBV Minimum Standards: including response, prevention, and risk reduction
• Demonstrated feminist, inclusive leadership; supportive supervision practices; collaboration with partners in a way the shifts power to local organizations
• Demonstrated experience in capacity building and mentoring of teams
• Demonstrated experience in grant management including budgets and proposal writing
• Excellent computer skills in programs such as: MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint
• Capable of applying skills and knowledge in a range of capacities, including direct implementation, advisory functions, training and the transfer of technical knowledge and management skills to others
• Personal qualities: Team player, flexible, network-builder, able to handle pressure well
• Familiarity with key donor regulations, i.e., ECHO, GFFO and BMZ, SIDA, OCHA
• Experience in working with and coordinating with the UN, donors, INGOs and other stakeholders
• Fluent in spoken and written English and Ukrainian

Skills

• GBV Programming
• Direct Services Provision
• GBV Service Standards
• Feminist Leadership
• Inclusive Leadership
• Supportive Supervision
• Capacity Building
• Mentorship
• Grant Management
• Budget Management
• Proposal Writing
• MS Word
• Excel
• Power Point
• Technical Knowledge Transfer
• Donor Rules and Regulations
• Program Coordination
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Partnership Building
• Strategic Leadership
• Staff Supervision

Languages

English, Ukrainian