Protection Coordinator

Danish Refugee Council; Şahinbey; On-site; TRY 360,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

Danish Refugee Council seeks an experienced Protection Sector Head to provide technical oversight for Türkiye protection programming from Gaziantep. You will shape strategy, supervise staff, guide proposals, and lead coordination with partners and donors to advance protection outcomes in a complex context.

You will contribute to policy development, capacity building, and advocacy, ensuring alignment with international standards and DRC’s commitments.

Qualifications

• University degree in law, social science, political science, international development, or related field.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in international protection sector with NGO/UN.
• Strong technical writing and design skills for protection programmes.
• Experience in protection strategy development and SOPs/training materials.
• Fluent written and spoken English; Turkish/Arabic an added value.

Responsibilities

• Oversee protection portfolio and lead multi-partner coordination.
• Provide technical advice to protection staff and support staff recruitment and performance.
• Lead design, finalisation, and review of protection interventions in proposals and projects.
• Ensure quality assurance and monitor budgets/indicators with HoP/MEAL/Grants & Partnerships/Finance.
• Represent DRC in protection coordination fora and advocate for protection at national and regional levels.

Skills

Protection analysis

Partnership management

Technical supervision

Proposal development

Strategic thinking

English proficiency

Turkish/Arabic

Education

University degree in a relevant field

Job description

Overall purpose of the role:

Based in the DRC Türkiye country office, the role provides technical oversight to DRC Protection programme, including to strategy and proposal development, reporting, technical guidance and guidelines, technical support for DRC and partner staff, as well as advising on protection research, needs assessment(s), and advocacy efforts.

The role is based in the DRC Türkiye Country Office in Gaziantep.

Protection Sectoral Technical Responsibility

• Technically responsible for the overall protection portfolio, with a strong focus on protection analysis, partnerships, and multi-partner coordination
• With the support of the Partnerships Coordinator, Head of Programme, and Senior Management Team, continue shaping and operationalising DRC’s localisation approach to protection programming and identifying innovative ways to collaborate with CSOs, national and grassroots organisations including refugee-led organisations beyond formal partnership agreements. This will include capacity development and technical support to existing and new partners
• Lead multi-partner protection monitoring analysis efforts in line with the Protection Analysis Framework (PAF) tailored to the Türkiye context
• Lead the development and implementation of the country level protection strategy
• Oversee and lead the in-country development, harmonisation, adaptation and rollout of internal policies, guidelines, tools, Standard Operating Procedures, related to DRC’s protection interventions
• Act as a reference point for Economic Recovery colleagues for Protection Mainstreaming & integrated programming

Technical Supervision

• Technically supervise, provide technical advice and guidance to protection staff at Country Office level, including a Protection Programme Officer and a Protection Analysis Officer
• Participate in human resource processes, including the recruitment of protection technical staff in country, establishing minimum technical requirements for protection positions, and supporting performance objectives and performance appraisals
• Responsible for identifying protection sectoral technical gaps and establishing & delivering capacity building plans for protection staff

Protection Programme Development and Oversight

• Lead and contribute to the design and finalisation of all protection sectoral interventions in proposals and projects
• Provide technical review of all proposals that include protection interventions and/or mainstreaming
• Maintain oversight of overall protection programme implementation, including budgets and indicators, in close collaboration with HoP, MEAL, Grants & Partnerships, and Finance colleagues
• Participate in protection programme / project review meetings, including grant opening, grant review and close out meetings

Quality Assurance

• Lead, in collaboration with MEAL team, on the development of quality assurance systems and ensure they are applied throughout the programme cycle
• Follow technical oversight mechanisms to ensure protection interventions are provided according to established policies, guidance, and Standard Operating Procedures
• Lead the self-assessment based on the Protection Programme Quality Framework once a year and contribute to the annual Protection Survey

Coordination and Representation

• Represent DRC and actively contribute to protection sector coordination fora at the country level
• Lead DRC’s protection sector coordination and collaboration efforts with relevant stakeholders including government, civil society, NGOs, and UN
• Actively engage and contribute to DRC protection-related advocacy efforts, nationally as well as regionally
• Promote integrated programming and ensure internal coordination and harmonisation of DRC protection interventions across sites and with other core sectors, as relevant

Other

• Any other duties as requested by the line manager

About you

To be successful in this role we expect you to have university degree in law, social science, political science, international development, or any other related field.

Moreover, we also expect the following:

Required

• Minimum 5 years of demonstrated technical experience in the international protection sector preferably with an (I)NGO and/or UN agencies
• Minimum 3 years of experience leading, managing or providing technical advice/support to a protection programme that preferably includes legal counselling and assistance, case management and protection monitoring programming
• Very strong technical writing skills
• Documented skills in project development and design for protection programmes, preferably in a multisectoral setting
• Experience in protection strategy development including the development of SOPs, training materials and action plans
• Strategic thinker with the ability to quickly develop good insight and understanding of humanitarian, political and human rights situation in the relevant context
• Proven strong analytical thinker and problem solver
• Experience with technical supervision of teams
• Experience in providing technical guidance and developing and providing learning activities
• Experience working with key institutional donors such as ECHO, DANIDA and SIDA on protection
• Experience in driving protection partnerships including with refugee-led organisations, national partners, local/government authorities, UN organizations and coordination networks
• Full professional proficiency in written and spoken English
• Turkish and/or Arabic proficiency an added value
• Experience in advocacy for protection a strong asset
• Experience working on mixed migration programming a strong asset

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies:

Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.

Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.

Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.

Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.

Demonstrating integrity: You uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to our values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

We offer

Contract length: Initially until 31.12.2027 (with possible extension based on fund availability and performance)

Band: G1 – Non-Manager

Designation of Duty Station: Country Office (Gaziantep)

Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for nationals or expatriates and depends on the successful candidate’s profile. For questions regarding the vacancy please reach out to us by sending email to [emailprotected]

For further information about the Danish Refugee Council, please consult our website drc.ngo .

Founded in 1956, DRC Danish Refugee Council is Denmark’s largest, and a leading international NGO. We have continuously been ranked as one of the best NGOs in the world - and are one of the few with a specific expertise in forced displacement. In over 30 countries, we protect, advocate and build sustainable futures for refugees and other displacement-affected people and communities.

By working in DRC, you will be joining a global workforce of over 6,000 employees. We pride ourselves on our:

• Professionalism, impact & expertise
• Humanitarian approach & the work we do
• Purpose, meaningfulness & own contribution
• Culture, values & strong leadership

DRC’s capacity to ensure the protection of and assistance to refugees, IDP’s and other persons of concern depends on the ability of our staff to uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conductin relation DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment. DRC conducts thorough and comprehensive background checks as part of the recruitment process.

Danish Refugee Council is an equal opportunity employer and we consider all applicants based on individual merit and qualifications, regardless of personal characteristics or attributes. We are committed to increasing the diversity of our workforce, aiming for a 50% balance of men and women in management roles and ensuring that at least 50% of management roles are filled by national staff. We recognize that a diverse and inclusive team is crucial for achieving our organizational goals and making a positive impact on the communities we serve.