Protection Officer

• Lead the delivery of ReSET protection activities in the assigned settlement
• Deliver technical support and guidance to the protection team, including case workers and community-based protection volunteers
• Ensure the quality of planning, implementation and follow-up of protection activities, including integrated protection screening, protection case management, protection monitoring and referrals
• Ensure cash and protection operate as one client journey, with protection overrides and cash-linked protection support applied safely and without exclusion
• Operate the protection entry point of the dual-entry client journey, applying integrated protection screening for individuals who present through protection, GBV, child protection, legal, disability or MHPSS services
• Support the vulnerability assessment and household verification process so protection risks are captured and acted on; identify and support Persons with Specific Needs (PSNs)
• Contribute protection input to the targeting panel and the Safer Cash approach, helping identify protection risks linked to cash delivery and recommend mitigations
• Ensure protection case management is delivered according to established standards, including child protection case management for unaccompanied and separated children
• Coordinate with TPO Uganda for MHPSS access and UGANET for legal assistance, representation, civil documentation and HLP support
• Support multidisciplinary case conferencing for complex and high-risk cases, escalating cases involving suicide, self-harm, severe protection risk or safeguarding concerns immediately
• Strengthen the capacity of Refugee Welfare Councils, Community Protection Committees, women's and girls' groups, youth groups and community volunteers to identify protection risks and support safe referrals
• Carry out protection monitoring, data collection and documentation of the needs and risks of forcibly displaced and stateless persons, including new arrivals, women and girls, children, persons with disabilities and minority groups
• Support mapping of services and maintenance of the joint service directory and referral pathways, ensuring closed-loop referrals
• Uphold IRC safeguarding policies and PSEAH; support accountability to affected populations, with feedback acknowledged within 1 working day
• Contribute to timely weekly and monthly protection monitoring reports and support data collection for ReSET indicators, disaggregated by sex, age, disability and displacement status
• Represent IRC in settlement-level protection, child protection and GBV coordination meetings

Qualifications & Experience:

• University degree, preferably in social work, sociology, law, human rights or a related field; a postgraduate qualification in the same field is desirable
• 3-5 years of experience in protection programming, including GBV, child protection or protection monitoring, in a refugee or other displacement setting
• Demonstrated experience in protection case management
• Knowledge of community-based protection approaches, protection monitoring and referral systems; experience with community mobilization is an asset
• Understanding of cash and voucher assistance and protection mainstreaming in cash programmes (such as Safer Cash) is an asset

Skills & Competencies:

• Strong knowledge of protection principles, safeguarding and PSEAH practices, confidentiality and data protection
• Proven ability to supervise and coach field teams and to work in partnership with national and refugee-led organizations
• Proficiency in delivering training to staff, volunteers and community structures
• Good report writing, organizational and leadership skills; ability to use digital data collection and case management tools
• Ability to represent the organization effectively in meetings with local authorities and stakeholders