Protection Manager

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is launching a 6.5-month project across five districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa aimed at strengthening protection and legal services for vulnerable communities. This initiative focuses on improving access to legal support, case management, and community-based protection services, while reinforcing community structures to prevent and respond to protection risks. The project delivers on four main outputs: expanding community-based protection mechanisms, establishing case management and referral pathways for at-risk individuals, providing legal counsel and representation, and implementing a protection monitoring framework to systematically track protection risks.

The Protection Manager will oversee the project’s implementation across all targeted districts through IRC’s self-implementation. Based in Peshawar, this role requires frequent travel to project sites to support field teams. The manager will be responsible for day-to-day supervision of staff and activities, budget management, administrative duties, and ensuring program compliance. Close collaboration with implementing staff, technical units, donors, UN agencies, and other protection actors is essential. The Protection Manager will represent IRC in protection-related working groups at district and provincial levels and report to the Team Lead in Islamabad, while coordinating administratively with the Office In-Charge in KP and technically with the Protection Lead in Islamabad.

Key Responsibilities

- Manage the entire project cycle to ensure timely delivery of activities, including work plan development, budgeting, and oversight of technical assistance.
- Provide mentorship and support to staff through individual and group meetings, maintaining close communication with Case Management Supervisors, Case Workers, and other protection personnel.
- Monitor progress toward project outputs and results, keeping teams informed and resolving issues proactively.
- Ensure the establishment and quality assurance of referral pathways and project outcomes as per implementation plans.
- Oversee protection implementation activities, including community-based protection committees, stakeholder engagement, and regular field visits to maintain quality standards.
- Verify data accuracy and integrity, ensuring timely collection and analysis for the Case Management Database and regular reporting on project progress.
- Represent IRC in protection working groups and maintain active monitoring of the operational environment to inform management decisions.
- Conduct regular review meetings to align project implementation with deliverables, work plans, and MEAL frameworks.
- Monitor budget expenditures against plans and develop corrective actions if needed.
- Identify and address capacity-building needs of field staff in collaboration with technical coordinators.
- Foster and maintain effective relationships with donors, government bodies, UN agencies, and other stakeholders.
- Supervise and mentor project staff to enhance performance and promote staff wellbeing as a core priority.

Required Qualifications

- Master’s degree in project management, social sciences, or a related field.
- Minimum of 5 years’ experience in project management with a focus on protection.
- Proven expertise in working with community-based committees and protection case management.
- Experience supporting vulnerable displaced populations.
- Strong coordination, networking, and relationship-building skills with government, donors, INGOs, national and local organizations, and UN agencies.
- Demonstrated leadership in managing and strengthening teams in dynamic and challenging environments.
- Experience in supervising, mentoring, and building capacity of field staff.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, professionalism, and ability to work effectively within teams.
- Fluency in English and Urdu; knowledge of Pashto is preferred.

Preferred Qualifications and Benefits

The IRC is committed to upholding its core values of Integrity, Service, Equality, and Accountability. Staff are expected to adhere to professional standards outlined in the IRC Way, including safeguarding policies and beneficiary protection. The organization promotes gender equality and diversity, ensuring equal opportunity employment without discrimination. Reasonable accommodations are provided for individuals with disabilities throughout the recruitment and employment process.

This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to meaningful humanitarian work in a challenging context, with support for professional development and a focus on staff wellbeing. Short-listing and interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis, with only shortlisted candidates contacted.

The IRC fosters a safe and inclusive work environment, emphasizing ethical conduct, transparency, and accountability in all operations.