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. The 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. Key deliverables include expanding community-based protection mechanisms, establishing case management and referral pathways, providing legal counsel and representation, and implementing a protection monitoring framework to track risks systematically.

Key Responsibilities:
- Manage the entire project cycle to ensure timely implementation, including developing work plans, budgeting, and overseeing short-term technical assistance.
- Mentor project staff individually and in groups, collaborating with partners and stakeholders to report trends and manage protection cases effectively.
- Monitor progress toward outputs and results, keeping staff informed and resolving issues to maintain smooth project delivery.
- Ensure achievement of project targets, such as district-level referral pathways and quality assurance of outcomes aligned with implementation plans.
- Oversee protection activities, including community-based protection committees, stakeholder engagement, and regular field visits to maintain quality and performance standards.
- Validate performance data for accuracy, integrity, and timeliness, ensuring proper data collection and analysis for case management databases.
- Prepare and submit progress reports, success stories, and regular updates using the 5Ws matrix.
- Represent IRC in protection-related working groups at district and provincial levels, maintaining active communication with senior management on evolving situations.
- Conduct regular review meetings to align project activities with deliverables, work plans, and monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL) plans.
- Monitor budget expenditures, conduct budget-versus-actual analyses, and develop corrective actions to optimize resource use.
- Identify capacity-building needs and implement training plans with support from technical coordinators.
- Foster strong working relationships with donors, government authorities, UN agencies, and other stakeholders.
- Supervise, support, and mentor project staff to enhance their performance and promote staff wellbeing as a core part of the work environment.

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 working with community-based committees and protection case management.
- Experience working with 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 supervising, mentoring, and building capacity of field staff.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, professionalism, and ability to work effectively in a team.
- 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 the IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct, including policies on safeguarding, fiscal integrity, anti-retaliation, and combating trafficking in persons. The organization prioritizes gender equality and ensures a safe, inclusive work environment. IRC is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity and provides reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities throughout the recruitment process.

This position is based in Peshawar with frequent travel to project districts. The Protection Manager will report to the Team Lead in Islamabad and maintain close coordination with the Office In-Charge in KP and the Protection Lead for technical support. The role involves representing IRC in various protection forums and requires a proactive approach to adapting program strategies in response to changing field conditions.

Short-listing and interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.