Senior Program Associate (Protection)

Context/Reporting line:

Under the overall supervision of the Head, Mobility, Pathways, and Inclusion Division, and the direct supervision of the Protection Coordinator, and where applicable, with technical support supervision of the Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Coordinator, the incumbent will support the implementation and monitoring of protection services, through Implementing Partner (IP) organizations of IOM’s protection programme in Iraq. The incumbent will provide advanced support for the effective planning, implementation, coordination, and monitoring of protection and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) services, through Implementing Partner (IP) organizations of IOM’s protection programme in Iraq.

The Senior Programme Associate (Protection) will support compliance monitoring, quality assurance and operational coordination across projects implemented by Implementing Partners (IPs), liaising with IPs, relevant IOM Departments and Units, and contributing to operational planning, monitoring and reporting. Lastly, the incumbent will be responsible for coordinating capacity building training and opportunities, and monitoring, of IP organizations of IOM’s protection programme in Iraq.

Core Functions / Responsibilities

1. Support the planning, implementation and monitoring of ongoing and new protection activities by Implementing Partners (IPs), including supporting administrative and coordination aspects of new IP identification and onboarding processes.
2. In coordination with relevant technical staff, follow up on the implementation of protection-related and MHPSS activities by IPs, including but not limited to case management, community-based protection, referral pathways, MHPSS and other relevant protection activities.
3. In coordination with relevant technical staff, support the organization and logistical coordination of capacity building sessions for IPs on general protection, community-based protection mainstreaming principles, gender-based violence (GBV), child protection (CP), counter trafficking (CT), MHPSS, safe referral practices, prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA), data protection and other relevant topics, in close coordination with relevant technical staff.
4. Coordinate with relevant IOM Divisions and Units, including finance, partnerships and localization, human resources, and procurement.
5. Support the monitoring of a network of different IPs against project workplans and log frames, including through weekly and monthly project tracking and reporting tools.
6. Maintain regular and proactive communication with IPs, field teams, and relevant technical staff, to help identify operational challenges and escalate programmatic issues to relevant technical staff or the supervisor, as appropriate.
7. Participate in, and coordinate regular field visits to support the monitoring of service delivery by IPs, assist in periodic meetings to discuss challenges, conduct ad hoc follow-ups, and contribute to identifying and reporting capacity-building needs to the supervisor.
8. Consistently and accurately collect and compile information and data shared by IPs on project achievements and enter them into relevant tools, databases and information management (IM) systems to facilitate monitoring and reporting, in line with data protection principles.
9. Support other tasks and activities as requested by the supervisor, including but not limited to assisting with field visits, key informant interviews (KIIs), focus group discussions, awareness raising sessions and other activities.
10. Assist with other tasks, as needed.

Required Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in development studies, political sciences, social sciences, gender studies, law, human rights or other relevant field from an accredited academic institution with five years of relevant professional experience; or,
• High school diploma with seven years of experience. 
• Master’s degree in the above-mentioned fields is an added advantage.

Experience and Skills:

• Experience supporting general protection, community-based protection and MHPSS child protection (CP), and gender-based violence (GBV) activities, including direct work with beneficiaries.
• Previous experience in protection-related information management is an asset.
• Understanding of the protection and MHPSS sectors in Iraq, including its challenges, priorities, existing referral pathways, and an understanding of principles for safe referrals. 
• Experience supporting capacity-building initiatives and awareness-raising on general protection, GBV, MHPSS, CP and other cross-cutting issues.
• Good experience working with implementing partners (IPs).
• Understanding key issues related to data protection and knowledge of safe, confidential and ethical data collection and handling. 
• Proficiency in MS Word, Power Point, and Excel.
• Knowledge of the humanitarian and development context in Iraq, particularly as it relates to protection challenges.

Languages:

• Fluency in English, Kurdish and Arabic is required.

Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications via this link:

https://jobs.my-soc.org/apply/20260422140535/wX0Wd5rJSZChPNV4ivF9AuknU