Protection Project Manager

Who are we?

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunities for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfillment of the wish to return home. 

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956 and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced.

All of our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.

DRC Syria

DRC has been operating in Syria since 2008, initially responding to the Iraqi refugee crisis before pivoting to a full-scale response to the Syria crisis from 2011 onwards. Our work encompasses the full cycle of displacement—responding to life-saving humanitarian needs and supporting community recovery until durable solutions can be achieved. DRC Syria takes an area-based approach to supporting internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, and host communities across our key sectors: Economic Recovery and Resilience, Protection, WASH, Shelter and Infrastructure, and Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding (including Humanitarian Mine Action).

With an established rapid response mechanism, DRC can rapidly respond to emerging crises and shocks to meet acute emergency needs. Recognizing the significant need for early recovery and resilience programming to ensure dignified, sustainable, and cost-effective solutions for fragile communities, DRC’s programmes foster resilience for individuals and communities in situations of protracted displacement and during the initial stages of post-conflict recovery, towards a durable solution of their choice. With active portfolios in the neighboring countries of Jordan, Lebanon, Türkiye and Iraq, DRC offers a cross-border, regional response to the Syria crisis, through cross-border protection monitoring, advocacy, and trends analysis.

About the job

Under the direct/line supervision of the South Area Manager and technical supervision of the Protection Coordinator (PC), the Protection Project Manager (South Area) is an integral part of DRC’s program team, responsible for the effective and timely implementation of DRC’s protection programming in South Syria. Protection Programing includes Psychosocial Support (PSS), Protection Case Management, Legal Aid Services and Protection Monitoring. The Protection Project Manager will contribute to the implementation of DRC’s Protection Strategy and the delivery of high-quality protection services across DRC’s areas of operation in Southern Syria, in close collaboration with South Area Manager.

The position provides technical guidance and leadership in all aspects of the protection program management, including program implementation, strategic planning and supervision of activities, budget management, coordination and representation with partners and stakeholders, staff management, equitable collaboration with local partners, monitoring and reporting. The Protection Project Manager supervises the protection team leader (Dara), and as well the protection team based in Rural Damascus. He/she will ensure that protection teams are adequately supported, trained and capacitated to deliver high-quality protection response in line with international standards and DRC’s internal guidance.

Key responsibilities include ensuring the harmonization and rollout of PSS and protection case management tools and guidelines; overseeing protection monitoring data collection; strengthening referral pathways; ensuring quality standards in legal aid service delivery; and supporting advocacy initiatives to improve the protection environment. The Protection Project Manager will also ensure compliance with donor and data reporting requirements, contribute to Protection mainstreaming across sector (Economic Recovery and WASSI) activities, and support M&E activities in collaboration with relevant internal teams.

The Protection Project Manager will play a key role in the development and implementation of DRC Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), guidelines and tools, contribute to institutional learning and support capacity assessments and capacity building of partners, duty bearers, and community-based organizations enabling them to deliver quality protection programming and contribute to sustainable, community-driven protection outcomes.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Program

• Responsible for the effective and timely implementation of all technical areas of protection programming, including case management, psychosocial support (PSS), protection monitoring, legal aid services, safe referrals, and capacity-building.
• Manage protection team leaders (Homs/Hama and Idleb/Aleppo), protection officers and assistants based in Aleppo on a daily basis and provide technical guidance and oversight to all protection staff across the full scope of protection activities. This includes ensuring that weekly plans and reports are developed, protection teams are clear on their roles and activities are delivered in a timely, safe and high-quality manner in line ensuring DRC’s minimum standards and project outcomes.
• Ensure the effective use of and compliance with relevant tools, forms, SOPs and guidelines across all technical areas, ensuring program quality, accountability and impact.
• Oversee protection monitoring, ensuring data collection and reporting processes contribute to evidence-based programming, advocacy and strategic planning.
• Provide technical oversight and quality assurance of legal aid programming, including legal awareness sessions, individual counselling, and alternative dispute resolution where applicable.
• Responsible for monitoring the protective environment, flagging key protection risks and trends to the Protection Coordinator, including ensuring follow-up actions such as adaptation of DRC’s response, engagement in advocacy and strengthened inter-agency coordination.
• Support the establishment and coordination of emergency protection responses in coordination with the Protection team and other program/ support departments.
• Document and report progress, challenges, lessons learned and best practices to the Area Manager, contributing to high quality donor reports and internal learning.
• Contribute to program design and development of proposals and revisions including to define program activities, log frames, budgets and indicators informed by baseline assessments, Rapid Protection Assessments, Protection Monitoring findings and strategic priorities.
• Ensure close follow up and coordination with local partners for effective implementation of protection programming, including joint monitoring and capacity strengthening.
• Ensure conflict sensitivity, gender age and diversity mainstreaming are fully integrated into programme design and implementation
• In coordination with the Head of Program, Protection Coordinator and, and Area Manager, adopt program approaches and activities based on evolving risks, needs and context.
• Participate in grants management processes such as grants review meetings, presenting progress against workplans, targets and expenditure and ensuring project management tools are regularly updated on a monthly basis.
• Contribute to the development of the Country Protection Strategy including ensuring that cross-cutting priorities such as gender, inclusion, accountability and localization are integrated into protection n.
• Provide technical support to mainstream protection in other sectors including Shleter, WASH, Economic Recovery and Humanitarian Mine Action) to strengthen protection sensitive programming.
• Coordinate regularly with sub-national protection sector coordinators and relevant AoR coordination mechanisms to ensure harmonization of approaches, strengthen referral pathways, avoid duplication, and contribute to collective are-level advocacy.

Finance management

• Serve as budget holder for assigned protection projects in the North Area, with overall responsibility for ensuring expenditures are in line with donor contracts, DRC policies, and approved budgets.
• In coordination with Support Services, ensure the effective financial management of all protection budgets for North Area, including planning and authorizing protection expenditures, reviewing transactions and BFUs, , and ensuring compliance with donor and DRC requirements.
• Produce accurate and timely budget forecasts, cash flow projections, and spending plans, highlighting and addressing any anticipated variations or risks that could affect project delivery or donor compliance. Monitor and update spending rates and burn rates in the PMT tools and ensure timely reporting any expected variances to the Area Manager.
• Ensure regular financial follow-up meetings with the protection team to support their understanding of cost eligibility, and compliance requirements.
• Contribute to proposal development and budget revisions by providing technical input on activity costing, forecasting, and alignment with programmatic needs.

Human Resources

• Directly supervise two Protection Team Leaders and provide managerial and technical oversight to the wider protection team in Aleppo, ensuring strong coordination, communication, and accountability.
• Recruit, manage and supervise staff working for the protection program as per DRC’s performance management processes.
• In coordination with the Area Manager, define organogram and ToRs, develop staffing plans, lead recruitment processes and conduct performance appraisals, and coordinate mission plans, and leave schedules.
• Promote a professional environment conducive to collaboration, teamwork, staff wellbeing and professional development.
• Ensure compliance of program staff with the applicable standards related to protection programming, DRC’s code of conduct, safeguarding standards and internal HR procedures and guidelines.
• Ensure that all direct reports and protection team members complete the DRC’s mandatory e-learning courses and other relevant training opportunities to strengthen technical capacity.
• Provide remote program management and support to protection staff as needed, ensuring they remain briefed, engaged and well supported in delivering quality programming.
• Coordinate and lead regular team meetings, ensuring timely communication of key information, collective problem solving, and follow up on agreed actions.
• Develop and implement capacity building strategies and training plans for the protection team at field level, including coaching and mentoring Protection Team Leaders to strengthen leadership.
• Foster a culture of accountability, inclusion and continuous learning across the protection team.

Operations

• In coordination with Support Services oversee the effective management of operations support activities to ensure the effective implementation of the program.
• Develop procurement plans and coordinate the timely procurement and effective management of the goods and services.
• Oversee effective management, distribution and accountability of direct assistance, including cash for protection to clients, dignity kits, NFIs.
• Ensure effective logistical planning and coordination for staff movement planning and access arrangements in coordination with Area Manager and Safety/Security team.
• Participate in procurement and tender committees when required ensuring transparency in supplier/contractor selection.
• Support the development of emergency procurement plans to enable rapid responses to emerging protection responses.
• Flag delays on operational risks, including logistical bottlenecks.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning

• Support on ongoing data collection and analysis related to all protection programs in coordination with PC and MEAL team to identify trends, priority areas and emerging protection issues.
• In coordination with the PC and MEAL team, contribute to the development testing and roll-out of M&E tools, processes and methodologies to measure program quality, effectiveness and impact.
• In collaboration with MEAL teams, monitor program objectives, outputs, indicators and activities according to project and organizational monitoring frameworks – ensuring team deliverables remain on track as per agreed donor commitments.
• Contribute to the documentation and consolidation of lessons learnt and best practices from protection activities
• Support the production of comprehensive, quality and timely reports and communications materials for donors and humanitarian coordination forums on program activities
• In coordination with the PC, the MEAL team and the Grants team, input into donor reports and stakeholder reports by consolidating programmatic updates on program activities, targets, achievements, challenges and budget so as to ensure accurate, coherent and timely reporting.
• Contribute to DRC’s evidence-based advocacy initiatives, leveraging protection monitoring findings and analysis to highlight risks, trends and gaps at coordination level.

Representation and coordination

• Represent DRC’s protection program towards external stakeholders at area level, including humanitarian partners, authorities, UN, INGO/NGO.
• Ensure active representation and participation of DRC in sub-national protection sector coordination mechanisms and relevant AoRs, including HLP technical working group and relevant technical working groups.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with local partners, community-based organizations and civil society actors promoting collaboration and capacity strengthening.
• Ensure regular coordination with DRC sector teams (Economic Recovery, WASSI and HDP) to ensure integration and protection-sensitive programming.

Protection Sectoral Technical Responsibility

• Support the development, harmonization, adaptation and rollout of internal policies, guidelines, SoPs, and tools covering all areas of DRC’s protection programming (protection case management, cash for protection, psychosocial support, protection monitoring, legal aid and community-based protection), under guidance of the PC.
• Support regular protection analysis efforts, including systematic incorporation of findings into program adaptations and advocacy.
• Ensure protection monitoring trends are integrated into strategic and operational decision making at area level.
• Provide technical supervision, advice and guidance to protection sectoral staff, and authority to instruct, in line with DRC Protection SOPs, minimum standards and humanitarian principles.
• Support the delivery and design of capacity building initiatives for protection staff through training, mentoring, and shadowing visits and on-the job coaching to strengthen technical competencies.
• Provide capacity building and technical support to other DRC programme sectors to strengthen protection mainstreaming.

Protection Partnerships

• Coordinate with Grants & Partnership colleagues to identify, vet and engage potential partners in the North Area, including local NGOs and community-based organizations, assessing their protection technical competencies and institutional capacities.
• In collaboration with the Protection Coordinator, provide technical supervision and capacity development support for partners implementing protection activities, including protection case management, psychosocial support, protection monitoring, legal aid activities.
• Support partners in developing technical supervision capacities within their own teams. =
• Monitor and support program quality, compliance and adherence to protection principles across partner-implemented activities, providing coaching, joint reviews and technical feedback.
• Collaborate with partners in co-designing of project proposals, log frames, indicators and budgets ensuring alignment with community needs, donor requirements and DRC’s protection strategy.
• Participate in external coordination meetings, networks, forums, as requested by the HoP to represent DRC and its partnerships and to strengthen inter-agency collaboration and advocacy.

Experience and technical competencies:

• Proven experience of at least 4 years working in the protection sector, including management of protection programmes (covering protection case management, PSS, protection monitoring, legal aid and community-based protection)
• Bachelor’s degree in law, Psychology, Social Sciences, Human Rights or other relevant fields. A postgraduate degree (Master’s), in a related discipline is an asset. Equivalent experience and expertise may be considered in lieu of advanced degree.
• Demonstrated experience in the technical supervision of teams, including the direct supervision of team leaders and provision of technical guidance to officers, assistants and partners.
• Track record of developing and implementing protection mainstreaming across different sectors (Shelter, Livelihoods, Education and HMA)
• Proven knowledge and application of global protection sector standards, and Results-Based Protection approaches and familiarity with inter-agency coordination mechanisms.
• Knowledge and experience designing, implementing, and monitoring and evaluating protection interventions across two or more of DRC’s Protection sector components: Gender-Based Violence, Child Protection, Protection Information Management, Community-Based Protection, Mental Health and Psychosocial Support, Protection Monitoring and/or Legal Aid/HLP.
• Strong understanding of protection analysis methodologies and ability to translate findings into adaptive programming and advocacy messages.
• Demonstrated experience in capacity building (training, mentoring, shadowing, coaching) for staff, partners and/or duty bearers on protection principles and technical practices.
• Experience in project cycle management, including proposal development, logframe and indicator design, budgeting implementation, MEAL and donor reporting.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, representation, negotiation, promotion, and diplomacy skills with proven ability to coordinate with humanitarian actors, authorities, donors and community stakeholders.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with ability to synthesize complex information.
• Demonstrated commitment to cultural sensitivity, diversity, equity inclusion, humanitarian principles and DRC values. 
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities under pressure, maintain attention to detail and adapt to changing contexts. 

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in law, Psychology, Social Sciences, Human Rights or other relevant field, A postgraduate degree (Master’s), in a related discipline is an asset. Equivalent experience and expertise maybe considered in lieu of advanced degree.

Languages:

• English – fluent
• Arabic – fluent

 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 act in line with our vision and values.

We offer:

Contract length: 12 months

Level: Management – F2

Location: Rural Damascus (covering Rural Damascus and Daraa)

Expected Start date: 01 November 2025

Application process:

Interested? Then apply for this position here: Protection Project Manager - Application Form

All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages). Both must be in the same language as this vacancy note. CV-only applications will not be considered.

Applications close: 22 October 2025

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. DRC reserves the right to conduct tests and interviews before the closing date and can close the advertisement earlier in case of finding a suitable candidate.

Need further information?

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