Universal Humanitarian Aid Initiative (UHAI) is a humanitarian and developmental non -governmental organization that insist that the world can be changed positively where everyone can live a full life and free from poverty. UHAI work nationwide for profound change tackling the root cause of poverty, empowering people to have a brighter future, and creating enabling environment for communities to exercise their capacities. UHAI operates across the Northeast Nigeria and has extensive experience in managing and monitoring emergency relief and rehabilitation actions both with local partners and directly. Universal Humanitarian Aids Initiatives has been working in Nigeria since 2017 implementing humanitarian and Developmental interventions across the Northeast even before its registration with Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) on 5th February 2023. UHAI is currently operating within 3 states in the country, across three thematic areas: Humanitarian and Sustainable Livelihood, Education in Emergencies, WASH and Protection with gender and inclusion principles cutting across all thematic areas.
The organization is seeking for a qualified hand to handle the vacant position.
Job Title: Protection Officer
Job ID: UHAI/NG/010
Location: Borno
Employee Status: Fixed Term
Report to: Programme Manager
Job Overview/Summary
Under the supervision of the Programme Manager, the Protection Officer is responsible for the overall oversight and management (planning, implementation, and monitoring) of the Sector’s projects. S/he will support the Protection Manager in managing and supervising staff. S/he is responsible for ensuring that projects run smoothly by providing technical leadership, supervising, training, and mentoring staff, and coordinating the implementation of project activities. The Protection Officer will contribute to the UHAI Protection program development and proposal development. S/he will play an active role in establishing and managing relationships with local partners, humanitarian actors, state authorities, beneficiaries, and local/traditional leaders and contribute to the achievement of UHAI Protection program and UHAI set goals.
Major Responsibilities
Project planning and implementation
- Responsible for the planning and timely implementation of project activities in Maiduguri of Borno State, ensuring adherence to UHAI policies and procedures.
- Continuously monitor project quality; for example, strengthening data collection, reporting, accountability initiatives, and documenting the impact of UHAI presence in the field.
- Ensure synergy between the Protection sector and other UHAI sectorial activities in Borno State in close coordination and consultation with other Protection staff.
- Work with the Programme Manager and MEAL to contribute to new project development, including both narratives and budgets.
- Contribute and support effective monitoring, evaluation, and learning processes and initiatives, and ensure effective data and information management for the project.
- Develop monthly work plans focused on key outputs and outcomes in consultation with other Protection staff.
- Ensure staff contributions to project monitoring and evaluation requirements to ensure project quality, relevance, and accountability to UHAI’s target populations.
- Integrate community approaches, gender sensitivity, capacity building, and mainstream protection into all activities as appropriate.
Reporting and documentation
- Ensure UHAI has up-to-date information on the affected and targeted community and coordinate beneficiary lists and numbers with Reporting/Database Assistant and different stakeholders.
- Ensure the timely and quality delivery of weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual project reports.
- Ensure high-quality UHAI and donor reports on activities, indicators, and achievements.
- Ensure that all reporting is disaggregated by age and gender. ï‚· Keep proper records of all project activities.
Staff Performance Management, Learning & Development:
- Coach, train, supervise and mentor direct-report staff, including communicating clear expectations, setting annual performance objectives, providing regular and timely positive and constructive performance feedback, and providing documented semiannual performance reviews.
- Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.
- Hold high-quality meetings with each direct report on a regular and predictable basis, at least monthly.
- Provide a measurable development plan including on-the-job learning with the aim of strengthening technical capacity, exchanging knowledge within the team and providing guidance on career paths.
- As required identify staff performance issues and work with Human Resources to document and address these in accordance with the National Staff Employment Policies.
- Maintain open and professional relations with team members, promoting a strong team spirit and providing oversight and guidance to enable staff to successfully perform in their positions.
- Promote and monitor staff care and well-being. Model healthy work-life balance practices. Support appropriate interventions in response to identified staff care needs of both national and international staff.
- Look for opportunities to support staff in their career growth, where appropriate.
- Adhere to and act in accordance with the UHAI HR Policies and Procedures, and communicates through word and example a high standard of compliance with all applicable policies and regulations.
Team Management
- Create and sustain a work environment of mutual respect where team members strive to achieve excellence.
- Support the Programme Manager in the supervision, hiring, and orientation of new Protection staff as necessary.
- Contribute to UHAI Protection sector team-building efforts, help solve arising problems and support the Programme Manager in the integration of all team members into relevant decision-making processes.
Key Working Relationships
- Position Reports to: The Programme Manager
- Position directly Supervises: Community Engagement and Protection Assistants, Incentive workers.
Qualifications
Education:
- University degree in law, Political science, psychology, social sciences, or social work (bachelor’s as a minimum).
Work Experience:
- Relevant experience (at least 4 years) in protection programming including focus on protection monitoring and responding to identified protection needs.
- Demonstrated experience using international human rights standards in protection programming.
- Knowledge of Project Cycle Management
- Experience working in IDP sites (camps and host communities).
- Experience with coordination of humanitarian protection activities essential. Skills in advocacy are essential.
- Proficiency in designing and implementing monitoring and evaluation systems to measure the impact of protection programs and make data-driven decisions for improvement.
- Ability to manage teams especially field teams in a challenging environment.
- Ability and willingness to live and work in a challenging environment
- Good communication skills (written and verbal), cultural sensitivity, flexibility, ability to improvise, and team player.
- Ability to live and productively work under stress and in insecure and harsh environments while maintaining a sense of humor.
Languages:
- Fluency in English and other languages desirable.
- Knowledge of the local language will be an added value.
Computer / Other Tech Requirements:
- Full professional competency in Microsoft Office Suite, especially Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
Location:
- The position is based in Maiduguri.
Travel:
- Ability to Travel: 20% of the time if applicable.
Application Closing Date 1st September, 2023.
Method of Application
Interested candidate should send his or her application with CV, Motivation letter to Universal Humanitarian Aid Initiatives (UHAI) email; bulusmadugu@uhainitiative.org on or before close of Business 28th August 2023.