Country Protection Manager Full Time

Background

DRC is one of the largest protection actors in Sudan, delivering lifesaving protection services to conflict affected communities amid the world’s most severe humanitarian crisis. Present in Sudan since 2004, DRC delivers direct protection services in six states and through frontline partners in another three.

Overall purpose of the role

The National Protection Manager has the overall responsibility for providing technical and programmatic support for DRC protection activities in the DRC areas of operations in Sudan. The role will include development and harmonisation of protection SOPs, tools, and training to protection staff in the field to ensure DRC has a consistent and clear approach to protection across all sites. The National Protection Manager will lead in the development and roll out of DRC Sudan protection strategy including development of protection related advocacy messages using evidence. Position has strong focus on program development and identification of strategic areas through coordination mechanisms and donor engagement.

Geographic scope

This role has a country focus and ensures compliance to DRC procedures and guidelines within the country. The role contributes to the development of country strategies, which are translated into action plans and day-to-day tasks. The role provides technical support and guidance to field staff. This role is based in Port Sudan.

Responsibilities

Protection sectoral technical responsibility

• Lead protection analysis efforts, the development and implementation of the country level protection strategy.
• Technically responsible for the overall protection portfolio and ensuring AGDM in protection activities.
• Oversee and lead the development, harmonisation and rollout of internal protection related tools, Standard Operating Procedures, policies, and guidelines related to DRC’s protection interventions.

Technical and Direct Line Management

• Technically supervise protection managers and team leaders and provide technical advice and guidance to protection staff.
• Responsible for participating in human resource processes including the recruitment of protection sectoral technical staff in country and setting performance objectives and performance appraisals for protection managers and team leaders.
• Responsible for identifying protection sectoral technical gaps and establishing capacity building plans for protection sectoral staff.
• Work closely with relevant protection staff in the development and delivery of capacity building efforts.
• Provide regular technical support and guidance to protection teams and other relevant staff in both a structured and on a case-by-case basis.
• Provide direct line management for country level Protection Specialists.

Protection programme development, quality assurance and oversight

• Maintain oversight of overall protection programme implementation, including budgets and indicators, in close collaboration with HoP, area managers and protection managers.
• Participate in programme / project review meetings, including grant opening, grant review and close out meetings.
• Review and update of technical approaches, protection SOPs.
• Support program teams to review current referral mechanisms to link beneficiaries, particularly vulnerable individuals and groups, to services, through service mapping, referral workshops, and SOPs;
• Provide regular technical trainings and capacity building to protection staff, partners, and on key DRC protection concerns and product solutions.
• Coordinate with other sectors to move towards integration of protection programs wherever possible or mainstreaming of protection within other sectors where integration is not available.
• Ensure protection mainstreaming including review of all programming approaches, SOPs and tools, and staff capacity development.
• Organize and facilitate regular Protection team meetings across subsectors and field offices for knowledge sharing, peer support and quality improvement.
• Coordinate with MEAL to support the development of MEAL tools, and accountability systems, including incorporation of feedback mechanisms for staff and beneficiaries, into program;
• Oversee compilation of project related internal and external reports and communication.

Coordination and Advocacy

• Regular coordination and liaison with sector coordination platforms or other Protection partners and government authorities at country level.
• Collaborate with relevant internal and external technical experts on issues related to relevant sector.
• Represent DRC at relevant protection coordination meetings.
• Actively participate in internal coordination meeting
• Along with Advocacy/PIM specialist, develop monthly protection monitoring reports for external circulation. With clear and targeted recommendations for different audiences. for
• Support training on protection advocacy for local civil society and other local stakeholders (including CBPNs).
• Lead the development of protection advocacy strategies and plans by CBPNs, civil society and local stakeholders.
• Participate in preparing monthly/quarterly/annual highlights/reports and proposals and budgets for donors

Project development

• Contribute to and coordinate the design, implementation and evaluation of Protection related programming to secure follow on or expansion funding for the protection portfolio as per identified needs and in a standardized manner across programmes.
• Lead on proposal design, including activity design and budgeting, along with PMs, where needed. Sign-off on all project proposals and budgets (related to protection activities)

Qualifications, experience and technical competencies

• Bachelor’s degree in Humanitarian Studies, Law, Social Sciences or relevant academic field is required. Masters Degree is desirable.
• Minimum 7 years’ experience implementing and developing protection programs in displacement contexts
• Experience of preparing a protection programming strategies and advocacy strategies for a complex programme covering multiple sites.
• Experience in coordinating and standardizing approaches across a multi-site programme.
• Experience of integrating protection within a multisector portfolio.
• Experience providing remote technical guidance and developing training to suit a variety of audiences.
• Demonstrative ability to conduct trainings on protection and human rights topics, including staff training

Languages:

• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• Arabic is desirable.

About you

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’s 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: Upholding and promoting the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to DRC’s values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

Conditions

Contract: Twelve months’ contract with possibility of extension, subject to funding and performance. Salary and conditions in accordance with the Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for International staff. This position is graded at MF

Start Date: December 2025

Duty Station: Port Sudan

Reports to: Head of Programme

Tagged as: Danish Refugee Council, Sudan