Child Protection Advisor

About SEED Foundation: SEED Foundation is a locally-registered NGO in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. SEED’s mission is to protect, empower, and support the recovery of survivors of violence and others at risk. SEED is committed to delivering quality and holistic approaches, combining international expertise and local know-how to achieve results for the people of Iraq and Kurdistan. SEED’s programming focuses on four key objectives: 1) the delivery of transformational, comprehensive MHPSS services including case management, mental health, and legal services, as well as psychosocial support activities; 2) strengthening the capacity of service providers through education, training, and capacity-building programs; 3) promoting policy and social change to strengthen the rights of, and protections for, vulnerable groups and individuals; and, 4) supporting the protection and recovery of survivors of trafficking, including through SEED’s shelter for victims of trafficking and those at risk, aftercare services, and prevention work to reduce the risk of trafficking through public awareness, technical assistance, and advocacy for legal, regulatory, policy, process, and institutional changes.

Role of the Child Protection Advisor: As a key member of SEED’s MHPSS Technical Unit, the Child Protection Advisor will provide technical expertise and leadership on child protection issues across SEED’s program and policy portfolio to include: services for vulnerable and conflict-affected Iraqis including survivors of torture, trafficking and gender-based violence (GBV), persons with disabilities, members of minority religious and ethnic communities, internally displaced Iraqis and refugees, including boys and girls who were in ISIS captivity; technical assistance, advocacy, awareness-raising; and training and capacity building efforts. The Child Protection Advisor will lead the development of effective, evidence-based child protection case management in line with needs, develop guidance and protocols, identify capacity building needs and devise and deliver training accordingly, and provide technical supervision on cases to SEED’s case managers to ensure high standards of service delivery. The Child Protection Advisor will collaborate closely with SEED’s mental health, community-based MHPSS, and legal services to ensure that they align with international standards and meet children’s needs. He/she will act as a resource for input to all existing programs and in designing new programs. The Child Protection Advisor will report to the Director of the Technical Unit and will work collaboratively with management across SEED. Although the Child Protection Advisor will be based in Erbil, he/she will be expected to travel frequently to other areas of KRI.

Specific Tasks:

Technical Leadership on Service Delivery, Advocacy, Awareness-Raising and Capacity Building Programming (35%)

• Provide technical leadership on SEED’s child protection services and inputs in case management.
• Working closely with Program Directors, Program Managers, other members of the MHPSS Technical Unit and senior management, lead case management design and approach
• Lead development of child protection and policy approaches, SOPs, tools, protocols, processes, policies and clear guidance and standards consistent with international best practice
• Collaborate closely with SEED’s mental health, community-based MHPSS, and legal services to ensure that they align with international standards and meet children’s needs
• Ensure that all case management forms, guidance, and tracking systems are in place and implemented
• Identify, share, and adapt resources and materials
• Ensure referral pathways are in place
• Work closely with the MEAL team to administer case management database
• Provide input on safe and ethical data collection and storage
• Provide technical leadership on child protection advocacy campaigns
• Develop GBV Related communications, media and public awareness content
• Provide technical leadership on capacity building efforts as related to child protection, including for governmental and non-governmental service providers

Oversight and Technical Supervision of Case Managers and Cases (35%)

• Coordinate closely with Program Managers and Service Delivery Coordinators to ensure that all clients receive needed care
• Provide technical supervision and technical support in applying SEED policies and procedures to Service Delivery Coordinators
• Provide technical support to Case Managers
• Set up case conferences in coordination with Service Delivery Coordinators as needed for difficult cases
• Evaluate staff competencies and identify capacity building needs
• Develop and deliver, or organize, training
• Contribute to staff development plans
• Support staff care and wellbeing

Monitoring and Evaluation, Documentation, and Reporting (20%)

• Support program MEAL, including the development of tools, to ensure that MEAL systems provide adequate feedback on Community MHPSS interventions
• Make recommendations for program development and course correction
• Contribute to quality reporting
• Ensure all staff comply with relevant donor reporting requirements including GBVIMS, Activity Info, and CommCare

Coordination and Organizational Representation (10%)

• Represent SEED in cluster and working group meetings, with KRG and with donors
• Develop strategic partnerships and work closely with partners
• Maintain effective working relationships with key stakeholders
• Provide content and input on communications materials including website, promotional materials, and social media, and ensure it complies with SEED’s storytelling policy.

Essential criteria:

• Master’s degree in psychology, counseling, clinical social work, law, protection, gender or similar field.
• Three or more years of experience in child protection
• Three or more years of experience in delivering case management services.
• Three or more years overseeing MHPSS, protection, GBV, and Community MHPSS programming in international development or humanitarian settings; Iraq experience preferred.
• Experience in providing supervision and training to caseworkers and community mobilizers and other service providers.
• Strong belief in human rights and gender equality.
• Good interpersonal skills including the ability to gain trust and build relationships.
• Good diplomatic and persuasion skills.
• Strong ability to work independently
• High standard of spoken and written English. Arabic and/or Kurdish desirable.
• Good computer skills.
• Ability to work in a stressful setting and adapt quickly to changing environments.
• Salary, benefits, and allowances dependent on skills and qualifications.

TO APPLY:

• Send one PDF with your cover letter, CV, and contact information for 3 references to jobs@seedkurdistan.org using “Child Protection Advisor” as the subject of your email.
• Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
• Only complete applications will be reviewed. NO CALLS PLEASE. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

Job Email id: jobs(at)seedkurdistan.org