Protection Officer - Community Based

About the Organization

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is a leading humanitarian organization founded in 1933, active in over 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities, dedicated to restoring health, safety, education, and economic wellbeing to those affected by conflict and disaster worldwide. IRC thrives on delivering sustainable impact by restoring dignity and hope to millions globally.

Position Overview

The Community-Based Protection Officer will play a crucial role in direct implementation of protection monitoring, case management, running Information and Support Centers (ISCs), and supporting Persons of Specific Needs (PSNs). This role supervises Protection Assistants in the field to assure timely and effective service delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and provide technical guidance for protection program activities, ensuring high-quality planning, implementation, and follow-up.
• Maintain strong relationships with forcibly displaced and stateless persons (FDSPs), stakeholders, and humanitarian actors to support program coordination and delivery.
• Conduct protection monitoring, identify protection concerns, and facilitate service access through referrals to beneficiaries.
• Support project planning and implementation at the field level, monitor progress, and ensure alignment with plans and quality standards.
• Document case studies, best practices, and lessons learned from protection interventions.
• Ensure case management follows confidentiality and standards; identify and follow up on referrals.
• Collect protection data, document FDSP needs, monitor project outcomes, and collaborate with M&E officers during field visits.
• Develop mitigation strategies to address project operational challenges and contribute to proposal development.
• Lead awareness sessions and information campaigns for the FDSP community.
• Participate in joint needs assessments and map services to enhance referrals.
• Prepare protection monitoring reports, design monitoring tools, and conduct beneficiary interviews, focus groups, and key-informant discussions with subsequent reporting.
• Ensure regular reporting on completed and upcoming activities to supervisors.
• Support volunteer integration and provide supervisory oversight and feedback to protection teams.
• Oversee PSN assessments and respond with targeted interventions.
• Ensure handling of information aligns with confidentiality principles and IRC procedures.
• Coordinate closely with refugee leadership structures and provide relevant support.
• Provide technical leadership within the protection thematic area and ensure alignment with organizational goals.
• Contribute to quality monitoring, evaluation, and reporting in various settlement locations.
• Document and disseminate project achievements and challenges, and follow up on action points.
• Assist in participatory needs assessments of affected communities.
• Complete the protection working group’s 4W matrix timely.
• Collaborate with internal and external experts on protection sector matters.
• Represent IRC in protection meetings, prepare minutes, and ensure cross-sector integration.
• Maintain strong partnerships with local partners, government authorities, and humanitarian organizations to enhance coordination and program success.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Sociology, Law, Human Rights, or related field; postgraduate qualifications desirable.
• 3-5 years of relevant experience in protection programming including GBV, Child Protection, or Monitoring in displacement contexts.
• Experience working with vulnerable groups such as refugees, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), returnees, and migrants.
• Proven management skills in team leadership, budgeting, and multi-stakeholder coordination.
• Strong knowledge of Program Cycle Management, monitoring, evaluation, and accountability standards.
• Well-versed in protection principles, safeguarding, and durable solutions approaches.
• Competence in designing and conducting training for staff and stakeholders.
• Excellent skills in reporting, proposal development, organization, leadership, and financial management.
• Capability to represent the organization effectively in meetings with government and partners.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, and people management skills.
• Ability to work autonomously, exercise sound judgment, and adhere to IRC’s professional standards including integrity and accountability.

Additional Information

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis with the deadline on July 20, 2026.
Employees are expected to comply with IRC's professional conduct standards reflecting integrity, service, equality and accountability. The organization enforces robust safeguarding and conflict of interest policies to maintain a safe and ethical working environment.

Position is based in Adjumani, Northern Region, Uganda with onsite work requirements.