Protection Team Leader

Information pack

Leading humanitarian aid and development agency -the international aid agency of the National Council of Churches in Australia

Opportunity to lead Act for Peace’s (AfP) Protection Team

Work with an experienced team

Full-time Position

Location: SydneyCBD

Thank you for your interest in this position.

To apply, please email to and cc to :

a 2-4 page covering letter addressing each of the required and desirableSelection Criteria individuallyand

your resume

Applications open: Friday 23 December 2016

Applications close: Wednesday 1 February2017

Interviews: Week commencing 13 February 2017

Please contact Susan Lorenzo on 02-8259-0831 or at , if you have any queries.

Unfortunately due to the number of applications we usually receive we are only able to respond to those selected for interview.

About the position

The Protection Team Leader(PTL) will play a key role in leading a small but dynamic Protection Team within the Programs and Policy Department (PPD) of Act for Peace (AfP).

Under its 2016-18 Strategic Plan,AfP has three operational plans. The PTL will be responsible for implementing AfP’s Operational Plan on Protection, managing program coordinators working with partners designing and implementing protection programs, providing technical support on protection to staff implementing AfP’s Operational Plan on Disaster Risk Management and Emergency Response and its Operational Plan on Sustainable Development and overseas program partners.

The focus of the role will be to oversee the management of a growing portfolio of protection work, which includes donor and AfP-funded protection programs, integrated programs, and ensuring protection is prioritised in all programs as a cross-cutting issue. The PTL will be responsible for strengthening protection as a core competency within AfP, supporting partners to develop community-based protection programs, and mainstream protection principles and standards in programs. Some international travel will be required and the PTL will directly manage some overseas programs.

The PTL will be supported by:1) the Programs Manager, who will provide line management support; 2) the Senior Protection and Policy Advisor, who developed the Operational Plan on Protection; 3) the Business Development Manager, for donor liaison and grant development, and 4) the Effectiveness Team, which focuses on the development of effective systems and procedures to enable AfP’s protection work.

The position is permanent position with an annual salary expected to be in the range of $70-80K (plus 9.5% super). Salary packaging and tax benefits are also available. Salary will be negotiated depending upon the skills and experience of the candidate.

About Act for Peace

Act for Peace (AfP) is the international aid and development agency of the National Council of Churches in Australia (NCCA), a council of 19 member churches. Our vision is for a peaceful world where all people share a safe, just and dignified life. Our purpose is to empower passionate people to work together to strengthen the safety, justice and dignity of people affected by conflicts, disasters and forced displacement.

The Policy and Programs Department (PPD)works with partners to support a range of humanitarian and development initiatives including program implementation, organizational development and advocacy, assisting partners working with communities in or from Syria, Palestine, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, the Philippines, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Indonesia, Tonga and Vanuatu. For more information about AfP, visit:

AfP is a member of the global ACT Alliance which provides development and humanitarian assistance in more than 140 countries - enabling us to respond immediately to emergency situations and to advocate with global resources. For more information about the ACT Alliance, please see

Position Description –Protection Team Leader

  1. Key Responsibilities
  • Manage AfP’s Protection Team.
  • Responsible for implementing AfP’s3-year Operation Plan on Protection.
  • Reports to the Programs Manager(the Protection Team Leader’s line manager) with a dotted line report to the Senior Protection and Policy Advisor (on protection strategy, standards and methods).
  • Responsible for line management of 2-4 staff.
  • Provides technical support on protection to AfP program and advocacy staff and local program partners.
  • Preparation of proposals, budget submissions, reports and other duties as required.

Qualifications and experience

  • University degree in related discipline (law, humanitarian affairs, social science, human rights, development studies) or equivalent experience in a related area.
  • At least 5 years of professional experience working in the humanitarian or development field (this may include in human rights, social work, crisis/emergency relief or other related area) with a minimum of 3 years’ experience in a protracted conflict or displacement situation or emergency response.
  • Strong program/technical and budget management skills, planning, reporting, monitoring and evaluation skills (Int’l or Aust NGO-based experienced preferred).
  • Strong written and oral communication skills, effective in representation and liaison with external parties. Fluency in English is required.
  • Demonstrated experience in capacity building and mentoring of local/nationalstaff.
  • Must be capable of applying their skills and knowledge in a range of capacities, including direct implementation, advisory functions, training and the transfer of technical knowledge and management skills to others.

Competencies

  • Leadership: Ability to lead the Protection Team, inspire and manage staff, and oversee the management of a growing portfolio of protection programs
  • Planning and Organising: ability to meet tight deadlines; handle concurrent projects/activities and balance, prioritise and adjust changing workloads.
  • Values: Understanding of, and commitment to,humanitarian principles and standards and Act for Peace’s rights-based and community-focused approach to protection.
  • Problem-solving:ability to use sound judgment in applying technical expertise to a range of issues/problems with strong analytical and conceptual thinking skills.
  • Communication: excellent spoken and written English communication skills; the ability to relate to respectfully and effectively with partners from different cultures; capacity to prepare program proposals and reports; capacity to contribute to advocacy, public policy and campaign materials.
  • Teamwork: generous team spirit; excellent interpersonal skills; demonstrated capacity to establish and maintain effective national and international partnerships and working relations in a multi-cultural, multi-faith environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity, and; capacity to work with remote stakeholders.

Selection Criteria

To apply, please email to 2-4 page covering letter addressing the ‘required’ and ‘desirable’ Selection Criteria below with your resume by1February2017.

Please quote “Protection Team Leader” in the subject line of your email.

Required:

1)Experience leading a team or managing staff working on various programs and advocacy initiatives.

2)Demonstrated field-level protection programming experience either in a protracted conflict or displacement situation or a rapid-onset emergency.

3)Sound working knowledge of protection programming methods and approaches in conflicts, natural disasters and displacement situations.

4)Demonstrated program management experience, particularly program design, monitoring and evaluation.

5)Experience providing training and technical support for field staff or local partners.

6)Experience designing protection programs and proposals for government funding.

7)Experience developing standard operating procedures, such as program cycle management tools, templates and procedures,and reviewing project proposals and reports.

8)Excellent organisational skills, including the ability to plan, organize, prioritise and implement work-flow processes to meet objectives, work independently orin a team.

9)Proven ability to work under pressure and be flexible, including the ability to cope with multiple tasks, deadlines, and competing and/or changing demands.

Desirable:

1)Knowledge and expertise in one or more or the following areas: a) community-based protection programming; b) gender-based violence programming; c) psychosocial support in emergencies, d) integrated protection/livelihoods or protection/health programming, or; e) protection mainstreaming standards, methods and tools.

2)Demonstrated ability to apply protection standards, methods and principles to program design and implementation.

3)Experience developing and delivering protection training for staff, local partners and communities.

4)Successful track record of developing proposals for donor funding.

When addressing the selection criteria, please provide 2 examples of your written work (e.g. reports, guidelines, training outlines, concept notes, good practice articles etc.) illustrating your capacity to communicate for different purposes.

Our selected candidate will:

  • Have required visas to work in Australia.
  • Be able to undertake international travel.
  • Have a friendly, positive and respectful approach to work and the ability to work with staff with different competencies and local in-country partners with high and low capacity.
  • Undertake a National Police Check and Working with Children checks prior to employment (AfPprioritises the safeguarding of children in all of our work).
  • Commit to the values and purpose of AfP and the NCCA as a whole, including sympathy with the values of the Christian faith, and commitment to equal opportunity, diversity and equity.

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