About the Organization:
The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a globally recognized humanitarian organization dedicated to protecting and supporting displaced and vulnerable populations affected by conflict, displacement, and crises. DRC operates across multiple countries, delivering protection, psychosocial support, and community-based services to refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and host communities. Working with DRC offers a unique opportunity to develop professional expertise in humanitarian response, protection monitoring, psychosocial support, and community engagement while contributing to meaningful, life-changing interventions.
Job Description:
The Protection Officer – PSS will operate under the supervision of the Project Manager and technical guidance of the Protection Specialist – Monitoring. The role focuses on implementing protection monitoring, psychosocial support (PSS), and Community Based Protection Networks (CBPN) activities in selected refugee sites and host communities in Assosa, Benishangul-Gumuz, and surrounding areas.
The officer will conduct protection monitoring visits, collect and encode data, identify individuals at risk, provide referrals for specialized assistance, and report on emerging protection risks and trends. The position also involves providing direct support to people with specific protection needs and assisting in other protection interventions conducted by DRC.
This position offers professional growth in the fields of protection monitoring, psychosocial support, data collection and analysis, and community engagement, providing exposure to both field-level operations and programmatic planning.
Key Responsibilities:
- Conduct regular protection monitoring in assigned areas, identifying protection risks and trends.
- Contribute to the development, review, and testing of protection monitoring tools and plans.
- Collect and encode data using tools such as Kobo or Activity Info, ensuring alignment with international standards and DRC guidelines.
- Identify individuals at risk, provide information, and refer for specialized assistance.
- Support coordination and implementation of Individual Protection Assistance (IPA) programs.
- Monitor beneficiaries’ access to services and evaluate the effectiveness of referral mechanisms and protection interventions.
- Collaborate with CBPNs to conduct community awareness-raising and information dissemination on protection risks and mitigation strategies.
- Maintain relationships with CBPNs and stakeholders to collect information on new displacements and support safe referrals.
- Engage with community-based structures respectfully and in culturally appropriate ways.
- Ensure ethical data collection, adherence to Protection Information Management principles, and compliance with data protection protocols.
- Participate in relevant training sessions, including Protection Information Management and related topics.
- Support reporting, including daily, weekly, and monthly updates, and contribute to protection analysis.
- Participate in protection and multisectoral assessments and ensure proper documentation of all activities.
Educational Qualification:
- Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, or related fields from a recognized institution.
Work Experience:
- Minimum of two years of experience in entry to mid-level humanitarian or protection roles with international NGOs, UN agencies, or relevant government authorities.
- Experience conducting protection monitoring or assessments using online data collection tools such as Kobo or Activity Info.
- Demonstrated experience working with displaced or conflict-affected populations.
Required Skills and Competencies:
- Strong data collection, analysis, and reporting skills.
- Excellent planning, organizational, and problem-solving abilities.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team.
- Integrity, strong work ethic, and ability to meet deadlines under pressure.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel) and familiarity with data collection/analysis tools.
- Proficient in English; knowledge of local languages is an advantage.
- Commitment to DRC’s core values, ethical standards, and safeguarding principles.
Job Location:
Assosa Field Office, Benishangul-Gumuz, Ethiopia. The role requires field visits to refugee sites and host communities for monitoring and engagement.
Employment Type and Salary:
- Contract Length: 5 months
- Contract Type: National Contract
- Number of Positions: 2
- Band: H2 – Non-Management
- Start Date: 1st May 2026
- Salary and benefits in accordance with DRC’s Terms of Employment for national staff. This role provides hands-on experience in protection and psychosocial support programming, field monitoring, and community engagement.
How to Apply:
All applicants must submit a cover letter and an updated CV (maximum four pages) in English. Applications sent by email will not be considered. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Scanned certificates or additional attachments are not required.
DRC strongly encourages women and underrepresented groups to apply to promote gender equality and diversity. Only qualified Ethiopian nationals are eligible to apply.
The application deadline is March 29, 2026.
This position offers a valuable opportunity to develop expertise in protection monitoring, psychosocial support, and community-based programming while contributing directly to the safety, well-being, and resilience of displaced and vulnerable populations.
Candidates will gain professional development, exposure to field-level humanitarian operations, and experience in implementing protection programs in collaboration with local and international partners.
Joining DRC as a Protection Officer – PSS allows you to make a meaningful impact, strengthen protection systems, and advance your career in humanitarian programming.
This role emphasizes practical skills development, teamwork, ethical practice, and engagement with communities in need, offering a platform to build both technical and leadership competencies.
We invite motivated and qualified candidates to apply and contribute to DRC’s mission of protecting vulnerable populations, fostering social cohesion, and supporting communities affected by displacement.