Protection Program Manager

Duration of Contract: December 31. 2026

JOB SUMMARY

The Protection Program Manager (PM) is responsible for oversight of Protection program implementation and mainstreaming protection principles in the Samaritan’s Purse program, thereby improving the safety, access and dignity within the programming. The Protection PM will be the budget manager and responsible for the successful implementation of all activities while also representing Samaritan’s Purse Ethiopia (SPE) in all clusters, coordinating interventions with other actors to ensure appropriate responses to identified protection concerns or issues such as safeguarding and protection against sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA). Under the supervision of the Deputy Area Coordinator, the PM will undertake the following tasks:

The Protection Program Manager will oversee the implementation of psychosocial support services, Safe Spaces for women and girls, peer support groups, and trauma-informed training for community and partners in Hitsats IDP camps. The role ensures integration of protection principles with organization objectives, strengthening community protective environments while coordinating with clusters, government authorities, and partners

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Oversee establishment and operation of Safe Spaces, ensuring accessibility, confidentiality, and survivor-centered support.
• Supervise caregivers and volunteers, ensuring adherence to Ethiopia Protection Cluster Minimum Standards.
• Guide trained community leaders in forming and sustaining peer support groups using Healing Wounds of Trauma and Psychological First Aid approaches.
• Provide coaching and monitoring to ensure quality psychosocial support delivery
• Coordinate with partners to train community leaders on trauma-informed care and GBV prevention (SASA! curriculum).
• Oversee recreational and life-skills sessions for children and adolescents, ensuring activities are trauma-informed
• Ensure survivors identified in Safe Spaces receive confidential referrals to MMUs or advanced medical care.
• Manage small-scale survivor support funds for travel and treatment.
• Integrate Community Feedback and Response Mechanisms (CFRMs) into program design and adaptation.
• Facilitate FGDs with women, youth, and community leaders to inform ongoing programming.
• Lead the Protection and MHPSS component of SPE programs including child protection and gender-based violence (GBV) programming and community-level psychosocial support (PSS) as well as professional counseling
• Providing training of beneficiaries and staff on protection principles and prevention of GBV and PSEA, ensuring both beneficiaries and staff are aware of, and are capable of responding to sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and child protection (CP).
• Provide technical support to ensure quality referrals and information dissemination, protection case management, individual protection assistance, are in line with international best practices.
• Technically lead Protection and MHPSS needs assessments and identify risks and vulnerabilities, including those related to gender, age, and diversity.
• Support sectors program staff to mainstream protection in their activities through the provision of training.
• Ensure the safeguarding and reporting policy is communicated to and understood by program participants and relevant community members (through ongoing, age-appropriate, contextualized verbal and/or written information shared in local language.)
• Develop protection Information Education and Communication (IEC) materials and learning aids for the community facilitators and contribute to the contextualization of protection tools and guidelines according to SP, international standards and best practices.
• Ensures opportunities are in place for safe, confidential reporting and community feedback with mechanisms to ensure accountability. Record the complaints made and proactively address the recorded complains in coordination with protection lead and senior leadership team in the head office.
• Promote an environment of respect and trust with program participants and community members, both at the office and in the field site.
• Perform other assigned tasks

EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE NEEDED

• Masters Degree in Sociology, Psychology, International Humanitarian Law, Social Work, Development Management or other related field preferred
• 2-3 years related field experience, including Protection and/or MHPSS program design and management for Masters holders
• Bachelor Degree in Social Work, Development Studies, Sociology, Social Work, Law or other related field required
• 4 – 5 years related field experience
• Background in counseling vulnerable populations
• Strong knowledge of standards and guidelines for MHPSS, GBV, and CP programming, coordination, and data management
• Experience with case management services
• Experience supporting skills building and capacity strengthening skills, including training/ facilitation skills and techniques for accompaniment and mentoring to a range of audiences
• Experience working with local partners and community mobilization preferred
• Experience with participatory, community-led programming approaches, including strategies for supporting the participation of women, girls and potentially marginalized/ at-risk groups

LANGUAGE

• Proficiency in English and Amharic
• Knowledge of the regional language required
• Knowledge of any other national language is a plus

SKILLS REQUIRED:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be willing to abide by Samaritan’s Purse’s code of conduct and understand the principals of Samaritan’s Purse’s Statement of Faith, as well as be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Attention to detail, anticipation and follow up are core values of the job function while maintaining the highest levels of confidentiality regarding contracts and salaries.
• Possesses strong organizational and problem-solving skills within a fast-paced environment.
• Must be a self-starter and internally driven to success and hard work.
• Committed to the SP values and ethics.
• Understanding of humanitarian principles and practices
• In-depth knowledge of international protection programming standards in humanitarian contexts, particularly Gender Based Violence, Psychosocial Support, Protection mainstreaming including familiarity with sector standards and best practice approaches
• Understanding of safeguarding and do-no-harm principles, and how these interact with protection mainstreaming programming and risk mitigation strategies in humanitarian settings
• Strong interpersonal skills and display evidence of good leadership and influencing skills.
• Ability to interact professionally with culturally and linguistically diverse staff and clients.
• English and Amharic fluency required
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and be comfortable participating both as an effective contributor and a listener in-group setting which include senior staff.
• Well-organized, resourceful, effective, and efficient at coordinating multiple resources to get things done and must have proven track record of successfully working on multiple tasks at once and foresees and plan around obstacles.
• Demonstrated sensitivity in diverse, cross-cultural settings.
• Strong knowledge of trauma-informed care approaches (Healing Wounds of Trauma, Psychological First Aid).
• Experience managing Safe Spaces for women and girls, including GBV prevention and survivor-centered support.
• Ability to train and mentor community leaders and community facilitators in psychosocial and protection programming.
• Competence in coordinating with Protection Cluster, Women & Children Affairs Association, and local authorities.
• Strong facilitation skills for life-skills and recreational activities for children/adolescents.
• Proven ability to manage multi-sectoral interventions (Protection, Ministry, GBV, PSS) in complex humanitarian settings.
• Strong knowledge of trauma-informed care approaches (Healing Wounds of Trauma, Psychological First Aid).
• Any other task as assigned

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral diagram, or schedule form.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, sit, and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to outside weather conditions, extreme cold, and extreme heat. The employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; moving mechanical parts; high, precarious places; fumes or airborne particles; risk of electrical shock; risk of radiation; and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Position could require extensive travel in and out of the field.

SAFEGUARDING COMMITMENTS

The employee is required to carry out his/her duties in accordance with Samaritan’s Purse Safeguarding policy and Christian Code of conduct.

Any candidate offered a job with Samaritan’s Purse will be expected to sign Samaritan’s Purse’s Safeguarding Policies and Christian Code of Conduct as part of their contract of employment and agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the provisions of these documents