Senior Child Protection Officer

• Reports To: Project Manager

Organizational Context

Innovative Humanitarian Solution (IHS) is a non-profit/humanitarian organization dedicated to safeguarding the rights and well-being of children. We work in emergency and conflict affected Areas in Afar, Amhara, Tigray,and Benshamngul Gumz, Regions to create protective environments for children and Crisis affected people. We are seeking dedicated and experienced Child Protection Officers to join our team and lead frontline efforts to identify, prevent, and respond to child abuse, exploitation, neglect, and violence.

I. Overall Purpose of the Role

Senior Child protection Officer holds overall responsibility for the strategic direction, technical quality, management, and representation of the organization’s child protection program at the regional level. This position leads program design, ensures adherence to global standards, manages significant grants, cultivates strategic partnerships, and advocates for systemic change. The senior officer is the organization’s primary child protection expert and representative at national forums.

II. Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Program Development

• Development, periodic review, and implementation of the child protection strategy, ensuring alignment with national priorities, global best practices, and organizational strategic plans.
• Conduct comprehensive contextual analyses and needs assessments to identify programmatic priorities and gaps.
• Lead the design of new projects and the development of high-quality concept notes
• Drive innovation and integration of child protection with other sectors (Education, Health, Livelihoods, and GBV).

Technical Oversight & Quality Assurance

• Establish and enforce regional technical standards, SOPs, and tools for case management, community-based protection, MHPSS, and prevention programming.
• Conduct regular field monitoring visits to assess program quality, provide on-the-job coaching, and ensure compliance with donor requirements and inter-agency guidelines.
• Lead the technical review of all high-risk or complex protection cases in coordination with Officers.
• Ensure robust child safeguarding and PSEA (Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse) measures are integrated and functional across all programs and operations.

Representation, Advocacy & Strategic Partnerships

• Serve as the organization’s principal representative in regional child protection coordination bodies.
• Build and maintain strategic partnerships with key government ministries at regional / woreda level.
• Lead advocacy initiatives based on program evidence to influence national policies, laws, and resource allocation for child protection.

Team Leadership, Capacity Building & Security

• Line-manage and mentor child protection staff, fostering a culture of technical excellence, accountability, and professional development.
• Conduct regional -level capacity assessments and lead the development/implementation of comprehensive capacity-building plans for staff and key partners.
• Contribute to the review of security protocols; ensuring protection considerations are central to safety and security management.

III. Qualifications and Experience

Essential:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s level or equivalent) in Social Work, Psychology, International Law, Human Rights, International Development, or any others related field.
• A minimum of 4 years of relevant professional experience in child protection programming, for Masters and 6 years for bachelors in a humanitarian or development context, preferably with an INGO.
• Proven track record in successful proposal development, strategic planning, and management of large, complex multi-donor
• Demonstrated expertise in child protection systems strengthening, national advocacy, and policy engagement.
• Exceptional leadership, representation, and negotiation skills, with the ability to influence at a senior level.
• Strong experience in staff management, capacity building, and team leadership in cross-cultural settings.
• Fluency in English (written and spoken).
• Knowledge of Local Context will be considered as an asset

Safeguarding and Compliance

• Ensuring compliance with IHS`s PSEA, Child safeguarding, Anti-fraud and others policies.
• Ensuring Code of conduct and prevention from sexual exploitation and abuse policies and uphold the highest standards according to her/his area of responsibility.