Child Protection in Emergencies Specialist

The Opportunity – Child Protection in Emergencies Specialist/ National Only

Post location:  Gaza Field Office. 

Contract Duration and Level of Effort: Until end of December 2025  

***Due to the urgency to fill this role, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Kindly note that the position might be filled before the vacancy announcement is closed; therefore, early applications are encouraged. ***

***This role will be contingent upon securing available funds, and we might use this vacancy to fill more than one post. ***

ROLE PURPOSE: 

The Child Protection in Emergencies Specialist (CPiE Specialist) in Gaza will use their in-depth contextual understanding, technical expertise in Child Protection in Emergencies and MHPSS, and relationship building skills to define and deliver our strategic ambition for Child Protection and MHPSS in Gaza, in coordination with Save the Children’s Country Office Child Protection Advisor based in the West Bank. The successful applicant will be expected to demonstrate Gaza level internal and external technical leadership and commitment to programme quality. The post-holder will analyse learning from SC’s 16months response to refine and strengthen the child protection programme including safe identification and referral, case management, community-based alternative care, and integrated group activities for children and parents/caregivers, working closely with the CO CP/CPiE TA. That includes providing field level input for new proposal development/resource mobilisation, developing/adapting technical resource (e.g. tools, guidance, and training materials), providing advice and support for quality implementation, and strengthening monitoring, evaluation, accountability, and learning (MEAL) across the programme. The role will line manage two technical specialists, Case Management Specialist and MHPSS Specialist based in Gaza. S/he will work closely with a range of Save the Children and partner colleagues and be expected to role model Save the Children principles and mentor newer colleagues.

SCOPE OF ROLE: 

Reports to:  Gaza Head of Technical Unit

Dotted line Reporting/Technical: To CP/CPiE Technical Adviser, SC oPt CO

Positions Reporting to this role: Case Management Specialist and MHPSS Specialist

Budget Responsibilities: None

Role Dimensions: The role is expected to foster relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders including Country Office CP/CPiE Technical Adviser. 

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY: 

Child Protection Strategy and resource mobilization (15%)

• Develop and/or review Child Protection and Mental Health & Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Sector Plan for Gaza and ensure alignment with the Country Strategy Map and oPt Response Plan. This includes updating associated programme master budget and master logframe to ensure the programme designs are appropriate and relevant for the Gaza context.
• Work closely with the oPt Country Office’s CP/CPiE TA and New Business Development team review funding gaps and mobilising resources for CPiE programming in Gaza, including development of high-quality concept notes and proposals.
• Ensure synergy between SCI’s CP key areas of intervention including case management and MHPSS 
• Work closely with sectoral technical advisors and specialist to ensure CP mainstreaming and integration across all sector programmes

Needs assessment and analysis (approximately 5%)

• Regularly review and analyse child protection needs and situation in Gaza to inform CP sector plan, programme design and adaptation.
• Lead and coordinate on child protection assessments and multi-sector assessments.
• Review, contextualise, and adapt SC and inter-agency assessment processes and tools for CPiE and other related assessments in Gaza
• Identify safe and ethical opportunities to ensure children and affected community members can participate in needs assessments and response planning.

Technical support and advice to programme operations (approximately 30%)

• Continue to build on a child centred response across program thematic areas, based on the socio-ecological model.
• Provide technical oversight and guidance to the programme implementation teams to ensure that thematic programme components are technically sound, implementation methods are consistent with national and global strategies, acknowledged good practice (e.g. Save the Children Common Approaches) Monitor the quality of activities implementation in coordination with the technical specialist and program manager.
• Contribute actively to awards management, including awards review meetings, to provide advice on increasing programme quality, acceleration and adaptation of programme activities.
• Prepare timely programme and donor reports on child protection and MHPSS project activities in compliance with internal SC requirements and any relevant external donor requirements. This includes adapting standard tools to the reality on the ground.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL) (approximately 15%)

• Work with Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning (MEAL) teams to conduct quality monitoring against international standards through participatory methodologies that promote gender equality and social justice (including child-friendly and gender sensitive/transformative methodologies), and use the learnings to inform programming, in coordination with the CP/CPiE Technical Advisor
• Ensure Quality Benchmarks monitoring of main CP programming areas.
• Identify opportunities for learning and research. 
• Working closely with the Child Participation & Accountability Coordinator put in place accountability activities for child protection, ensuring that feedback from all relevant stakeholders is considered in programme design.
• Ensure that the humanitarian minimum standards are maintained in accordance with the Minimum Standards for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action, the Sphere Charter and Minimum Standards and the Core Humanitarian Standards.

Building a high performing team (approximately 10%)

• Ensure effective working relationships between Gaza Child Protection technical team and oPt Country Office CP/CPiE and MHPSS TAs. 
• Working closely with the HR team, identify child protection staffing needs for emergency programmes, and ensure rapid recruitment, induction and training of new staff.
• Identify capacity building needs and develop capacity building plan of sub thematic specialists (CM and MHPSS) under their line management with support from country office and regional/ global technical experts. 
• Ensure that the sub thematic specialists understand and can perform their role in full spectrum programming
• Manage the performance of the sub thematic specialists in their team through: 
  • Effective use of the Performance Management System including the establishment of clear, measurable objectives, ongoing feedback, periodic reviews and fair and unbiased evaluations.
  • Coaching, mentoring and other developmental opportunities.
  • Recognition and rewards for outstanding performance.
  • Documentation of performance that is less than satisfactory, with appropriate performance improvements/ workplans 

Capacity Building (approximately 15%)

• Lead on the contextualisation and adaptation of technical resources (i.e. programme tools, guidance, and capacity building materials), promoting inter-agency collaboration and alignment as much as possible.
• Develop learning needs assessment and capacity building plans for both SC and partner staff, linking capacity building initiatives to wider opportunities identified via coordination and network. Work closely with the Child Protection Programme Manager to identify technical capacity building needs and develop capacity building plan of the CP team.
• Together with other sectors in Gaza Field Office identify sector-integrated capacity building opportunities.
• Deliver and adapt trainings on the following thematic areas: safe identification and referral, case management, alternative care, MHPSS, integrated group activities, GBV prevention and risk mitigation, disability and inclusion mainstreaming and child protection community engagement and monitoring.
• Actively mentor and support national colleagues, acting as a role model at all times.
• Together with other sectors, identify sector-integrated capacity building opportunities.

Representation, Advocacy & Organisational Learning (approximately 10%)

• Ensure that Save the Children's Child Protection and MHPSS work is coordinated with efforts of other agencies and authorities in Gaza
• Take a proactive a leadership role within Gaza Sub National Interagency Coordination forums, ensuring the specific needs of children are being addressed. This will involve taking the lead in the Child Protection Working Group and/or sub-groups, including developing/maintaining workplans and leading on strategic initiatives and resource development.

جميع الحقوق محفوظة لموقع جوبس.

In order to be successful, you will bring/have: 

QUALIFICATIONS   

• BA/master’s degree in social work, Child Protection or related field, or equivalent experience
• Social Work, Child Protection, Child Welfare or related qualification

EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

Essential

• Four years’ experience working directly with children and families affected by violence and armed conflict.
• Strong background in child protection case management and alternative care.
• Significant experience of designing and implementing child protection programmes in first phase humanitarian responses.
• Experience working in a complex emergency response or fragile state.
• Proven ability to lead on needs analysis and response design, including emergency preparedness planning, strategy development, and response planning.
• Proven ability on fundraising or business development, particularly strong project design skills with experience from donors such as BHA, ECHO, UNICEF, FCDO and other institutional donors.
• Experience of adapting programming approaches and technical resources, including for mobile, integrated, and community-based programming.
• Experience designing research and other MEAL approaches, including child friendly feedback and complaints mechanisms. 
• Proven ability to design/adapt and deliver training to staff, volunteers, and community members.
• Fluent written and spoken Arabic and English language.

Desirable

• Familiarity with child protection in Gaza 
• Skilled at networking, representation and partnership development in order promote learning, strengthen civil society and mobilise resources.
• Experience in implementing MHPSS programming
• We offer a competitive package in the context of the sector. 

We offer a competitive package in the context of the sector. This role is offered on the basis of national terms and conditions. 

Save the Children promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment, women and people with different abilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

The Organisation

Save the Children works in development and humanitarian contexts with children and partners to help families, communities, and governments identify and use innovations to ensure all children survive, learn and are protected.

We employ approximately 25,000 people across the globe and work on the ground in over 100 countries to help children affected by crises, or those that need better healthcare, education and child protection. We also campaign and advocate at the highest levels to realize the right of children and to ensure their voices are heard.  
 

We are working towards three breakthroughs in how the world treats children by 2030:

• No child dies from preventable causes before their 5th birthday 
• All children learn from a quality basic education and that,
• Violence against children is no longer tolerated 

We know that great people make a great organization, and that our employees play a crucial role in helping us achieve our ambitions for children.  We value our people and offer a meaningful and rewarding career, along with a collaborative and inclusive environment where ambition, creativity, and integrity are highly valued. 

Application Information:

Please attach a copy of your CV and cover letter with your application, and include details of your current remuneration and salary expectations.  A copy of the full role profile can be found at Search Jobs - SCI Career Site Careers (oraclecloud.com).

We need to keep children safe so our selection process, which includes rigorous background checks, reflects our commitment to the protection of children from abuse.

All employees are expected to carry out their duties in accordance with our global anti-harassment policy.