Introduction
The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfillment of the wish to return home.
The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956 and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 8,000 employees and also 8,000 volunteers, while managing a turnover of over 400 million Euro. Based in Copenhagen (Denmark) and present in forty countries, the Danish Refugee Council is a non-profit-making, politically independent, non-governmental and non-denominational relief organization. The Danish Refugee Council is Denmark’s largest humanitarian NGO and has been ranked the 3rd best NGO in the world in 2018 (for the six consecutive years, the organization is among the top five of the NGO Advisor Annual List).
Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced. All our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.
1. Background
The Danish Refugee Council initiated its activities in the island of Lesvos in November 2015 due to the unprecedented influx of asylum seekers. Following new political developments and displacement dynamics in early 2016, DRC expanded its activities to the mainland to support the people living in several sites across the country. With offices in Athens, Larissa and Thessaloniki, it currently implements a wide range of activities, including Site Management Support, legal assistance, identification of individual needs and protection of highly vulnerable persons, access to services within and outside the hosting sites through cultural mediation, and non-formal education. DRC works closely with the refugee communities, the Greek authorities and other humanitarian actors to ensure a protective environment for refugees and asylum seekers in Greece.
2. Purpose
DRC is looking to recruit a qualified, flexible and enthusiastic professional to work in the sites of Northern Greece as Child Friendly Space Team Leader. Under supervision of the Protection Manager and in close coordination with other DRC field units, the CFS Team Leader will be 100% field-based and will support the implementation of all CFS objectives under DRC projects in the refugee hosting sites. Furthermore, the CFS Team Leader provides technical management to DRC CFS staff regarding child safeguarding and activities. She will coordinate the CFS response in the DRC sites in the North with CFS presence, develop and maintain good relations with the persons of concern, relevant stakeholders and other humanitarian actors, if needed, to support adequate implementation and coordination of DRC’s CFS activities.
3. Duties and Responsibilities
Responsibilities will include, but not necessarily be limited, to the following:
- Internal coordination of the CFS team and in close collaboration with the Protection Monitoring Team in all DRC sites where CFS response takes place.
- Capacity building of CFS assistants.
- Lead, support and supervise in organizing activities in Children Friendly Spaces and other friendly spaces if needed.
- Ensure attendance sheets, headcount sheets and any required CFS reporting is followed up and complete timely.
- Provision of period updates and inputs for donor reporting that is put in place.
- Ensure timely and sound implementation of CFS activities in relevant sites.
- Ensure that attendance and participation of children in CFS in all sites is supported, motivated and that children are consulted for activities run by CFS team.
- Provide technical support, supervision and guidance to the CFS team at the field level (incl. development of technical tools and guidance, tailored capacity building plans, trainings and on-the-job coaching and mentoring).
- Contribute to preparing sound work-plans for CFS team in the field.
- Monitor that CFS in all sites are well maintained, friendly to children and according to child safeguarding standards.
- Backstop Protection Manager in representing DRC in the child protection working group meetings at North Greece regional level.
- Participate in the implementation of general protection activities in accordance with agreed objectives.
- Monitor and analyse trends, gaps, and patterns regarding child safeguarding issues.
- Identify new needs and support creation of new and/extra curriculum activities.
- Continuously monitor the provision of CFS service on the site and report on findings, to ensure Protection considerations are mainstreamed across all sectors.
- Regularly review and adapt CFS activities according to needs; identify vulnerable children and facilitate appropriate action, including referrals to specialized services.
- Ensure cooperation with DRC Education team and close collaboration with DRC Protection Monitoring teams.
- Report on child protection and education issue for protection monitoring reports.
- Ensure the observance of the DRC Code of Conduct throughout activity implementation.
- Ensure that CFS team adhere to general protection, child protection and child safeguarding best-practices and professional standards and principles through capacity-building and on-the-job support.
- Document case studies, best practices and lessons learned from each of the activities implemented.
- Any other duties as may be assigned by the Protection Manager, relevant to the achievement of CFS and Protection objectives.
4. Required Qualifications
- University degree in social /political sciences, social work, psychology, human rights, migration and refugee studies, or any other relevant field.
- Minimum 3 years professional work experience within international humanitarian/development work.
- Good understanding of displacement issues of both internally displaced and refugees and related international standards/frameworks.
- Solid experience in leading teams is required; experience in project management is an asset.
- Professional fluency in written and spoken English; Greek is an added value.
5. Required Skills & Qualities
· Core Competencies of DRC:
o Striving for excellence
o Collaboration
o Taking the lead
o Communication
o Demonstrating Integrity
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Dynamic personality and ability to work under pressure
- Commitment to the values, vision and mission of DRC
- Commitment and respect of the DRC code of conduct
- Strong initiative and self-motivated, with a strong commitment to teamwork and humanitarian principle
- Knowledge of displacement issues and local context in Greece is a clear asset.
- Ability to live and work in a demanding working environment.
- Flexible, enthusiastic and willing to learn from others
- Ability to multitask and cope with competing demands under tight deadlines
- Ability to cope with high workload and stress and identify priority activities and assignments, and adjust priorities as required
- Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships in a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary environment
- Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to establish effective working relations with local staff and other stakeholders.
- Excellent negotiation, advocacy and communication skills.
6.Terms & Conditions
- The contract will be under the Greek Labor Law (this is a national position)
- All allowances will be provided to the employees (Christmas, Easter, Vacation bonus)
- DRC provides training opportunities to develop and strengthen the quality of its services as well as its staff members’ professional and personal development.
- The position will be based in the broader area of Thessaloniki (Northern Greece) and national terms and conditions apply