Protection specialist, ukraine response

About CWS
Imagine waking up every morning with the chance to change someone's life. Imagine knowing your efforts will benefit both your career and our neighbors around the world. At CWS, our team knows they are making a difference every day. Whether you're in our U.S.-based offices supporting refugees, asylees or unaccompanied children ... implementing hygiene initiatives in Cambodia or rebuilding projects in Central America ... or even connecting remotely from your home on fundraising campaigns, grant reports, or critical communications - you have the opportunity to work towards a world where everyone has food, a voice and a safe place to call home.

Purpose
In response to the humanitarian crisis resulting from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, CWS has established humanitarian assistance programming and collaborates with local partners to provide food and non-food items (NFI), specialized services such as medical, legal, and psychological consultations, and activities focused on fostering social integration, livelihoods, and mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS). Since opening a country office in 2022, CWS has prioritized protection of refugees across programs with the goal of strengthening CWS and partners’ capacity to identify and mitigate protection risks. To support the prioritization and mainstreaming of protection across programs and practices, CWS is seeking a Protection Specialist. Reporting to the Protection Program Manager, the Protection Specialist will support the implementation of protection programming and capacity development in Moldova.

This position is open to candidates living in the Republic of Moldova.

Responsibilities
The CWS Protection Specialist for the Ukraine Response will:

Protection Programming & Mainstreaming
- Support the identification and implementation of protection efforts across CWS programs and practices from partnerships and capacity development to proposal development, program implementation, and monitoring and evaluation
- Stay abreast of protection risks, needs, and trends
- Support the implementation of CWS Principles of Conduct and the development of cohesive complaint and feedback mechanisms between partners, CWS, and the Interagency Response

Capacity Development
- Facilitate trainings to partner staff related to PSEA, GBV, AAP, MHPSS, and Child protection
- Conduct partner visits to understand protection needs, gaps, and concerns for Ukrainian and Moldovan program participants

Partnerships & Visibility
- Participate in relevant Inter-Agency working groups and taskforces in-person and contribute to interagency efforts related to Protection, Child-protection, PSEA, GBV, AAP, Roma, and Disability
- Maintain relationships with relevant protection actors within the Moldovan government, UN agencies, local organizations, and INGOs

Qualifications
Values:
- Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and willingness to support CWS’ Platform on Racial Justice as a CWS employee required
- Demonstrated commitment to Sphere Protection Principles or field equivalent: Dignity, safety and “do no harm”; meaningful access, accountability; and participation and empowerment

Experience/Skills:
Required:
- Bachelor’s Degree or University degree equivalent in International Affairs, Emergency or Disaster Preparedness, Sociology, Gender Studies, Social Work or related field
- OR Minimum of 3-5 years’ experience working or volunteering with forcibly displaced persons, survivors of violence, or socially vulnerable persons
- Demonstrated commitment to Protection Principles or field equivalent: dignity, safety and “do no harm”; meaningful access, accountability; and participation and empowerment
- Experience delivering interactive trainings or technical assistance in the areas of protection, GBV, children/youth, mental health and psychosocial support, and/or case management
- English and Russian or Romanian language skills required
- Ability to work with minimal supervision
- Ability to work in fast changing emergency context
- Strong interpersonal and diplomacy skills; ability to work effectively with partners and teams
- Ability to conduct oneself in a professional and courteous manner at all times to represent the professional and institutional interests of CWS
- Knowledge and experience in working with Microsoft Word and Power Point
- Exceptional networking skills required with ability to work with multiple key stakeholders seamlessly
- Excellent oral and written communication skills

Desired:
- Experience working with local NGOs in planning/programming
- Previous humanitarian or emergency response experience including:
Engagement with Gov/UN/NGO coordination structures
Program development in line with international standards

*It is not required that a candidate satisfies all of the listed qualifications. If you believe you could be a good fit for this role we encourage you to apply!

CWS is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, gender identity, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.