Protection Officer (Shelter Legal Support Officer)

Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is a leading protection agency with a mandate to protect, advocate and promote durable solutions for displacement affected populations.

DRC has been operating in Ukraine since 2014, currently DRC employs over 800 staff in Ukraine and will continue significant scale-up in 2024 to implement emergency response in the Protection, Livelihoods, Shelter/NFIs and Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding (humanitarian mine action) sectors, using direct interventions, support to duty bearers and civil society organizations (CSOs), and partnerships with CSOs. DRC will continue and adapt its durable solutions portfolio to the evolving context.

DRC is currently looking for a Protection Officer (Shelter Legal Support Officer) for its activities in Mykolaiv.  

This position will be line managed by the Legal Aid Team Leader.

About the job

Shelter Legal Support Officer will play a key role in DRC's responding to the needs of southern Ukraine. This position is extremely important for the process of affected regions rehabilitation, as it ensures quick and efficient return of people to normal living conditions and activities. The aforesaid area includes providing technical support, ensuring effective planning, implementation and follow-up of all technical aspects of the sectoral activities within the programmes implemented by DRC. Shelter Legal Support Officer will provide administrative and technical support to the commissions that consider applications for compensation given to citizens for their damaged or destroyed housing. The officer will also provide high-quality technical support in compliance with the law. He/she will maintain good relations with relevant stakeholders and other humanitarian actors to ensure proper implementation and coordination of sector-related activities of DRC. This position implies territorial reporting and ensures compliance with DRC’s procedures and guidelines for the South of Ukraine..

Your main duties and responsibilities will be:

Programme activities:

• Provide high-quality technical and administrative support and advice to members of the Commission for consideration of cases associated with compensation for real estate damaged as a result of hostilities, terrorist acts, sabotage caused by the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine (hereinafter - the Commission).
• Assist the Commissions in obtaining information on the latest amendments of legislation concerning information and technical changes in the issues applicable to consideration of applications submitted to obtain compensation for damaged and destroyed housing.
• Organise and facilitate training courses for the Commission's members aimed at making a significant impact on the key role in improving the skills of the Commission's members. This includes organising training events, preparing materials and ensuring that the Commission's members have all the necessary knowledge to perform their functions effectively in compliance with the latest legislative changes.
• Ensure effective and efficient programme implementation, adhering to the budget and work plan requirements.
• Participate in preparation of monthly/quarterly/annual summaries/reports and proposals for donors.
• Participate in analysing legal issues for preparation of information materials, advocacy letters, and briefing notes.
• Contribute to contextual and needs analysis, as well as to receipt of recommendations/feedback on development of new programme pathways and innovative approaches.
• Contribute to cooperation with implementing partners during the project implementation, maintaining a database, monthly and weekly reporting on project activities.
• Assist in conducting legal assessments as part of the DRC’s field staff.
• Coordinate with other DRC’s departments to facilitate referrals and information sharing.
• Support organisation of public events such as meetings, roundtables, technical working groups and participate in such events on behalf of DRC.
• Perform any other duties related to achievement of the programme objectives that may be assigned by Legal Aid Team Leader.
• Comply with all relevant DRC’s policies and procedures.

Activity reporting/Logistics:

• Development of a weekly work plan in consultation with Legal Aid Team Leader.
• Tracking and management of cases.
• Provision of data for weekly and monthly reports.
• Documenting the results of needs assessment; including preparation of reports and other relevant documents.
• Assistance in keeping the archiving system up to date (both in paper and electronic forms).
• Assistance in development of necessary forms, questionnaires and other templates.
• Advance planning and coordination of logistics and staff movements to and from different operational areas.
• Initiating procurement and ensuring its execution.
• Ensuring that distribution plans are prepared and provided to logistics department in a timely manner.

Coordination and representation:

• Establishing good relationships with relevant local authorities, government officials, and civil society organisations, including understanding their needs through regular visits and frequent liaison.
• Assistance in providing information and cooperation with community representatives and relevant authorities.
• Attendance and participation in coordination meetings delegated by the manager.
• Collaboration with relevant internal and external technical experts on sectoral issues.
• Ensuring integration with other sectors of DRC.

About you

To be successful in the role of Protection Officer (Shelter Legal Support Officer), we expect you to have excellent knowledge in the areas of construction, urban planning and civil engineering. Moreover, we also expect the following:

• Having a responsible performer’s certificates is a must (architect or design engineer, or technical supervision engineer, or expert on technical inspection of buildings and structures)
• At least 5 years of relevant professional experience,
• Experience of working at non-governmental humanitarian organisations is desirable.
• Experience in public speaking.
• Experience in field trips.
• Experience in working with vulnerable groups and communities.
• Good communication, analytical, professional and research skills.
• Ability to provide high-quality, targeted and accessible advice.
• English - preferably Intermediate level.
• Perfect command of Ukrainian.
• Proficient computer and office software user.

In this position, you are expected to demonstrate DRC’ five core competencies:

Striving for excellence: You focus on reaching results while ensuring an efficient process.

Collaborating: You involve relevant parties and encourage feedback.

Taking the lead: You take ownership and initiative while aiming for innovation.

Communicating: You listen and speak effectively and honestly.

Demonstrating integrity: You uphold and promote the highest standards of ethical and professional conduct in relation to our values and Code of Conduct, including safeguarding against sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment.

We offer:

Contract length: open ended contract after 3 month probation period. 
Level: H – Non-Management
Designation of Duty Station: Mykolaiv - Full time based 

Start date: As soon as possible.
Salary and conditions will be in accordance with Danish Refugee Council’s Terms of Employment for national staff.

Application process:

All applicants must upload a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages in English).

Applications are open until 11th November 2024  

Applications sent by email will not be considered.

We reserve the right to conduct further interviews before the deadline for submission of applications.