Estonian Refugee Council (ERC) is a value-driven non-governmental EU-certified humanitarian organization. ERC was established 22 years ago in Estonia and currently provides humanitarian assistance to displaced people and other vulnerable people in 5 crisis-affected countries (Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia, Jordan and Turkey) and different support services to beneficiaries of international protection in Estonia. Estonian Refugee Council works and provide help in Ukraine since 2014 year and now covered 9 regions with ongoing humanitarian projects and monitoring visits. Our Mission is to stand for the rights and well-being of refugees and other vulnerable groups in Ukraine and abroad.
We are looking for Protection Officer to join our international team!
The Protection Officer plays a key role within the Estonian Refugee Council’s Ukraine operations, supporting the delivery of high-quality protection activities across multiple projects, including but not limited to the EstDev-funded initiative focused on mental health, individual protection assistance (IPA), and specialized referrals. This role also contributes to broader protection programming, including linking Multi-Purpose Cash Assistance (MPCA) beneficiaries to state social services, supporting protection case management, coordinating with national and local stakeholders, and ensuring the effective integration of protection principles across all program areas.
The Protection Officer will work closely with programme, MEAL, finance, and logistics teams, as well as local partners, to ensure the timely, effective, and accountable implementation of protection interventions. They will contribute to designing and adapting protection activities, ensuring adherence to ERC’s internal standards and donor requirements, participating in relevant cluster and working group meetings, and supporting the collection and analysis of protection data to inform programmatic improvements. This role requires strong coordination, communication, and organizational skills, as well as a solid understanding of protection principles, humanitarian coordination mechanisms, and the context in Ukraine.
- Coordinate and oversee the delivery of ERC’s IPA activities, ensuring timely identification, registration, and support to urgent protection cases across targeted regions (Donetska, Kharkivska, Dnipropetrovska, Zaporizka, and others as needed).
- Liaise closely with the partner focal points to ensure efficient referral mechanisms and track beneficiary follow-ups.
- Ensure the protection activities align with project logframes, indicators, and donor requirements.
- Provide case management oversight, including needs assessments, eligibility checks, and protection risk profiling.
- Maintain accurate records in ERC’s registration tools, ensuring data confidentiality and informed consent.
- Collaborate with the ERC Finance and Procurement teams to oversee cash or in-kind assistance distributions, ensuring adherence to ERC procurement policies.
- Engage with various stakeholders including NGOs, government agencies, clusters and communities to ensure comprehensive support for beneficiaries.
- Support the development and application of SOPs for needs-based assistance and referrals.
- Monitor, track, and report on activity progress, contributing to interim and final donor reports.
- Support training activities, including arranging staff and partner capacity building on MHPSS and protection principles.
Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, Social Sciences, or a related field.
Experience: Minimum of 3 years of experience in protection programming, case management, or psychosocial support within humanitarian or development contexts; experience working with national NGOs, international organizations, or volunteer movements is an advantage.
Technical Skills:
- Strong understanding of Ukrainian social protection systems, gender-based violence (GBV) referral pathways, civil documentation, and HLP rights.
- Familiarity with MHPSS approaches, individual protection assistance, and coordination with social services and local authorities.
Language skills: Fluency in Ukrainian (spoken and written); good working knowledge of English is an advantage.
Other Competencies:
- Strong coordination and communication abilities, with experience engaging with community members, authorities, and humanitarian actors.
- Excellent organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks independently and as part of a team.
- High level of cultural sensitivity, empathy, and commitment to humanitarian principles.
- Collaborative Culture: We foster a collaborative and inclusive work environment where every team member is valued.
- Diverse and Inclusive Workplace: We welcome all people of different races, genders, religions, colours, national or ethnic origins, languages, marital statuses, sexual orientations, ages, socio-economic statuses, (dis)abilities, political convictions, or any other distinguishing feature in our workplace.
- Good Benefits: We have a cosy office in the city centre, +4 vacation days, health insurance, life insurance.