Protection Officer

Country: Lebanon Organization: Women's Programs Association Closing date: 4 Oct 2026 INTRODUCTION The Women’s Programs Association (WPA) is a non-profit non-governmental organization (NGO), legally registered with the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities since 2008. Its mission is to provide support to Palestinian refugee women and youth and other vulnerable groups in Lebanon to develop their capacities, realize their rights, and fulfill their needs. This is achieved through Protection, Education, Livelihood, and Humanitarian Assistance programs implemented in seven Palestinian refugee camps and surroundings throughout Lebanon. WPA's work is guided by Transparency, Integrity, Non-Discrimination, Respect for Human Beings values. The Women's Programs Association is recruiting Protection Officer at the Head Office, Beirut. Job Purpose The Protection Officer is responsible for planning, coordinating, and implementing WPA’s Protection program, ensuring quality and compliance with organizational policies, donor requirements, and applicable humanitarian/protection standards. The role also provides technical managerial supervision to a team of Social Workers conducting protection activities in the camps. The Protection Officer works closely with other programs, MEAL, and partner stakeholders to ensure protection activities are appropriately targeted, safe, survivor-centered, timely, and well-documented. Key Responsibilities 1) Program Planning & Implementation (Managerial) • Lead the development of the protection program plan, including annual/workplan, activity schedules, budgets inputs, and implementation approaches. • Ensure protection activities are carried out according to approved project documents, logframes, and workplans. • Coordinate day-to-day program operations and ensure timely achievement of results. • Support proposal development and reporting by providing technical input on protection needs, approaches, achievements, and lessons learned. • Strengthen coordination with relevant actors (e.g., community committees, protection clusters, referrals networks, partners, and service providers). 2) Technical Protection Leadership (Technical) • Provide technical guidance to the team on protection concepts and standards, including risk identification, case management principles, referral pathways, and safeguarding. • Oversee the safe implementation of protection activities: Individual and family-based case management , Community-based protection, PSS, PFA and awareness sessions, GBV/CP mainstreaming and risk mitigation and mapping services and strengthening referral mechanisms with partners • Ensure activities follow a survivor-centered approach, confidentiality, informed consent, do-no-harm, and safe referrals. • Ensure the team applies appropriate tools and methodologies for assessments, community feedback mechanisms, incident documentation where relevant and approved. 3) Supervision & Capacity Building • Directly supervise and coach Social Workers, including performance monitoring, coaching, and corrective actions. • Conduct regular field visits, staff check-ins, and quality assurance reviews of case files and activity documentation (consistent with confidentiality requirements). • Facilitate trainings, mentoring sessions, and on-the-job capacity building. • Ensure staff adherence to internal SOPs, code of conduct, safeguarding, and incident reporting procedures. 4) Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability & Learning (MEAL/Quality) • Ensure protection indicators are tracked using agreed tools and that data quality standards are met. • Support analysis of trends, case typologies, and program outcomes to inform adjustments. • Ensure implementation of community feedback and accountability mechanisms and safe handling of complaints/feedback. • Contribute to learning, after-action reviews, and adaptation of protection strategies based on findings. 5) Partnerships, Coordination & Reporting • Participate in relevant coordination meetings and ensure WPA representation where needed. • Build and maintain relationships with referral partners and ensure referral feedback loops where feasible. • Compile and review narrative reports and technical annexes for donors/management, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and confidentiality compliance. • Maintain program documentation in line with organizational and confidentiality policies. Minimum Qualifications • Bachelor’s degree in social work, Psychology, Human Rights, Social Science or related field. • Proven experience with at least two years in a senior position in protection programming and/or case management in humanitarian or development settings. • Demonstrated experience supervising teams of social workers or community-based staff. • Solid understanding of relevant protection standards and strong knowledge of protection approaches and methodologies. • Ability to design and manage protection workplans, logframes, and monitoring processes. • Knowledge of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon is desirable Managerial Competencies • Leadership, coaching, and staff supervision skills. • Strong planning and organizational skills. • Ability to manage competing priorities and ensure timely delivery of outputs. • Effective communication and coordination across internal teams and external partners. Required Skills & Attributes • Commitment to confidentiality, safeguarding, and ethical practice. • Gender- and child-sensitive approach; ability to work respectfully with diverse communities. • Strong interpersonal skills and ability to handle sensitive situations professionally. • Fluency in English. Reporting Line • Reports to the Executive Director • Supervises a team of at least seven Social Workers Working Conditions • Regular travel to refugee camps across Lebanon. Start Date / Period of Employment 1 November 2026 for one year with possibility for extension How to apply Interested applicants should apply through the link below and share the requested documents via email: Protection Officer – Application Form – Fill out form Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. The selected applicant shall comply with WPA's safeguarding, protection, confidentiality, Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), and Code of Conduct policies throughout the assignment.