Protection Officer ( Bekaa/Akkar)

Basmeh & Zeitooneh is a registered Lebanese organization, committed to serving refugees and vulnerable communities in Lebanon, through four community centers across the country. The organization runs educational, relief, livelihoods, and protection programs, and aims to serve as an inclusive and supportive focal point for the entire community.

Basmeh & Zeitooneh has a zero-tolerance policy for sexual exploitation, abuse, and child abuse—also, fraud, bribery, and corrupt activities.

Basmeh & Zeitooneh (B&Z) is committed to maintaining the security, confidentiality, and privacy of your personal information.

Basmeh & Zeitooneh is committed to safeguarding the well-being of children and upholding the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Basmeh & Zeitooneh maintains a zero-tolerance policy on child abuse.

Job Purpose: The Protection Officer is responsible for the technical supervision and coordination of all project-linked protection-related activities including case management, psychosocial support, and outreach activities. S/he will ensure that field protection staff's training and capacity-building needs are addressed promptly and that the protection services and activities meet quality standards in the sector. The Protection Officer will carry out all tasks respecting key protection principles, including but not limited to: do no harm, non-discrimination, confidentiality, accountability, and need-to-know principles.

Reports To : Protection Coordinator

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure child protection projects comply with international and national standards, integrating gender and conflict sensitivity into all processes
• Collaborate with the Project Coordinator and protection Coordinator to execute activities in structured phases, guided by National SOPs and B&Z policies
• Provide technical guidance, training, and mentoring to team members to maintain compliance with B&Z Child Protection standards
• Conduct regular field visits to monitor the implementation of protection standards and manage the procurement of necessary technical resources
• Lead capacity-building sessions for staff on child protection protocols, safe identification, and referrals
• Oversee ethical data collection practices and maintain information management systems to support analysis, planning, and advocacy efforts
• Monitor field activities to assess progress, resolve quality issues, and implement improvements as needed
• Partner with Case Workers to enhance the effectiveness of child protection interventions
• Work with the Education Coordinator and other teams to ensure adherence to child protection standards across all activities
• Provide timely updates and reports on protection activities to the B&Z management team
• Engage in relevant child protection groups, including the Child Protection Working Group and Child Labor Task Force
• Conduct monitoring and evaluation activities to measure the effectiveness of protection initiatives and capacity-strengthening efforts

Generic Duties

• Guide protection staff in implementing high-quality activities and maintaining adherence to established standards
• Review the case management database, perform case audits, and organize regular case management meetings to address challenges and improvements
• Lead community engagement activities, including committee engagement, and outreach initiatives, in collaboration with social workers and volunteers
• Oversee psychosocial support and awareness sessions across learning centers, community centers, and safe spaces
• Ensure cash-related procedures follow established guidelines and support protection managers in documenting and reporting
• Prepare and process Purchase Requests (PRs) for all required materials, including refreshments, kits, and supplies, ensuring timely and accurate procurement per organizational policies.
• Identify and address training needs within the team, organizing workshops and simulation exercises as needed
• Assist the Protection Coordinator with donor reports and provide insights on protection-related issues
• Establish and nurture partnerships with project stakeholders and relevant external partners
• Represent B&Z in regional forums, including PWG, GBV WG, and CP WG, contributing to regional protection initiatives
• Ensure that all activities comply with internal and national SOPs, including referral and coordination mechanisms for beneficiary assistance

People Management:

• Provide technical support to its direct reports
• Conduct weekly debriefing meetings with the team
• Regularly update the work plan and follow up on its implementation
• Ensure all team members abide by B&Z’s internal policies and regulations
• Support in implementation when and if needed
• Supervise and support social workers, CFS officers, and volunteers to ensure effective implementation of activities.
• Conduct regular team meetings to review progress, address challenges, and update work plans.
• Foster collaboration, address conflicts and promote a positive team environment.
• Monitor team performance and provide feedback to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.

Education & Experience:

• Education: Advanced university degree in social work or related area. Master's degree is a plus.
• Experience:

• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Prior experience in delivering tasks according to tight deadlines.
• Previous experience in managing a team
• Previous experience working with Palestinian refugees in Camps.
• Previous experience in managing emergency cash projects.
• Professional experience in case management (CP/GBV)
• Good skills in anticipating problems and developing solutions; - Excellent organizational and planning skills.
• Ability to work on own initiative.
• Ability to deal with administration and documentation.
• Willingness to travel frequently to rural field locations.
• Knowledge of English written and spoken.
• Computer literacy, particularly in Microsoft Office programs such as Word and Excel as well as accounting packages & other database competencies.
• Working knowledge of a range of donor rules and regulations.

Competencies

Functional: 

• At least 5 years in humanitarian assistance and 2 years of international relief and emergency experience in the same position,
• Experience in conflict/post-conflict contexts, with experience in supporting emergency responses, access and security analysis and management
• Good expertise in protection, with a focus on CP/SGBV
• Ability to set high standards for quality of work and quick adaptability and flexibility in a stressful environment
• Ability to manage human, technical, administrative, and financial resources.
• Facilitating and encouraging open communication in the team, communicating effectively.

Behavioral:

• Excellent Communication skills.
• Cultural awareness.
• Teamwork
• Planning and Organizing.
• Stress management skills: ability to work under pressure to meet tight deadlines, with peaks of heavy workloads;
• Flexibility and adaptability; Adaptability to changing work environments and possible volatile security situations.
• Initiative
• Problem solving and decision making
• Leadership: developing and motivating staff