Child Protection Officer

BACKGROUND:

For more than 20 years, we have delivered programs with impact in both development and humanitarian contexts. As pioneers in a unique approach to learning, both inside and outside of the classroom, we harness play, one of the most fundamental forces in a child’s life, to help children dismantle barriers and embrace opportunities. We are the only global development organization focused exclusively on using the power of play to transform children’s lives.   

We reach millions of children each year in 15 countries around the world. By collaborating with teachers, governments, communities, and parents, we help children unlock their potential, enabling them to make positive and healthy choices and to create better futures for themselves, their families, and their societies.

Since 2006, Right to Play has been working in Lebanon to support most marginalized children and young people, provide them with access to play-based learning and psychosocial support. In our new strategy 2024-2026, Right to Play will focus on enhancing the learning and social and emotional skills of children affected by crisis through play-based teaching methodologies, providing play-based psychosocial support to improve the holistic wellbeing of children and young people, and supporting young people to fulfill their potential and drive change at local and national levels.

With a shared passion for our mission, our Culture Code guides how we act and interact based on five core pillars:

• Accept Everyone – Be intentional about inclusion
• Make Things Happen – Seek opportunities to lead and innovate
• Display Courage – Act with integrity
• Demonstrate Care – Look after yourself and one another
• Be Playful – Have fun at work

Please visit our website to learn more about who we are and what we do, and watch this video to find out about the five pillars of our Culture Code.

About the MAKANI Project

 Makani is a project delivered with support from UNICEF and dedicated to providing multi-services for local communities across Lebanon. RTP was selected as a Makani partner in September 2025 and as such will deliver the project in three Makani centers in South Lebanon, specifically in the Saida District, by integrating play-based methodologies into various Makani services, including Community-Based Early Childhood Education (CB-ECE), Basic Literacy and Numeracy (BLN), Accelerated Learning Program (ALP), and Retention Support classes. In addition, play-based learning methodologies will be embedded into the Youth Basic Literacy and Numeracy (YBLN) and Youth Functional Skills (YFS) packages, along with caregivers' engagement, to foster safe, engaging, and protective learning environments that enhance foundational skills and promote socio-emotional development and resilience. RTP Makani centers will target a total of 3,375 children and young people, along with 375 caregivers, considering the gender balance within the community context. RTP will deliver the project in partnership with Sama for Development, a civil society organization active in the targeted communities.

1. Purpose:

Lead and monitor the quality and implementation of child protection interventions, providing technical leadership and strategic guidance to ensure safe, effective, and sustainable psychosocial support for children within the Building Back Better Project.                 

2. Accountability & Responsibilities:

• Develop and deliver technical support and capacity building initiatives for staff and partner agencies on safe quality, and evidence-based child protection and psychosocial support interventions. (45%)
• Design and support implementation of child protection programs aligned with donor proposals, organizational strategy, and local/national child protection standards. (25%)
• Represent and build strategic partnerships with child protection and MHPSS coordination networks, forums, and working groups to ensure collaborative and sustainable programming. (15%)
• Ensure organizational safeguarding compliance, including informed consent, participatory mapping, and adherence to child protection policies and procedures. (5%)
• Support monitoring, evaluation, and learning processes, including data collection, child-friendly feedback mechanisms, and use of learning to improve CP and PSS programming. (5%)

3. Leadership and Staff management

Provides technical guidance and mentorship to RTP staff and partner agencies, indirectly influencing the work of project teams, service providers, and community-based staff. Exercises leadership in training and capacity building initiatives but does not have direct line management responsibility.

4.  Information requirement for decision-making

Requires up-to-date information on child protection policies, MHPSS best practices, and local/national CP systems. Must access internal project reports, service mapping, feedback mechanisms, and stakeholder input to inform program adjustments. Analysis includes both applying established CP assessment frameworks and developing context-specific approaches to address emerging child protection risks

5.  Innovation and Improvements

Introduces technical and functional improvements to child protection and PSS programming, including development/adaptation of activities, training content, and community engagement approaches. High-risk or strategic innovations are discussed with the Child Protection Specialist for approval.

6.  Relationships & Communications: Internal / External:

Internal: Collaborates with Project Manager, Child Protection Specialist, MEL Specialist, and RTP program teams to ensure coherent program implementation.

External: Engages with partner organizations, local NGOs, child protection networks, MHPSS forums, government actors, and communities to facilitate coordination, knowledge sharing, and sustainable programming.

7.  Expertise (Certifications / Education, Professional Experience/Language)

Education/Certification: University degree in Psychology, Social Work, Social Sciences, Child Protection, or related field; Child Protection and Child Rights courses/certifications.

Professional Experience: 3–5 years in humanitarian or development settings with child-focused organizations, especially in PSS and child protection. Experience in training staff and developing PSS content. Familiarity with child protection networks and case management systems.

Technical Skills: Play-based PSS, child participation, case management, risk prevention and reporting, facilitation of sessions with children, and conducting FGDs.

Languages: Fluent in English and local languages; French required in francophone countries.

8.  Core Competences

Collaboration: Builds strong relationships with internal teams, partners, and external stakeholders.

Growth Mindset: Continuously seeks to improve programs and personal skills in line with CP best practices.

Resilience: Maintains focus and effectiveness in challenging or complex humanitarian settings.

Professionalism: Upholds ethical standards, confidentiality, and safeguarding principles.

Management and Interpersonal Skills: Provides guidance, training, and mentoring, influencing teams without direct line authority.

9. Additional Information

Role may require travel to multiple project sites, work with diverse populations, and occasional unsociable hours to engage with communities and partners

WHO YOU ARE:

You are highly driven, results-oriented, collaborative and well-rounded leader with a passion for working with

children and youth. You are an exceptional communicator with excellent networking skills.

WHAT YOU’LL GET:

The opportunity to work with a passionate, innovative and collaborative team where you have the ability to make things happen. You will gain experience working for a globally recognized organization with a healthy culture premised on our Culture Code (accept everyone, make things happen, display courage, demonstrate care and be playful). In addition, we offer a competitive salary and benefits package.

Target Start Date:           Expected in January 2026 (Subject to final donor approval)

Contract Duration:          Fixed- term - Full-time – 1 year contract until December 2026 with possibility of renewal based on the performance and funds availability.