Protection Officer

Job Title :  Protection Officer

Job Location : Gaziantep 

Reporting to : Project Coordinator

Background :  Sened, is an independent non-profit organization established and registered in Türkiye (under No: 27-15-175) in 2013. 

•The name “Sened” in Arabic means “support” you could count on. 

•Sened, was founded in response to The Syrian catastrophe, which led to critical situations and displacement of internally displaced people (IDPs) within Syria. The individuals who faced hardships due to factors such as repression, human rights abuses, and violence against civilians (including bombings, shelling, and sieges) and the urgent needs of millions of Syrian refugees in Türkiye. Later, our projects expanded to include support for the Turkish hosting community of the Syrian refugees. Our work spans across humanitarian sectors, with a special focus on advocating for the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities (PwDs) and their families. 

Safeguarding : At Sened, we deliver humanitarian aid with the utmost commitment to safety and dignity. We understand that safeguarding is a critical component of our operations, and we integrate this principle into every layer of our work, from initial planning to final implementation. Our goal is to create a safe and secure environment that enables resilient communities to thrive. To achieve this, we adhere to our principles of Safe Programming, Safe Operation, Safe People, and Safe Response, which help us to identify and proactively mitigate risks, prioritize community trust, and uphold ethical standards. SENED's unwavering dedication to safeguarding ensures that all those we serve receive the highest standards of safety and protection in all our humanitarian endeavors

Job purpose : 

The Protection Officer will be responsible for planning, coordinating, and supervising the implementation of protection-related activities within the Makany 3 project. The role ensures that people with disabilities, their caregivers, and other vulnerable groups have safe, equitable, and quality access to specialized protection services. The Protection Officer provides technical oversight to case management and psychosocial support interventions, supports awareness-raising and advocacy initiatives, and ensures compliance with Sened’s protection standards, donor requirements, and national regulations. The position plays a central role in capacity building of project staff, strengthening referral pathways, and fostering effective collaboration with governmental bodies, NGOs, and community structures to enhance the inclusion and wellbeing of beneficiaries. 

Duties, Objectives, Competencies : 

•    Plan, coordinate, and supervise the implementation of protection activities, including case management, psychosocial support, awareness raising, and caregiver sessions.
•    Provide technical guidance and oversight to case workers and PSS staff to ensure quality service delivery in line with Sened’s standards and international protection principles
•   Develop and monitor individualized case management plans for persons with disabilities and vulnerable individuals, ensuring safe and appropriate referrals
•    Facilitate capacity building and on-the-job coaching for project staff on protection standards, disability inclusion, and case management procedures
•    Establish and maintain strong referral pathways and coordination mechanisms with governmental institutions, NGOs, and community actors
•    Monitor, document, and report on protection trends, risks, and project achievements, contributing to evidence-based advocacy
•    Ensure that complaints and feedback mechanisms are functional, accessible, and responsive to beneficiaries’ needs
•    Support visibility and advocacy activities, including engagement with the disability advocacy committee
•    To ensure high-quality, disability-inclusive protection services are delivered to project beneficiaries
•    To strengthen coordination and referral mechanisms for persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups
•    To maintain compliance with donor requirements, Sened policies, and national regulations while safeguarding beneficiaries’ dignity and rights.

Essential Requirements : 

•    University degree in Social Work, Psychology, Law, Sociology, International Relations, or other relevant fields
•    At least 1 certified training course in protection, disability inclusion, case management, or related thematic areas
•    Minimum 3 years of relevant professional experience in protection programming within NGOs, INGOs, or UN agencies
•    Minimum 1 year of staff supervision, coaching, or capacity building responsibilities
•    Fluent in Turkish (C1 level or above) and Arabic (C1 level or above), both written and spoken
•    Working knowledge of English (B1 level or above, CEFR) sufficient for reporting and communication with international partners
•    Turkish nationality or valid residency/work permit for Türkiye

Desired Requirements : 

•    Master’s degree in social work, Psychology, International Development, or related fields
•    Previous experience working on EU donor–funded programs
•    Advanced knowledge of disability inclusion frameworks and international instruments
•    Fluency in English (C1 level or higher)
•    Previous team leadership experience
•    Experience in project reporting to international donors
•    Published articles, reports, or advocacy materials related to protection or disability inclusion

Technical Competencies: 

•    Protection Principles & Standards – Demonstrated knowledge of humanitarian protection frameworks (Sphere, IASC, CP/GBV guidelines) and application in programming.
•    Case Management – Ability to conduct assessments, develop care/action plans, manage cases, and ensure follow-up in line with inter-agency case management SOPs.
•    Psychosocial Support (PSS) – Knowledge of structured PSS approaches for children and adults; ability to supervise PSS staff.
•    Disability Inclusion – Familiarity with CRPD, Washington Group Questions, and disability-inclusive approaches in humanitarian settings.
•    Referral Systems & Service Mapping – Experience maintaining referral pathways and updating inter-agency service maps.
•    Safeguarding & Do No Harm – Strong understanding of safeguarding policies, confidentiality, and ethical standards in beneficiary interaction.
•    Monitoring & Reporting – Ability to use data collection tools (e.g., Kobo, ODK, ActivityInfo) and produce timely protection reports.
•    Advocacy & Coordination – Experience in engaging with local authorities, NGOs, and inter-agency working groups for advocacy and coordination.
•    Training & Capacity Building – Ability to design and facilitate staff trainings or community awareness sessions.
•    Information Management – Competence in maintaining case files, beneficiary databases, and ensuring data protection.
•    Language Skills – Ability to deliver services and documentation in Turkish and Arabic; working knowledge of English for reporting and donor communication.

General Terms and Conditions : 

Safeguarding: Disabled beneficiaries, children, and vulnerable adults must be fully protected possible from any actions or failings that could place them at risk of abuse, sexual exploitation, injury, or other harm. Sened demonstrates its commitment to safeguarding by conducting rigorous background and reference checks during the selection process for all candidates. 

Diversity-GESI: Sened is dedicated to fostering an inclusive, effective, and representative organizational culture. We promote employee equity and diversity and strive to eliminate discrimination. A diverse workforce, encompassing various age groups, backgrounds, cultures, and experiences, enhances our ability to understand, represent, and serve our community. Therefore, all qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment, regardless of race, religion, gender, disability, or age.

Procedures: If necessary, Sened will apply for a work permit for the selected candidate after the job offer is accepted. Failure to provide the required documents or a rejection of the work permit application by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security in the Republic of Türkiye will result in the employment offer being canceled. 

Sened reserves the right to re-advertise the vacancy, cancel the recruitment, offer a contract with a modified job description or for a different duration, or offer a contract at a lower grade. 

This job description serves only as a guide for the position available. Sened reserves the right to amend this document. Any published closing dates are estimates. Due to the nature of Sened’s work, we aim to fill vacancies as quickly as possible. Therefore, we may close adverts before the published closing date if we find the right candidate. We advise interested applicants to apply as early as possible. 

• Sened does not charge any fees at any stage of the recruitment process.