Safeguarding Officer

Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) is currently seeking a Safeguarding Officer, focusing on the emergency, post-emergency, and development response in priority in areas and regions of current and future projects: Ivano-Frankivsk, Zakarpatia, Odesa, Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Mikolayiv. Reporting to the Chief of Party in Ukraine with cross-functional responsibility to the Regional Safeguarding Advisor (RSA), this position will lead the respective tactical approach to fulfilling Habitat’s safeguarding commitments in Ukraine.

The Safeguarding Officer is a designated person who will coordinate,  support, and advise on the implementation of HFHI’s commitment to mainstreaming safeguarding in   Ukraine. This will include promoting safe programming in emergencies and regular programming, enhancing safe partnerships, delivering training, meeting donor compliance, risk management and non-compliance reporting, and supporting the mainstreaming of safeguarding throughout operations, especially when engaging directly with communities and through partners and safer recruitment. The Safeguarding Officer will also support the HFHI Ukraine leadership in acting as role models in this aspect.

For Habitat, nothing is more important than the welfare of our beneficiaries, volunteers, staff, and the communities we serve.

This position is to be based ideally in Kyiv or Lviv and the starting salary is 86 000 UAH gross/month (based on previous experience + benefits). This position is for a fixed period of two years with a possibility of prolongation upon available funding and satisfactory performance.

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES?

Safeguarding Champion

• Champion safeguarding policies and accompanying policy guidance support materials, including strong advocacy for safeguarding across all levels of business to promote a culture of safeguarding.
• Provide quality and accessible advice, support, and guidance to managers and staff ensuring that adequate safeguarding measures are integrated into office operations, processes, and programs as outlined by Habitat’s Safeguarding Standards and other core documents.
• Represent Habitat in safeguarding matters, including in humanitarian settings such as the PSEAH Network.
• Coordinate and collaborate with other safeguarding actors involved in the response. Undertake and or support the development of local safeguarding procedures in line with mapping of the local external environment (legislation, cultural considerations, etc.) and global guidelines.
• Ensure that trainings on safeguarding policies and procedures to relevant stakeholders across the program (staff, volunteers, private sector actors, partners, consultants, service providers and communities) are delivered and tracked.
• Support partners and service providers in introducing and maintaining safeguarding standards by supporting risk assessments, trainings and technical advice.

Local Capacity Building

• Establish an annual safeguarding plan for the country office and monitor progress against the plan.
• Collaborate with and provide advice to key teams and/or departments within the national office to promote fulfillment of that safeguarding risk analysis, including risk identification and management strategies of the country’s processes, procedures and activities, and appropriate mitigating actions are developed.
• Partner with the MEAL, program teams, and other areas to ensure the operation of safeguarding complaints mechanism and awareness-raising in communities where Habitat operates, around community reporting mechanisms.
• Promote accountability in the program by ensuring mechanisms for disseminating information to and receiving information from participants are in place.
• Manage safeguarding training delivery for the country office.
• Manage the overall compliance to Habitat’s Safeguarding Standards with support from leadership and RSA.
• Collaborate with Human Resources to ensure onboarding is completed and safer recruitment adhered to.
• Facilitate connection between program leadership and additional area office/headquarters support within safeguarding matters as needed.
• Support program teams in building partner capacity in the areas of safeguarding through assessments and definition of partner safeguarding strengthening plans.

Project and Proposal Development

• Participate, when needed, in key program design meetings and kick-off workshops to facilitate the inclusion of risks, planning, and strategy in relation to safeguarding.

Case Management

• Act as a reporting avenue for safeguarding related issues, concerns, or experiences and foster an environment where all potential safeguarding misconducts are reported as per Habitat’s Safeguarding Policy.
• Collaborate with the Safeguarding Regional Advisor for guidance and support regarding cases and case referrals.
• With respect to safeguarding investigations, coordinate case management, and support fact-gathering as needed.

WHAT DO WE REQUIRE?

• Bachelor’s degree level of education in relevant field
• 3−5 years of safeguarding experience or experience in a similar field such as protection, child protection, SGBV — preferably in an international non-profit organization
• Fluency in English, Ukrainian and Russian
• Experience dealing with sensitive matters — highly confidential and discrete — and ability to build/maintain trust
• Experienced trainer, facilitator, and mediator
• Experienced in change management and project management skills
• Must have a high level of resilience with the ability to be impartial and remain calm under difficult circumstances
• Must be able to impartial in the most challenging situations
• Must have excellent problem-solving, and decision-making skills
• Excellent report writing and presentation skills
• Experience adhering to safeguarding compliance requirements from donors is preferred
• 1+ years of safeguarding investigation experience is preferred
• Active supporter of HFHI Values:
• Humility — We are part of something bigger than ourselves
• Courage — We do what’s right, even when it is difficult or unpopular
• Accountability — We take personal responsibility for Habitat’s mission

• Safeguarding: HFHI requires that all employees take seriously their ethical responsibilities to safeguarding our intended beneficiaries, their communities, and all those with whom we work. Managers at all levels have responsibilities to support and develop systems that create and maintain an environment that prevents harassment, sexual exploitation and abuse, safeguards the rights of beneficiaries and community members (especially children), and promotes the implementation of Habitat for Humanity’s code of conduct.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE SELECTION PROCESS:

If you’d like to join the team in Ukraine and you qualify within the specified job requirements, submit your motivation letter and CV to Human Resources in English by applying via this link: Safeguarding Officer | Habitat for Humanity.