The Women’s Protection and Empowerment (WPE) Program Manager at the International Rescue Committee will lead the strategic and operational implementation of gender-based violence (GBV) prevention and response programming in Dnipro, Ukraine. This role ensures survivor-centered, feminist-informed, and trauma-sensitive services for conflict-affected women and girls, overseeing case management, psychosocial support, Women and Girls Safe Spaces (WGSS), and community-based protection initiatives while managing teams, budgets, and partnerships.
What You'll Do
- Lead continuous analysis of the protection context, including displacement trends, conflict-related risks, and changing needs of women and girls.
- Conduct and update stakeholder and service mappings to identify strategic actors and local partners.
- Lead GBV risk assessments and safety audits of Women and Girls’ Safe Spaces (WGSS), mobile units, and static service delivery sites.
- Systematically integrate risk and safety findings into IRC strategic and operational planning.
- Co-design GBV prevention and response programs with partners, IRC technical teams, and community representatives.
- Ensure programming is survivor-centered, trauma-informed, and evidence-based.
- Design community-based protection initiatives and programs that strengthen women’s leadership and social cohesion.
- Integrate social and economic support approaches for women and girls at risk or survivors of GBV in collaboration with ERD teams.
- Develop and implement tailored initiatives and tools to strengthen women’s resilience, leadership, and participation in local decision-making.
- Lead program implementation, supervise field teams, and provide coaching and performance management.
- Ensure timely and high-quality procurement, budget execution, and activity planning.
- Oversee implementation of case management, psychosocial support (PSS), WGSS operations, referral mechanisms, and community outreach.
- Ensure integration of protection analysis into activity design and roll-out.
- Lead development of internal and donor reports, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and alignment with compliance requirements.
- Collaborate with MEAL teams to ensure quality data collection, analysis, and use for learning and accountability.
- Support adaptive program management through periodic reviews, after-action reflections, and documentation of lessons learned.
- Ensure compliance with IRC and global GBV standards, including Inter-Agency GBV Minimum Standards.
- Develop and contextualize operational tools, guidance, and SoPs for WGSS management, case management, and community engagement.
- Design and facilitate technical trainings for IRC and partner staff on GBV core concepts, case management, psychosocial support, GBV risk mitigation, and safe referrals.
- Implement mentorship and coaching plans for GBV response staff and partners.
- Promote evidence-based practices, continuous quality improvement, and staff wellbeing.
- Cultivate equitable partnerships with women-led organizations and civil society actors, including through co-creation processes.
- Provide structured technical support to partners in program planning, implementation, and monitoring.
- Lead capacity strengthening plans for partners based on needs assessments and tailored mentorship.
- Promote local leadership, feminist values, and community-led solutions throughout all programming.
- Represent IRC in coordination fora including GBV Sub-clusters, Protection Cluster, and relevant technical working groups.
- Coordinate with humanitarian actors, government institutions, and service providers to improve referral pathways and GBV response mechanisms.
- Contribute to joint advocacy efforts and communication initiatives that elevate the voices and rights of women and girls.
- Ensure IRC representation reflects the organization’s values, expertise, and commitment to localization.
What We're Looking For
- Master’s degree in social work, human rights, psychology, gender studies, or a related field.
- Minimum 5 years of experience in GBV/protection program management in humanitarian or conflict-affected settings.
- Proven expertise in GBV case management, Women and Girls Safe Spaces (WGSS), psychosocial support, women empowerment and community-based protection.
- Experience in program and team management, budget oversight, procurement planning, and results-based reporting.
- Demonstrated capacity to develop and facilitate trainings for diverse audiences.
- Solid experience in partnership management, particularly with national NGOs and women-led organizations.
- Proven commitment to feminist values and survivor-centered approaches.
- Strong analytical, coordination, and representation skills.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in both Ukrainian and English are mandatory.
- Proficient in Microsoft Office, KoBoToolbox, and data visualization/reporting tools.
- Commitment to IRC’s values of integrity, service, accountability, and equality.
Technical Stack
- Microsoft Office
- KoBoToolbox
- data visualization/reporting tools
Team & Environment
- Matrix organization with cross-sectoral collaboration
- Reports to Field Coordinator
Benefits & Compensation
- Competitive salary
- Purposeful job and development opportunities
- English classes and unlimited online training courses
- Life Insurance
- Medical insurance for staff and family members
- Free psychological support to employees and their family members
- 30 calendar days of annual vacation with flexibility beyond the legally set minimum requirements
- Up to 10 days of paid medical leave
Work Mode
Hybrid work model based in Dnipro. Flexible working options (start early-finish early, start later-finish later, remote work); staff can ask for accommodation of a workplace; full-time work in the office or hybrid type of working is possible after probation period.
The International Rescue Committee is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, religion, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
