Protection Program Manager

Position Description

Nature of Work

Save the Children is the world’s largest independent child rights development organisation, making a difference to children’s lives in more than 110 countries. From emergency relief to long-term development, Save the Children secures a child’s right to health, education and protection. Save the Children is the world’s largest independent child rights development organisation, making a difference to children’s lives in more than 110 countries. From emergency relief to long-term development, Save the Children works to secure a child’s right to health, education, and protection. Save the Children PNG currently implements programs in the sectors of health, education, child protection, child rights governance and livelihoods; and currently operates in six (6) provinces in PNG, with field offices in two.

Role Purpose

The Protection Program Manager (PPM) reports to the Program Operations Director and will provide leadership and oversight of all of Save the Children’s protection programming across PNG. The PPM ensures the quality and timely delivery (within budget) of all projects in the protection programming sector and will contribute to designing new projects and proposals as relevant. The PPM contributes to the development of protection-related technical documents, briefs, and strategies and is responsible for ensuring that all protection objectives are met, and in line with evidence-base programming approaches.

Key Areas of Accountability

Protection Programming Management

• Ensure that all projects under the protection portfolio are effectively managed on time, within budget, and with quality, through direct management and/or management of project leads.

• Ensure all protection programming is in line with current global practices adapted to the local context and based on sound evidence, making use of SC’s common approaches where relevant.

• Ensure all protection programming meaningfully integrates principles of gender equality, disability and inclusion at all levels; and recognizes the common linkages between different groups experiencing violence.
• Maintain a holistic approach to protection programming, understanding and strengthening the links between protection and other sectors, as feasible and relevant.
• Ensure that all relevant project management tools are prepared, disseminated, and regularly updated as needed in line with project and/or external changes.
• Ensure that all project teams fully understand the project design, objectives, deliverables, and intended impact, outcomes and outputs for their respective projects.
• Produce and/or contribute to technical and program briefs / communications as requested.

Budget and Financial Management

• Serve as budget holder (as delegated) and budget manager for all projects under the protection portfolio. Provide oversight for individual project leads as delegated.
• Review and approve all financial transactions within delegated limits, ensuring the application of all financial and procurement policies and compliance standards.
• Ensure all protection project budgets are properly forecasted and reviewed monthly; review transaction listings, monitor and address variances within SCA and donor requirements.
• Support the preparation of budgets for new protection projects and proposals.

Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning, and Reporting (MEAL):

• Work with the MEAL team to ensure that all protection projects have updated log frames, MEAL plans, indicator tracking tables and data collection tools; ensure teams know how to use them.
• Work with the MEAL team to ensure that data is collected, collated, analysed, and used to assess project performance at all levels and to inform learning.
• Organize regular review meetings and learning events that use project data to ensure learning is used to guide project implementation, design, and adaptation.
• Ensure that all donor reports and other official protection program documentation is of quality, accurate, and in line with donor and SCA standards.
• Work with the MEAL team to ensure that all beneficiary feedback and accountability systems are functional, accessible, and used, including by children and marginalized groups.

• Lead on or contribute to child protection assessments as required for development or humanitarian programming, in collaboration with internal and external teams, ensuring that results are accurate, disaggregated and representative of diverse groups.

External Relations; Stakeholder Management

• Maintain strong relationships with key protection stakeholders, including religious and traditional leaders, government, UN, relevant CSOs and NGOs, academic institutions and the private sector.
• Represent Save the Children in key coordination mechanisms in the protection/related sectors. Work to advocate for legislation and policies that uphold children’s rights and protection.
• Work with the programme teams to maintain solid representation at provincial / local levels.

Program Team Management

• Provide line management, mentoring, and coaching for all project leads within the protection portfolio with respect to their team management responsibilities.
• Ensure that all team members have updated performance plans/reviews, and development plans based on identified capacity gaps. Facilitate regular 1-1 and (documented) team meetings.
• Ensure that all team members understand and comply with all Save the Children, donor, and other applicable policies, principles, and procedures, including mandatory trainings.
• Lead on recruiting new team members as relevant / appropriate. Ensure staff have completed all mandatory training and have up-to-date background checks.

Safeguarding requirements

• Maintain a child-safe environment at the workplace and safeguard children’s rights, acting in the best interests of children at all times, as well as safeguarding all beneficiaries.
• Comply with the Child Safeguarding Code of Conduct and child safeguarding and protection policies and standards, as well as all other related policies, including reporting requirements.
• Demonstrate the highest standards of behaviour towards children in private/professional life

General

• Fulfill other management duties (such as ESMT member) as requested and required.
• Be a role model for safety and security and comply with all workplace safety policies, procedures, work instructions and training, including all reporting requirements and processes.
• Participate in, and contribute to, health and safety awareness and improvements.
• Be aware of, document, and manage the risks associated with the programme activities, operations and workplaces, ensuring appropriate elimination or mitigation measures are applied.
• Any other relevant duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Person Specification

Qualifications/Accreditations

• Bachelor’s Degree in social sciences, social work, or related field. Master’s or Post-Graduate Degree preferred.
• 12 years of progressive experience in protection programming, ideally in child protection, gender-based violence (GBV) prevention and response, youth engagement, and safeguarding. At least six (6) of these years in a management and senior leadership position.

Skills, Abilities, and Experience

• Demonstrated experience designing and delivering programming in the protection sector; and/or serving in a technical advisory role.
• A solid understanding and mastery of programme logic and the ability to ensure quality implementation of detailed activity plans on time and on budget
• Strong financial management skills and ability to use and analyse Excel-based financial reports. Solid computer skills (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Excellent communication and influencing skills and the ability to converse effectively with both technical and operational stakeholders
• Experience managing and building capacity of diverse teams across multiple geographic locations.
• Sound knowledge of /experience with the intersection of gender equality / gender-based violence, child protection, and other protection-related issues.
• Experience working constructively with local and government partners at all levels.
• Knowledge of the use of MEAL frameworks, tools, and data to produce quality reports and facilitate learning.
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically, prioritize and meet deadlines in a complex and challenging environment. The post-holder must exercise a strong work ethic and take responsibility for his or her own actions.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills both in English and Tok-Pisin; ability to produce high-quality reports and other documents in English.
• A willingness to travel to project locations within PNG and operate in basic environments.
• Able to work harmoniously in cross cultural environments.

Protection Program Manager

At Save the Children we pride ourselves on our will to embrace change and mould our programs to suit the ever-changing needs of communities across PNG and the Pacific. You will provide leadership in Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) initiatives aimed at strengthening program quality for betterment of children’s lives at community and national levels. We don’t shy from new ideas; we need you to stir things up.

Save the Children is no ordinary not-for-profit.

We’re ambitious, creative and outspoken. We stand up for children’s rights. We want all children to be educated, healthy and live a life free from violence. We run programs in PNG, Pacific, Australia and overseas and, if there’s a disaster - like an earthquake, drought or conflict – we are there on the ground.

Where you come in:

In this full-time maximum term position based in Port Moresby, you will be responsible for the overall design and implementation of MEAL initiatives across all Save the Children projects, and work in close collaboration with the project staffs during the process. You will be part of the Extended Senior Management Team and report to our Program Development and Quality Director.

You will make an impact by:

• Ensuring that all projects under the protection portfolio are effectively managed on time, within budget, and with quality, through direct management and/or management of project leads.
• Ensuring all protection project budgets are properly forecasted and reviewed monthly; review transaction listings, monitor and address variances within SCA and donor requirements.

• Leading on or contribute to child protection assessments as required for development or humanitarian programming, in collaboration with internal and external teams, ensuring that results are accurate, disaggregated and representative of diverse groups.

• Maintaining strong relationships with key protection stakeholders, including religious and traditional leaders, government, UN, relevant CSOs and NGOs, academic institutions and the private sector.

• Maintaining a child-safe environment at the workplace and safeguard children’s rights, acting in the best interests of children at all times, as well as safeguarding all beneficiaries.

Does this sound like you?

• You have the ability to multitask, work under pressure and to meet tight deadlines, responsive to requests and a strong team player. You have relationship building, negotiation and organizational skills. You are able to liaise with and present to a diverse range of stakeholders. You have experience in working in a similar program management role. You have a Master’s or Post Graduate Degree in social sciences, social work or related field. 12 years of progressive experience in protection programming, ideally in child protection, gender-based violence (GBV) prevention and response, youth engagement, and safeguarding. At least six (6) of these years in a management and senior leadership position.

This role requires:

• Demonstrated experience designing and delivering programming in the protection sector; and/or serving in a technical advisory role.
• Engaging in project reviews, learning and reflection sessions, and knowledge-sharing activities to promote continuous improvement.
• Representing Save the Children in relevant meetings and forums when required.

Working at Save the Children is more than just a job.

It’s the feeling of knowing that your work is contributing to making the world a better place for children and working with others who feel the same. In addition to a connection to social causes, you will have access to:

• Opportunity to work on additional projects alongside business as usual
• Individual learning plans to assist in your career development
• Internal employment and development opportunities
• Support for workplace wellness, including access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Competitive salary + super

Sound interesting?

We’d love to hear from you. Submit your cover letter and resume to:

The Hiring Manager

Save the Children

CHM Corporate Park One Building

Level 1, Suite 6 - 7

P O Box 503, Boroko

National Capital District

Applications close on 8^th August 2025. Please note applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and the vacancy may close prior to the deadline. So, we encourage you to apply soon.

For more information about this position, please contact [email protected]