Senior Child Protection Case Management Specialist, oPt Country Program

ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.

The IRC is continuing to scale up programming in the West Bank and Gaza working closely with partners and implementing directly in health and nutrition, protection, WASH, early childhood development, food security, and cash programming to meet the most critical humanitarian needs.

Humanitarian Context

Children constitute nearly half the population of the State of Palestine and face acute, overlapping child protection risks, including family separation, exploitation, child labour, child marriage, and all forms of abuse and neglect. The conflict that escalated on 7 October 2023 has caused catastrophic humanitarian consequences: nearly all of the 2.4 million children living across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip are affected in some way (UNICEF, March 2025). In the Gaza Strip, more than 20,632 children have reportedly been killed as of November 2025, and 44,000 children have been injured, including more than 11,000 with life-changing injuries; more than 1.9 million people — 90 per cent of the population — have been displaced, often multiple times (UNICEF, Humanitarian Action for Children — State of Palestine 2026 Appeal, December 2025). Over one million children in the Gaza Strip require psychosocial support, and more than 150,000 children in the West Bank face barriers to accessing education (UNICEF, 2026 Appeal). In the West Bank, some 33,000 Palestinians, including 14,000 children, remain displaced due to ongoing military operations (UNICEF, Humanitarian Situation Report No. 43, September 2025). At least 3.3 million people across the State of Palestine require humanitarian assistance (UNICEF, 2026 Appeal). Child protection services are severely overstretched, grave violations against children are at extreme and ever-increasing levels, and the capacity of national systems to respond has been critically degraded.

CP AoR Coordination Environment

The Child Protection Area of Responsibility (CP AoR) in the State of Palestine, established in 2008 and led by UNICEF, coordinates the inter-agency child protection response across both Gaza and the West Bank. A key CP AoR priority has been the strengthening of inter-agency child protection case management systems. The CP AoR established the Child Protection Case Management Task Force (CPCM TF) to standardise and coordinate case management approaches in line with the Child Protection Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Action (2019) and the Inter-Agency Guidelines for Case Management and Child Protection (2014). Significant progress has been achieved under dedicated technical leadership since May 2024, including reactivation of the Task Force, development of data protection protocols, revision of case management tools, and initiation of CP IMS+ (Primero) roll-out across partner organizations.

Rationale for Establishing the Position

As the existing consultancy arrangement concludes, continued technical leadership is essential to sustain CPCM TF results and complete key deliverables, including the CP IMS+ roll-out, finalisation of inter-agency SOPs, Gaza response coordination, and West Bank system strengthening. IRC, as an active CP AoR member with an established operational presence across the oPt, is positioned to host this role and deploy the incumbent fully to the CP AoR. This arrangement ensures inter-agency technical continuity under a stable hosting structure.

Scope of Work:

The Senior Child Protection Case Management Specialist provides expert technical leadership for inter-agency child protection case management across the State of Palestine, hosted by IRC and fully deployed to the Child Protection Area of Responsibility (CP AoR). The Specialist leads the CP AoR Case Management Task Force (CMTF), drives the update and roll-out of inter-agency Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and advances CP IMS+ (Primero) implementation across partner organizations. Following the successful development of SOPs, the CPCM specialist will work with the CP AoR and support the capacity building of Child protection actors. The position ensures coherent, sustainable inter-agency approaches to child protection case management across Gaza and the West Bank.

Position Overview:

The Specialist 's scope of work spans four interconnected areas:

• Technical advisory responsibilities for inter-agency case management systems, SOPs, and CP IMS+ across Gaza and the West Bank under the CP AoR
• Coordination responsibilities within the CP AoR, including co-leadership of the CPCM TF and representation at inter-agency coordination forums
• Support to case management systems and task forces, including capacity building, mentoring of co-chairs, and sustainability planning
• Inter-agency collaboration with UNICEF, CP AoR member NGOs, the Ministry of Social Development (MoSD), and relevant clusters and AoRs

Success in this position requires an individual with exemplary, demonstrated leadership abilities and strong communication and interpersonal skills, effectively applied both internally and externally. The successful candidate will possess sharp contextual analysis skills and the ability to build strategic partnerships and diversify program resources. S/he will be directly responsible for the overall coordination and strategic direction of the country program, providing oversight and coaching to Senior Management Team, leading country teams in the design and delivery of responsive, high-quality programs, and ensuring the effective management of public and private funding for results, compliance, and timely, focused reporting. The role also entails oversight of financial management and compliance systems.

Main Responsibilities:

Providing technical support to case management field practitioners (in coordination with the Child Protection AoR, Global Case Management Woking Group) to:

• Provide technical guidance to CP AoR partners on case management principles, referral pathways, UASC procedures, and data protection standards
• Provide capacity support to IRC case management team
• Provide supervision to IRC case mangers supervisors.
• Convene, facilitate, and document monthly CMTF meetings, producing and disseminating meeting reports to CP AoR members
• Support training and capacity building initiatives including coaching and mentoring of caseworkers and supervisors
• Collect lessons learned, experience and approaches to using the Case Management Guidelines
• Undertake regular capacity assessment (in coordination with CP AoR) to ensure quality case management and provide recommendations.
• Enhance coordination and collaboration and promote the use of agreed approaches and criteria for case management.
• The case management Task Force will maintain regular contact with the GBV AoR to ensure synergy in case management and development of referral pathways at national level, as well as with other service provider sectors and Task Forces.
• Oversee the roll-out of the Inter-Agency DPISP, ensuring integration into child protection case management processes and alignment with international data protection standards
• Adapt and deliver the CP Case Management Training Package for Gaza-based case workers, including final agenda, attendance records, and post-training evaluation reports
• Co-coordinate Safe Identification and Referral and Child Safeguarding training for MoSD staff in collaboration with UNICEF's Child Protection section
• Identify and onboard a national partner organization to co-chair the CMTF, ensuring a structured leadership transition

Support the roll-out and development of the CPIMS+/Primero in coordination with CP AoR

• Ensure consistency and alignment of the case management forms and CPIMS+ used in across State of Palestine.
• Lead the CP IMS+ (Primero) roll-out process, including development of the National Roll-out Coordination
• Report, System Configuration Package, Capacity-Building Plan, and collection of signed Terms of Use documentation from all partner organizations.
• Provide governance for the CPIMS+ to ensure it is used effectively and securely by child protection agencies and regularly discuss implementation in the CMTF meetings
• Adapt the CP Case Management approach based on findings from the West Bank Needs Assessment, integrating key recommendations into the case management framework.
• Lead the finalization of the Endorsement Package for the CP Case Management Operational Guidance and Data Protection and Information Sharing Protocol (DPISP), securing sign-off from MoSD and all relevant partners
• Lead Child Protection Case Management Case conference and follow up on high-risk cases.
• Ensure CPIMS+ does inform the child protection programming efforts and strengthens the case management system
• Maintain active engagement with the Ministry of Social Development on case management coordination, SOP endorsement, and CP IMS+ implementation
• Produce quarterly case management trends analysis with PowerPoint presentations using the CPIMS+ , narrative reports, and one-page infographic summaries to inform decision-making, programming, and advocacy

Review and adapt existing tools and guidance for case management in the humanitarian response in Palestine

• Develop and promote context-appropriate tools to evaluate Case Management systems
• Establish Case Management coaching tools and guidance materials
• Develop a measurement framework for case workers and supervisors’ competencies
• Review, update and promote existing tools for the development and contextualization of child protection case management SOPs
• Conduct field-testing and review exercises for inter-agency SOPs, documenting findings and participant feedback
• Maintain and regularly update West Bank service mapping and referral pathway products
• Ensure all CPCM TF tools, SOPs, guidance documents, and training materials are finalised, archived, and accessible to CP AoR partners
• Facilitate ad-hoc thematic discussions on priority child protection topics, including child marriage, child labour, and violence against children, in consultation with the CP AoR Coordinator

Advocacy

• Under the overall direction of the Child Protection AoR, promote the effective application of the Minimum Standards for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action, Interagency Guidelines for Case Management and Child Protection.

Coordination and Reporting

• The Child Protection Case Management Task Force (CPCMTF) will be co-led by a full-time CMTF Co-Lead (IRC) and the CP AoR Coordinator, for a period of 12 months. During this period, efforts will focus on identifying and transitioning responsibilities to a national NGO focal point to support sustainability and build local capacity.
• The CMTF Co-Lead will work closely with the CP AoR Coordinator, who will provide overall oversight, strategic direction, and technical guidance to ensure alignment with CP AoR priorities.
• The CMTF Co-Lead (IRC-supported) will report to the CP AoR Coordinator for day-to-day coordination, technical guidance, and implementation of activities.

Required Qualifications and Experience

Education: Master’s degree in social work, Psychology, International Development, or a related field is strongly required

Professional Experience: Minimum 7 years of progressively responsible experience in child protection case management in humanitarian or conflict-affected settings

Inter-Agency Coordination: Demonstrated experience leading or co-facilitating inter-agency coordination mechanisms, working groups, or task forces in humanitarian contexts

Technical Expertise: Strong technical knowledge of CP case management, SOP development, UASC response, GBV linkages, referral pathway design, and child protection information management

CP IMS+ / Primero: Familiarity with CP IMS+ (Primero); experience in system roll-out, configuration, or training delivery is a significant asset

Capacity Building: Proven experience designing and delivering training, mentoring, and coaching for national and international staff and government counterparts

Government Engagement: Demonstrated ability to engage constructively with government counterparts, particularly line ministries with responsibility for social welfare and child protection

Contextual Knowledge: Knowledge of the oPt humanitarian context and/or direct experience working in similar humanitarian emergencies strongly preferred

Languages: Excellent English (written and spoken) required; Arabic highly desirable

Other Skills: Strong communication, facilitation, and analytical reporting skills; demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities across complex multi-stakeholder environments.

Compensation: (UK Pay Range: 36,818-43,316 GBP/yr) Posted pay ranges apply to US-based candidates. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience and skills relative to the defined job requirements.

Equal Opportunity Employer: IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Professional Standards: All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.