Protection Programme Manager

Support to Life:   We are an internationally recognized humanitarian organization that aims to ensure disaster-affected communities have access to their basic rights and needs. Founded in 2005 by humanitarian professionals, our association works under the programs of Emergency Response, Refugee Support, Child Protection, and Localization & Capacity Building. We focus on improving the lives of people affected by natural or human-made disasters in Türkiye and the surrounding regions.

We support those in need to access their basic rights and necessities and to achieve self-reliance. We aim to eliminate the risks faced by children living in challenging conditions, particularly in seasonal agricultural areas. In times of disaster, we conduct emergency relief operations and implement recovery efforts in their aftermath. Additionally, we work to strengthen disaster preparedness in civil society and support the empowerment of localization. Through our brand 'destekar', which we define as a social design market, we transform everyday shopping for daily needs into an opportunity to contribute to a fairer and more equal world.

We carry out our activities in coordination with our headquarters in Kadıköy, Istanbul, and through field offices and mobile teams operating in various provinces. While primarily active in Türkiye, we also provide consultancy to local initiatives in other regions.

Approximately 150 humanitarian aid professionals are involved in our projects, which are supported by international funds and local contributors. We design and implement our work in accordance with the global principles of humanitarian assistance, including neutrality, independence, humanity, impartiality, and accountability.

We are seeking an experienced Protection Programme Manager to join our team.

**Pending funding

• The Protection Programme Manager will be leading the protection programme team, programme strategy, and activities across all STL fields, providing protection expertise to the programme teams and partners, especially in the field of refugee protection, GBV, and child protection. 
• Develop strategic plans and frameworks for protection programming, including CP, MHPSS, GBV, and Cash for Protection.
• Analyze trends and protection needs in STL’s areas of operation to inform adaptive, needs-based programming.
• Supervise Protection Programme Team (managers and experts) and provide ongoing technical guidance, mentoring, and staff training to ensure programmatic quality.
• Manage STL’s refugee protection projects across 3 locations, focusing onthe  most vulnerable persons
• Support M&E and technical teams in tracking and evaluating the effectiveness and impact of protection interventions.
• Design inclusive and participatory protection interventions in collaboration with technical staff and affected communities.
• Contribute to the development of project proposals, including risk assessments and strategy components.
• Lead the integration and effective implementation of Cash for Protection across STL’s protection programs.
• Represent STL in national and local protection coordination mechanisms, including working groups focused on CP, MHPSS, GBV, and Cash for Protection.
• Maintain strong working relationships with donors, governmental authorities, and partner organizations in the protection sector.
• Facilitate timely and transparent communication between STL departments and external stakeholders to promote alignment and coordination.
• Engage actively in partnerships and fundraising efforts in collaboration with STL’s Business Development team.

• Advanced degree in Social Work, Psychology, International Development, Humanitarian Affairs, or a related field.
• At least 8 years of relevant experience in protection programming in humanitarian or development settings.
• Demonstrated expertise in CP, GBV, MHPSS, and Cash for Protection approaches.
• Proven capacity in strategy development, program design, and project cycle management.
• Experience in working with vulnerable populations and in complex operational contexts.
• Fluent in Turkish and English (written and verbal).
• Excellent communication and representation skills,
• Ability to think and plan strategically, teamwork oriented
• Experience and ability to work effectively with various stakeholders and in multicultural environments.

STL is an equal opportunity employer. STL is committed to providing and maintaining a comprehensive child safeguarding and gender-based equality perspective in all its operational and administrative processes.