Project Officers – Child Protection and Psychosocial Support Full Time NEW

Job Title: Project Officers – Child Protection and Psychosocial Support

Location: Assosa, Benishangul Gumuz Region (Only candidates who are eligible to work legally without work visa sponsorship in Ethiopia will be considered.)

Contract Type: Full-time (40 hours per week)/1-year fixed term contract

Hiring Salary: Organizational Scale

Target Start Date: As soon as possible

Application Closing Date: May 29, 2026 23:59 EAT

This job advert is for a vacancy subject to funding and role approval.

About Right To Play:

For more than 25 years, Right To Play has been protecting, educating, and empowering millions of children each year to rise above adversity through the power of play.

We offer programs in 14 countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East and North America, reaching millions of children each year in some of the most difficult places on earth, helping them to stay in school and learn, overcome prejudice, heal from trauma, and develop the skills they need to thrive. We do this by harnessing play, one of the most fundamental forces in a child’s life, to teach children the critical skills they need to dismantle barriers and embrace opportunities, in learning and in life.

This work is supported by our two global offices in Toronto, Canada and London, UK; and seven National Offices in North America and Europe.

Right To Play Ethiopia started its operation in 2005 and have implemented several interventions to protect, educate and empower children and youth in different parts of the country.

Benefits Highlights:

Connect and collaborate with a global team who are passionate about protecting, educating and empowering children and youth using the power of play!

• Culture premised on our Culture Code (accept everyone, make things happen, display courage, demonstrate care, and be playful)
• Paid leaves (20 days annual leaves, 3 personal days per year)
• Competitive benefits such as medical and life insurance, hardship allowance, transportation allowance, communications allowance, etc.)
• Learning opportunities and 5 learning and development (L&D) days per year

More information on what we offer is available on our website.

Job Description:

1- Purpose:

The Project Officer (PO) is responsible for planning, coordinating, and monitoring project activities in accordance with Right To Play (RTP) goals and standards. Reporting to the Project Manager, the PO leads local implementation, manages assigned staff, oversees partnerships, and ensures activities align with strategic and operational plans. The role contributes to quality delivery and continuous improvement of program impact.

2- Accountability & Responsibilities:

Project Planning and Implementation (45%)

• Develops and leads the implementation of project workplans.
• Supports field staff and ensures activities follow RTP methodology.
• Coordinates community events and engagement activities.
• Tracks project expenses and prepares monthly forecasts.
• Oversees procurement and logistics, including equipment distribution.
• Monitors security in project locations and reports issues.

Team Management and Support (20%)

• Supervises Project Assistant(s), conducts performance reviews.
• Identifies training needs and ensures team capacity building.
• Supports safe, inclusive, and policy-compliant work environments.
• Oversees training delivery and coach certification processes.

Partnerships and Representation (15%)

• Maintains strong working relationships with local partners, schools, and government bodies.
• Coordinates joint planning meetings and represents RTP in external forums.
• Ensures partners adhere to RTP’s Code of Conduct and policies.

Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting (15%)

• Conducts field visits to oversee and verify project implementation.
• Collects and analyzes data using RTP Monitoring and Evaluation tools.
• Prepares regular activity and outcome reports for internal and external use.
• Shares lessons learned and support’s ongoing program improvement.

Other Duties (5%)

• Supports cross-location activities as required by the Project Manager.

3- Scope, Impact and Autonomy

Operating at the local level, the role has a direct impact on program quality and stakeholder relationships. The PO makes operational decisions within established plans and policies and contributes to strategic recommendations.

4- Leadership and Staff management

Provide leadership to project officers and any supporting staff, ensuring effective recruitment, induction, performance management, and fostering a positive team culture.

5- Information requirement for decision-making

Use data on project progress, finances, compliance, partner performance, and security to make informed decisions. Fill data gaps through new tools or collaboration with monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) teams.

6- Innovation and Improvements

Promote innovation in project management processes, data collection, and partner engagement, seeking approval from senior management for high-risk changes.

7- Relationships & Communications: Internal / External:

Internal: Collaborate with internal teams, including Program, MEL, Finance, and other departments.

External: Build relationships with local NGOs, CBOs, donors, and external stakeholders to ensure effective project implementation.

8- Expertise (Certifications / Education, Professional Experience/Language)

• Bachelor’s degree in social sciences, development studies, or related fields.
• Relevant certifications in project management or sector-specific areas (e.g., Education, Psychosocial Support, child protection, etc.) are a plus.
• 5 years of experience in project management in development or humanitarian settings, with a proven track record in implementation, monitoring, and donor coordination.
• Strong financial management skills, including budget oversight.
• Proficient in project cycle management tools and methodologies. Experience with results-based management and/or project M&E approaches.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and other data management tools.
• Fluent in English and local language(s).

9- Core Competences

• Collaboration: Works effectively with cross-functional teams and external partners to achieve shared goals.
• Growth Mindset: Actively seeks feedback, adapts to change, and drives continuous improvement in dynamic settings.
• Resilience: Maintains performance and decision-making under pressure and in rapidly changing humanitarian contexts.
• Professionalism: Demonstrates integrity, accountability, and adherence to ethical and safeguarding standards.
• Management and Interpersonal Skills: Effectively leads teams, resolves conflicts, and communicates clearly across diverse groups

10- Additional Information

Requires frequent travel to field locations and flexibility to work outside regular hours. The role may be assigned temporary responsibilities in other project areas based on organizational needs.