Safeguarding Manager

OBJECTIVE

To lead the delivery of Oxfam’s strategy and program to protect those we work with from sexual exploitation, harassment, and abuse as well as child abuse perpetrated by Oxfam representatives. 

He/she will lead contextualized action planning and will support the management in the development of Safeguarding activities in coordinating the implementation of Oxfam’s safeguarding policies and procedures.  

Attend Country Management Team (CMT) meetings and support the SG focal points.

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE WORKING GROUP

Receive safeguarding concerns/reports; support the executive affiliate SG team to respond.

• Ensure there are accessible and localized reporting channels in the country for different groups.
• Support the Country Team to embed safeguarding reporting procedures throughout the team’s work, including the program.
• Sensitively and safely receive safeguarding complaints and related information, and report these concerns, in accordance with Oxfam SOPs.
• Facilitate referral of survivor(s) for immediate, professional assistance as per the guidance of the case management team and in line with in-country referral pathways
• When appropriate, support the case management process as requested by the case management team
• If appropriate, maintain an overview of referral pathways and legal context in the country and if requested by the EA SG team monitor the care provided to victims/survivors.

Provide guidance, build capacity, and raise awareness about Oxfam Safeguarding policies and procedures, including reporting mechanisms.

• In coordination with the CD, lead on implementation of One Oxfam Safeguarding policies and core standards at the country level
• Design or review available training material; deliver training sessions in line with One Oxfam SG training content; undertake capacity-building activities for staff, volunteers, partners, communities, and other representatives.
• Ensure IEC materials are sourced and displayed in offices and appropriate program sites. If appropriate, share with partners for wider dissemination. 
• Work with HR and other relevant personnel (e.g. gender, protection, safe programming) to undertake induction and refresher training
• Collaborate with HR to identify in-country legislation relating to Safeguarding.
• Undertake a risk assessment to identify areas of Oxfam's best practice and legal/statutory compliance obligations, which do not align and bring this to the attention of management and RSGA.
• Provide technical advice and support to CMT members in embedding Safeguarding core standards in all departments.

Engage with strategy development and operational planning.  Support operational implementation and coordinate with management to ensure resourcing for SG plans. Resource Management

• Work closely with relevant teams in-country and if appropriate, the Region, to resource safeguarding activities.
• Ensure SG is embedded in programs/ project proposals
• Share with management SG funding opportunities that are announced at the country level through PSEAH networks.

Action Planning & Implementation

• Attend CMT meetings.
• Lead and support in the development and implementation of the Safeguarding action plan
• Lead monthly planning of SG activities and their implementation.
• Ensure logistical support for timely delivery of SG activities.
• In coordination with RSGA, support managers and technical teams on SG-related issues and processes
• Support CD, funding team and EA to respond to donor queries related to Safeguarding.
• Undertake Safeguarding risk assessments and monitoring of risk mitigation activities.
• Work with other teams to integrate safeguarding within their work.
• Conduct program visits to program locations in the aim of observing SG implementation and identify areas of improvements.

Partner & Community Engagement

• Undertake a safeguarding assessment.
• Support partners in establishing their own SG systems.
• With RSGA support, facilitate SG workshops for partners as needed.
• Lead community awareness sessions and IEC materials development.
• Work closely with programs to raise awareness of community committees on expected behavior and ways of working.
• Capacity build Oxfam Community engagement committees so they are aware of Oxfam’s Safeguarding policies
• Raise awareness within community engagement committees on expected behaviors, and if appropriate, collaborate with program teams to request CoC signature.
• Capacity build community committees on feedback mechanisms and safeguarding
• Guide referrals of non-Oxfam-related Safeguarding complaints.
• Undertake safeguarding risk assessments through community consultations, in a safe, timely, and effective manner, maintaining confidentiality.
• Collaborate with MEAL team in integrating SG in CFM and monitored

Reporting; Learning; Best Practice

• Report to the country leadership team and RSGA on core standards progress, lessons learned, gaps, and possible mitigation.
• Coordinate with the Regional Safeguarding Advisor to document and promote best practices regionally.

Communication

• In collaboration with MEAL and Comms teams, gather and share SG success stories and challenges faced within our programs (resource and time-dependent).

Engagement with Safeguarding Focal Points

• Matrix manages Safeguarding Focal Points and input on their objectives. 
• Support SGFPs to build their capacity.
• Coordinate work amongst SGFPs.

External Representation; develop effective networks with external bodies.

• Represent Oxfam, participate in and contribute to PSEAH /safeguarding networks, and meetings with other organizations.
• Act as (co-)chair/ coordinator of inter-agency PSEAH Network, if requested.
• Promoting best practices, including in an inter-agency context.

STAKEHOLDERS

• Safeguarding Focal Points
• Country Management Team
• Regional Safeguarding Advisor
• Executive Affiliate Speak up team
• Oxfam’s partners

Qualifications 

Essentials 

Academic 

• Bachelor’s degree in social sciences and humanities including but not limited to development studies, law, sociology, and international relations.

Safeguarding

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in Safeguarding / PSEAH / Child safeguarding / Protection / Safe Programming / Gender or related fields.
• Experience working with children and/ or adults who have witnessed or experienced Safeguarding or protection concerns
• An understanding of SEAH and child abuse risk factors
• Understanding and/or experience of survivor-centred investigation, the best interest of children, and case management processes

Technical Advice & Knowledge Management 

• Experience in knowledge management and learning to ensure findings in safeguarding influence practice in real-time
• Experienced in providing practical technical Safeguarding solutions, including advice on the application of SG standards and tools in the local context.

Capacity Building & Communication 

• Experience in adapting and delivering contextually appropriate training and capacity-building activities for diverse organizations and audiences, including children and adult training as well as awareness sessions for nonliterate persons
• Experienced in developing / adapting tools to be context-specific for diverse organizations and audiences.

Partnership, Community, and Network Engagement

• Strong understanding of the local context
• Experience in working with partners and building strong, equitable partnerships
• Understanding of & experience in carrying out participatory assessments
• Understanding of developing accountability mechanisms, including community-based complaint mechanisms.
• Experienced in engaging with or supporting Communities of Practice and other networks
• Strong understanding of SG risks related to working with communities.

Skills & Competencies

• Demonstrates sensitivity to cultural differences and gender issues, as well as a commitment to equal opportunities
• Demonstrates an openness and willingness to learn about the application of gender/gender and child protection mainstreaming, feminist principles, women’s rights, and diversity for all aspects of development work
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Organisational skills
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (particularly active listening) able to engage with people of all identities in a non-judgemental manner.
• Ability to follow effective self-care techniques
• Prepared to deal with emotionally challenging situations
• An understanding of the country's context and ways of working
• Excellent written and spoken local language/s
• Fluency in written/spoken English
• Excellent communication and leadership skills Ability to work collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders using a variety of styles, considering cultural differences.
• Able to work professionally and with a high degree of confidentiality
• Ability to work under pressure
• Able to work independently
• Excellent self-awareness and understanding of the need for self-care.
• Commitment to follow procedures, take guidance and instruction from the Regional Safeguarding Advisor
• Commitment to upholding and modelling Oxfam’s values, demonstrating integrity, diplomacy, professionalism, reliability, and resilience always

Nonessentials 

• Experience of working in an NGO. CBO, INGO or UN context
• Experience working in both development and/or humanitarian contexts
• Understanding of SG investigations
• Experience in using Microsoft Office pack and IT tools

HOW WE INCORPORATE OUR VALUES, FEMINIST PRINCIPLES AND DECOLONIZATION  

For all our Transforming Business Support Human Resources Working Groups and Core Group.  

While this is our current stance, we are committed to continuous learning and improvement. We are dedicated to enhancing our understanding of integrating feminist principles and decolonization into our daily work. As we actively learn, we will update sections in this document to reflect our progress.  

All Oxfam Values, Equality, Solidarity, Courage, Inclusiveness, Empowerment, and Accountability are not just words but the very fabric of how we work. People & HR TBS are key in reflecting changes required in the harmonized procedures. All TBS HR WGs will verify that any update is consistent with our values, feminist principles, and the Oxfam Code of Conduct. When considering decolonial feminist principles in practice, Gender Justice Feminist Futures Strategy might also inspire us in this exercise.  

Equality: “We believe everyone has the right to be treated fairly and to have the same rights and 

We believe in treating everyone fairly with equal rights and opportunities. Equity goes further by recognizing diverse circumstances and providing tailored resources to achieve equal outcomes. The principle of equity helps us achieve equality.

Decolonial Feminist Leadership:

We aim to practice leadership that is aware of power dynamics and strives for collective decision-making. This approach empowers others by sharing power and enabling individuals to make decisions.

Accountability: The working groups will enable transparency by clearly documenting all processes, including Terms of Reference (ToRs), work plans, stakeholder feedback, approval processes, and final implementation plans. This ensures that all documentation is accessible to all involved.

Inclusivity: We commit to the principle of "Nothing about Us without Us," ensuring active participation from CCRs and historically marginalized groups. While improving policies, we will balance inclusivity with efficiency to avoid overburdening CCRs. This includes ensuring diverse representation within working groups (e.g., gender, geography, ethnicity) and allowing time for translation and asynchronous participation when needed. All final outputs (e.g., policies, guides) will be made available in the four official languages, with relevant webinars conducted in those languages.

Flexfam:

We believe flexible working is key to building the Oxfam of the future, so we’re open to talking through the type of flexible arrangements which might work for you. 

How to apply:

As part of your online application, please upload your up to date CV and Cover Letter explaining your suitability against the essential criteria in the job profile.  

Our values and commitment to safeguarding

Oxfam is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people, adults and beneficiaries with whom Oxfam GB engages. Oxfam expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.

The post holder will undertake the appropriate level of training and is responsible for ensuring that they understand and work within the safeguarding policies of the organisation.

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records and terrorism finance checks. Oxfam GB also participates in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.  In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.

We are committed to ensuring diversity and gender equality within our organisation and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

About us

Oxfam is a global community who believe poverty isn’t inevitable. It’s an injustice that can be overcome. We are shop volunteers, women’s right activists, marathon runners, aid workers, coffee farmers, street fundraisers, goat herders, policy experts, campaigners, water engineers and more. And we won’t stop until everyone can live life without poverty for good.

Oxfam GB is a member of international confederation of 21 organisations working together with partners and local communities in the areas of humanitarian, development and campaigning, in more than 90 countries. 

A thriving diverse Oxfam:

It’s people power that brings about change. To play our part as a global organisation working to overcome poverty and inequality, we need equality, diversity and inclusion across our community of staff, partners and volunteers. Together, we’re committed to becoming a more diverse workforce, better able to tackle the global challenges that face our world today.

To do that:

• We need to dismantle the unequal power structures that exist everywhere, this including Oxfam and the wider development and charity sectors.
• We need an inclusive Oxfam where everyone can bring who they are to our work and feels celebrated for the differences they bring.
• We want and need everyone, and that means we need you.