HR and Safeguarding Officer at Volunteer Service Overseas (VSO)

• Support the implementation of the VSO Global Safeguarding Policy and associated protocols.
• Ensure that a mapping of service providers for safeguarding and child protection is completed in operational areas.
• Deliver VSO's mandatory training workshops to volunteers, employees, consultants, partners and vendors. Deliver on-going refresher training and induction as appropriate.
• Follow up with staff, volunteers and other stakeholders to ensure compliance with safeguarding and child protection protocols.
• Support the mainstreaming of a safeguarding and child protection approach through programme design, delivery, monitoring and evaluation and with VSO partner organisations
• Undertake safeguarding investigations, sometimes in challenging environments and to rigorous timescales/ standards, in coordination with the Head of People and Operations and Global Safeguarding Lead.
• Follow up on reported concerns as per the required standards.
• Respond to and provide timely support to Programme and Global staff during safeguarding incidents.
• Hold the country emergency phone on rotation

Recruitment & Selection: Support hiring managers in recruitment and selection processes in line with VSO's recruitment policy.

Induction and On boarding:

Provide induction and on boarding for all staff and volunteers.

Learning and Development: Support the Country people manager to ensure all employees engage with learning and development initiatives/programs

Performance Management:

Support line managers, promote and embed a culture of high performance, continuous development and positive team working in the country office.

Systems and Management Information:

Ensure information on HRIS system (VSO recruit, VSO People and Pay flow) is accurate and up to date. Ensure all staff files are complete and accessible as necessary.

Employee and Volunteer Management:

Support the Country People Manager in dealing with employee and volunteer management issues. Ensure all employee and volunteer needs including but not limited to health, safeguarding and safety are met and any issues reported in a timely manner.

Pay and Benefits: Ensure accurate and timely administration of pay and benefits.

Governance and Compliance: Facilitate and ensure employees and volunteers have the right immigration documents (work permits/visas) as well as any other legal requirements. Support Audit processes as necessary

Desired Skills and Experience

• Knowledge/qualifications:
• Bachelor's degree in a related field and a professional qualification in Human Resource Management.
• At least 3- 4 years relevant experience with evidence of people management and specifically safeguarding and child protection.
• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office applications.
• IHRM Membership

Experience:

• Extensive experience of building personal internal and external networks.
• Extensive experience of planning and undertaking training programmes/workshops in child protection/safeguarding at a range of levels (e.g. field workers, managers, senior managers and decision makers)
• Experience in safeguarding and child protection practice within developing/fragile countries
• Experience of undertaking child protection/safeguarding investigations

Experience in working with international Non-Government organizations and with Government Officials.

Skills/Abilities:

• Excellent communication skills (written and speaking).
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Ability to prioritise and deal with competing demands to deliver results.
• Ability to work with colleagues remotely across the globe and establish supportive relationships and networks.
• Travel requirement:
• Able to travel in country and spend time away from work- base location and home.

Desirable

• Evidence of professional expertise, personal development and learning in the field of safeguarding and child protection.
• Experience of working within hostile and challenging environments
• Commitment to VSO's mission, values, People First principles and core approaches (Social Inclusion and Gender, Social Accountability, and Resilience).
• VSO has zero tolerance of abuse and exploitation of vulnerable people. We expect all our employees/volunteers to ensure us protecting children, young people and vulnerable adults from harm and abide by our safeguarding policy.

Competencies and Behaviour

At VSO we believe progress is only possible by working together. Whether you want to join us as an employee, or as a volunteer working in your own country, overseas or online, our selection process includes an assessment based on these core competencies:

• Ability to be open minded and respectful
• Ability to be resilient and adaptive to new situations
• Ability to facilitate positive change and build sustainable working relationships
• Ability to seek and share knowledge
  
  

Equal Opportunities

VSO promotes equal opportunities and values a diverse workforce.