Since our founding in Berlin in 2015, SOS Humanity has been active as a civilian search and rescue organisation to ensure that no one has to drown at sea and that everyone is treated with dignity. With our rescue ships Humanity 1 and Humanity 2 we operate in the central Mediterranean to rescue people in distress at sea, protect them and bring them to a place of safety.

For our operational crew we are urgently looking for a Protection Representative (PR):

In the role of Protection Representative on board the Humanity 1, the responsibility lies in ensuring the implementation and adherence to protection policies for individuals rescued from distress at sea. As a key member of the care team, this position addresses specific safeguarding and protection needs and upholds humanitarian standards, with a particular focus on vulnerable groups such as women, children, individuals with disabilities, LGBTQIA+ persons, and survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, including their continuous care on land. The Protection Representative works under the coordination and supervision of the Care Coordinator (CareCo).

Responsibilities and Tasks

• In General: 

• Develop and implement protection activities on board in close coordination with CareCo, in accordance with the protection and safeguarding strategy. 

• Build and maintain networks with stakeholders such as UNHCR, NGOs on land, local authorities, EASO, and other key partners. 

• Train the crew on protection principles and referral pathways for relevant cases to the care team. 

• Ensure training and coordination within the care team, particularly with the medical team, to ensure well-informed and efficient protection work. 

• At Sea: 

• Ensure the correct registration and processing of key demographic data of all rescued individuals, including special protection needs, after each embarkation. 

• Identify, address, and refer protection needs of particularly vulnerable rescued individuals in line with the protection strategy. 

• Coordinate all protection work on board, set daily goals, and recommend priorities for tasks. 

• Work closely with the cultural mediator, the medical team, and the Care Coordinator to organize information sessions and activities on board, especially on critical topics such as asylum, and the rights and responsibilities of asylum seekers in Europe. 

• Make referrals of individuals with special protection needs to partner organizations on land. 

• In coordination with the Care Coordinator, ensure timely information sharing both to the rescued individuals on board and to external actors and local authorities on land regarding protection needs. 

• Collaborate with the communications team to support and contribute to protection-sensitive communication and advocacy activities. 

Requirements: 

• High physical and mental resilience, as well as good work management under high stress. 

• Sensitivity, personal commitment, determination, and very good communication and teamwork skills. Critical understanding of professional boundaries, white saviorism, racism, and power imbalances in complex situations. Excellent networking skills and an interest in connecting and interacting with other stakeholders. 

• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to synthesize complex information and identify key problems, challenges, or trends. 

• High motivation to carry out humanitarian work on board a rescue ship in an international team. 

• A degree in International Law, Political Science, or related fields, with good knowledge of humanitarian action principles as well as international refugee and human rights law. And/or professional experience in the areas of human rights, refugee protection, child protection, gender, and/or international humanitarian law. 

• Very good English and Italian language skills required (minimum C1), with the ability to express oneself simply if needed. 

• Good understanding and knowledge of the Italian asylum and social system. 

Desirable: 

• Previous experience in direct work with marginalized populations, including migrants and refugees in crisis and/or emergency situations. 
• Experience in project evaluation, including analysis and reporting tasks. 
• Arabic and French language skills are an advantage.