Safeguarding Officer

ORGANIZATION AND PROGRAMME BACKGROUND

Nutrition International is a global nutrition organization working to improve the health and wellbeing of vulnerable people, particularly women, adolescent girls and children. The position supports Nutrition International’s Nigeria Child Survival Programme.

ROLE PURPOSE

The Safeguarding Officer will lead practical safeguarding integration across programme activities, partners and operations. The officer will help ensure safe programming, confidential reporting, survivor-centred response, partner compliance and meaningful protection of children and adults at risk.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

SAFE PROGRAMMING AND RISK MANAGEMENT

• Conduct and maintain safeguarding risk assessments covering fieldwork, community engagement, research, data collection, partner delivery, travel and events.
• Develop and monitor risk registers, mitigation plans, action plans and implementation checklists.
• Integrate Do No Harm, child safeguarding and PSEAH standards into programme design, work plans, budgets, MEAL systems and data collection.
• Ensure safe and meaningful participation of children, including risk assessments and informed consent processes.
• Recommend programme or budget adjustments where safeguarding risks are significant.

PARTNER CAPACITY AND COMPLIANCE

• Assess implementing partners’ safeguarding capacity and support improvement plans.
• Ensure partners, consultants, vendors, volunteers and visitors understand Nutrition International’s safeguarding requirements and reporting obligations.
• Work with People and Culture, programmes, operations, procurement and partnership teams to embed safeguarding expectations in onboarding and routine implementation.
• Escalate material non-compliance and support appropriate remediation.

REPORTING, RESPONSE AND SURVIVOR SUPPORT

• Serve as the primary programme safeguarding contact and promote safe, accessible and confidential reporting channels.
• Receive, document and refer concerns to the Global Safeguarding Lead within 24 hours and escalate urgent concerns immediately.
• Maintain updated medical, psychosocial, legal and protection referral pathways.
• Facilitate survivor-centred access to support and assist with case management, investigations, risk assessments and safety planning.

TRAINING, DOCUMENTATION AND COORDINATION

• Deliver safeguarding inductions, awareness sessions, briefings and refresher training.
• Ensure communities, children and families understand their rights and available reporting channels.
• Maintain secure and confidential safeguarding records, training trackers and implementation evidence.
• Prepare safeguarding updates, KPI contributions, risk follow-up notes and programme reports.
• Represent Nutrition International in appropriate Nigerian child-protection, social-welfare and PSEAH coordination structures.
• Maintain relationships with government, protection, health, psychosocial and legal-service actors.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Master’s degree in Sociology, Social Work, Community Development, Gender and Development Studies, Law or a related field.
• At least four years of relevant experience in safeguarding, PSEAH, child protection, protection, gender-based-violence programming or safe programming.
• Experience with an international NGO operating in Nigeria is preferred.
• Experience conducting safeguarding or protection-risk assessments and strengthening staff or partner capacity.

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• Good understanding of Do No Harm, survivor-centred response, confidentiality, non-retaliation, informed consent and safe reporting.
• Working knowledge of survivor-centred case handling, referrals and Nigeria’s child-protection and social-welfare systems.
• Strong training, facilitation, documentation, coordination and analytical skills.
• Sound judgement, discretion, cultural sensitivity and integrity when handling confidential matters.
• Ability to challenge unsafe practice constructively and build trust with vulnerable communities.
• Excellent written and spoken English.
• Hausa or another Nigerian language is an advantage.

CONTRACT DETAILS

• Employment arrangement: Contract.
• Working arrangement: On-site.
• Duty station: Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria.
• Travel: Travel to programme implementation sites is required.
• Eligibility: Nigerian nationals only.
• Contract duration: Not specified.
• Salary: Not specified.
• Number of positions: Not specified.

SAFEGUARDING AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

Nutrition International is committed to preventing sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse. Interviews and reference checks may address safeguarding. The role must apply survivor-centred, confidential and non-retaliatory safeguarding practices.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Applicants must apply through Nutrition International’s official Workable recruitment portal. Required application documents beyond the information requested by the portal: Not specified.

APPLICATION DEADLINE

24 August 2026.