Recruitment & Volunteering

Digital Protection Coordinator – Middle East and North Africa (MENA)

• Location: Remote/Based in the MENA region
• Contract: Full-time, Permanent
• Reporting to: Digital Protection Manager / Head of Digital Protection
• Salary: Grade G (€35,882 - €66,040)

About the role
Front Line Defenders is recruiting a Digital Protection Coordinator to support the Digital Protection Team’s response to human rights defenders (HRDs) and human rights organisations (HROs) at risk in the MENA region. The purpose of the Digital Protection team is to directly assist HRDs & HROs in improving protection of their digital communication and information storage.

The Digital Protection Coordinator provides direct, effective, timely in-person one-to-one and group digital protection support to selected HRDs/HROs. As this role is an expert, specialist role, it is critical that a relevant regional technical knowledge and awareness is maintained to provide the best class of digital protection avaliable to HRDS and support assessment of needs.

This role requires demonstrable and verifiable experience in providing digital security support to HRDs/HROs in the MENA region. The successful candidate will have the ability to formulate and conduct training and other learning processes in an accessible manner, and simplify complex technical terminologies into simple human understandable terms.

 For more information, please view: https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/sites/default/files/jd_dpc_mena_jan2026.pdf 

About Front Line Defenders
Front Line Defenders is an international organisation/charity based in Ireland that works exclusively for the protection of human rights defenders at risk. Human rights defenders are people who are persecuted because of their peaceful work for the rights of others. Front Line Defenders provides help through protection grants, physical and digital protection training, lobbying, advocacy and campaigning.

For more information, please visit www.frontlinedefenders.org 

To Apply

• To apply, candidates need to submit a copy of their application - CV and cover letter - via the ‘Apply Now’ button;
• Cover letters should be addressed to Roberto Soriano, Digital Protection Manager;
• Closing date; midnight (local Irish time) on February 27, 2026 as per FLD vacancies page: https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/recruitment-volunteering 

Digital Protection Editor

(Contract-for-Services)

 Front Line Defenders is inviting applications for a fixed term project Digital Protection Editor. This role will review, update and further develop the digital protection guide ‘Security in-a-Box’ (https://securityinabox.org). This guide for last 20 years is supporting human rights defenders in managing their risks associated with the protection of digital information, communications and devices.

Overview

Front Line Defenders is an international organisation based in Ireland that works exclusively for the protection of human rights defenders at risk around the world. Human rights defenders are people who are persecuted because of their peaceful work for the rights of others. Front Line Defenders provides practical help through protection grants, physical and digital protection training, lobbying, advocacy and campaigning.

Role responsibilities

• Updating Security in-a-Box existing guides;
• Research and create new digital protection guides to respond to the protection needs of human rights defenders;
• Coordinate translation of the guides (on Weblate);
• Technically manage content production (on Git) and coordinate digital publication and dissemination of the guides;
• Support research on digital protection trends and risks faced by human rights defenders around the world.

Remuneration

• Up to €27,000 per annum based on estimate of working around 60 hours per month (about 15 hours per week) on €37 per hour fee.
• Payment is made monthly upon receipt of reports and an invoice for services rendered.
• This is a consultant / contractor type role, with a remit to undertake work relating to the specific project ‘Security-in-a-box’ for a fixed term period of 12 months. We hope to be able to extend contract for the following year

Requirements:

Interested applicants must have:

• Good, practical and current knowledge of digital information security and information and communication technology across a variety of risk situations, strategies, tools and operating systems;
• Excellent communication skills in English; clear, concise writing and editing skills and experience;
• Experience of undertaking technical research;
• Capacity to work on own initiative and in cooperation with a multicultural team, being flexible and cooperative.

It would be an advantage if candidates demonstrate:

• Practical knowledge of using and managing environments like Git (e.g. CodeBerg , GitLab, GitHub) and Weblate;
• Experience as digital protection trainer and/or support person;
• Working knowledge and experience of other security fields (like physical, well-being/psychosocial, etc.);
• Previous work experience with human rights defenders and human rights organisations;
• Interest and knowledge of international affairs and human rights issues and sensitivity towards the situation of human rights defenders;
• Knowledge of another languages, preferably French, Spanish, Russian or Arabic;

Closing Date:

• Applicants must submit their applications by midnight on Sunday, 22 February 2026
• Application details should contain CV and cite examples of published digital protection articles.
• Applicants is required to answer additional questions as part of their online application which will be used to support the shortlisting process.
• Incomplete applications will be discounted and not considered for shortlisting.

Seek

Expressions of Interest: 

Global Security Lead

 Front Line Defenders is seeking expressions of interest from exceptional candidates for the post of Global Security Lead. This permanent role will be based remotely and will report to the Deputy Director.

Overview

The Global Security Lead is a new role which will have responsibility for strengthening Front Line Defenders’ safety and security policies and procedures, ensuring a robust security management framework, and developing the security strategies for FLD personnel who reside and work worldwide supporting human rights defenders (HRDs) at risk.

Responsibilities will include ongoing management and oversight of the safety and security of FLD operations, personnel, as well as premises and events. This will include support for staff in high-risk contexts, and must be grounded in contextual and intersectional analysis on the impacts that race, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, location, religion, ethnicity and other identities have in security, in their countries of residence and as they travel across communities, countries, and borders. Fostering a positive, supportive and inclusive security culture crucial part of this role.

Background

Front Line Defenders is an international organisation based in Ireland that works exclusively for the protection of human rights defenders at risk. Human rights defenders are people who are persecuted because of their peaceful work for the rights of others. Front Line Defenders provides practical help through protection grants, physical and digital protection training, lobbying, advocacy and campaigning.

 Role responsibilities

• Provide an holistic, rights-based and sensitive security risk management framework across the organistion, contributing to ongoing active risk management strategies of staff
• Develop, implement and review the organisation’s safety and security policies, guidelines and procedures, including for FLD operations, premises, staff country of residence and travel, and events.
• Provide proactive leadership, guidance and analysis on emerging security issues and vulnerabilities of the organisation, alongside internal and external stakeholders.
• Chair the internal Security Working Group, playing a pivotal role in driving organisation-wide security and risk management.
• Design, implement and review physical protection systems (PPS) for the Dublin and Brussels offices as needed.
• Advise ELT on global risk trends and support the integration of security considerations into programmatic and strategic planning, including though input into the organisation risk register.
• Support the organisation in developing risk assessment and mitigation strategies for relevant programmatic and operational areas and processes such as communications, finances systems, data management, IT etc.
• Provide operational security and safety advice as required to managers and staff on the preparation and execution of higher-risk activities, travel and international engagements.
• Oversee travel security risk management processes at FLD, improving travel planning and approval processes including potentially development of new internal platforms and systems.
• Support staff in the development of their individual (and, if relevant, family) security plans in their country of residence, many of which are high-risk.
• Develop and implement a security culture strategy for the organisation in conjunction with the Security Management Working Group, including awareness raising, training and the promotion of shared responsibility over security across the organisation.

 Salary & Benefits

• €52,962 - €72,886 per annum
• 26 annual leave days
• Pension
• Paid Health Insurance
• Income Protection & Life Assurance
• Employee Assistance Scheme (EAP)
• Monthly Well-Being Provisions

 Requirements

Interested applicants must have:

• Extensive (at least 7 years) experience in security management across multiple high risk countries, and in the context of NGO, INGO, news media, inter-governmental agency operations or other relevant organisation.
• Experience of leading risk assessment processes, threat assessment and the development and review of security policies and practices. This could be in a similar sector such as humanitarian aid, development, etc.
• Experience working successfully with people from different cultures and backgrounds.
• Proven experience applying a gendered and intersectional approach and in relation to holistic security.
• An understanding and commitment to international human rights standards.
• Proficient project management skills to meet internal and external targets and deadlines.
• Good computer literacy, basic digital security skills, and ability to write and maintain reports and data in a Database.
• Proficiency in English and a second FLD work language (French, Spanish, Arabic, Russian)
• Strong understanding of an organisation's duty of care requirements and how this will integrate with other good security practices, health and safety legislation and organisational needs at a global level.
• Advanced theoretical and practical knowledge of security management principles for individuals and organisations.
• Acute understanding of intersectional impacts that race, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, religion, ethnicity and other identities have on security of staff of human rights organisations.
• Strong communication skills, both written and oral in English.
• Sound decision-making, particularly in high pressure and high risk situations.
• Flexibility in time, scheduling, travel and in supporting global staff.
• Ability to offer advice, guidance, direction and support to meet the organisational safety and security needs.

 For further information, please view https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/sites/default/files/jd_global_sec_lead_jd_feb2026.pdf 

Closing Date

Applicants must submit their applications (CV & cover letter) by 4pm (local Irish time) on Tuesday, 17th February 2026 via the ‘Apply Now’ button as per FLD vacancies page: https://www.frontlinedefenders.org/en/recruitment-volunteering