Safeguarding Officer

• PositionSafeguarding Officer
• CompanyTeach For Uganda
• LocationKampala, Uganda (Head Office, frequent field travel)
• Job TypeFull-Time, Contract (2 years, renewable)
• CategoryNGO Jobs in Uganda
• IndustryNGO / Education
• DepartmentPrograms
• Reports ToHead of Programs
• Vacancies1
• DeadlineThursday, 8 October 2026

Teach For Uganda is an indigenous non-profit that recruits graduates from many academic backgrounds, trains them and places them as full-time teachers, called fellows, in under-served primary schools for two years. Fellows focus on improving foundational literacy and numeracy while building their own leadership skills, and after the fellowship many stay on as alumni advocates for educational equity as community leaders, social entrepreneurs and policy influencers.

According to its latest advert, the organisation has reached more than 86,000 children across 183 schools in 12 districts, with about 280 active fellows teaching in 147 schools across Kayunga, Mukono, Buikwe, Bugiri, Namayingo, Buliisa, Kibaale, Hoima, Kikuube and Kagadi, and 182 alumni. Its head office is at Block 244, Plot 5151, Majid Musisi Close, Kampala.

Because its fellows work daily with young children in low-income communities, safeguarding sits at the centre of how Teach For Uganda operates, from recruitment and onboarding to field monitoring and incident response.

The Safeguarding Officer is Teach For Uganda’s focal point for keeping children, fellows and staff safe. You will lead the organisation’s safeguarding procedures, roll out policies, embed sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment (SEAH) and child protection standards into HR processes from job description to performance management, and design and deliver safeguarding training for staff, fellows and beneficiaries.

The role is split across policy and systems (30%), monitoring, evaluation and learning (20%), safe programming and risk management (10%), case management (20%) and internal and external learning (20%). You will run field audits with the M&E team, manage complaints and investigations with the safeguarding committee, keep a case log, submit monthly safeguarding reports and liaise with government, NGOs and communities to strengthen protection.

Policy and Systems Strengthening (30%)

• Lead the development of safeguarding procedures and practices, ensuring safeguarding policies are in place and rolled out across the organisation.
• Act as a safeguarding focal point for all employees and fellows.
• Lead implementation of Teach For Uganda’s safeguarding policies, ensuring compliance with local laws, regulations and best practice.
• Provide technical guidance, support and advice to staff, fellows and students on prevention, response and reporting of safeguarding concerns.
• Support improvement of HR policy and practice, including onboarding materials and training, reinforcing SEAH and child protection standards from job description to final recruitment stage and performance management.
• Develop systems to ensure Teach For Uganda does not rehire, redeploy or provide references for those found responsible for SEAH.
• Ensure relevant safeguarding inductions and trainings are in place for staff in appropriate formats and channels.
• Support leaders in training project officers to define, compile and collect safeguarding data, and lead internal and external reporting.
• Initiate targeted, data-driven prevention efforts.
• Develop and deliver training on safeguarding policies and procedures for staff, fellows and beneficiaries.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (20%)

• Work with the monitoring and evaluation department to undertake field audits in placement areas.
• Train key staff on identified gaps and strengthen their capacity in protection and safeguarding.
• Develop an assessment plan and checklist to assess Teach For Uganda’s safeguarding compliance.
• Advise and support Teach For Uganda to apply safeguarding procedures and facilitate related training.
• Support effective and consistent monitoring and evaluation mechanisms for safeguarding.

Safe Programming and Risk Management (10%)

• Support management and mid-level managers in promoting a safeguarding culture.
• Support safeguarding risk assessments and work with senior leadership on mitigation strategies.
• Monitor red flags in the implementation of and compliance with safeguarding policies and ensure they are addressed.

Case Management (20%)

• Work with the safeguarding committee to process complaints and reported incidents and manage related investigations.
• Maintain a log of all safeguarding cases, including investigations and final action.
• Provide technical advice, support and mentoring to staff, fellows and related personnel conducting investigations, and source tools and resources.
• Ensure safeguarding incidents are reported according to donor and Teach For Uganda requirements.
• Submit monthly safeguarding reports.

Internal and External Learning (20%)

• Convene and facilitate the safeguarding coordination committee and encourage a safeguarding community of practice.
• Convene and facilitate training on safeguarding.
• Maintain accurate, up-to-date safeguarding records and databases, and prepare monthly reports on activities and trends.
• Liaise with government agencies, other NGOs, partners and community members to share information and best practices.

Required Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Development Studies, Law, Human Rights or a related field.

Work Experience

• At least five (5) years of professional experience working in safeguarding, protection or a related field, preferably with an NGO.
• Experience designing, implementing and monitoring safeguarding policies, procedures and best practices, including investigating safeguarding concerns.

Additional Requirements

• In-depth knowledge of Uganda’s child protection laws, national safeguarding standards and international frameworks.
• Willingness to travel frequently to placement districts.
• A deep commitment to Teach For Uganda’s vision and mission.

Technical Skills

• Safeguarding Policy: Designing, rolling out and monitoring safeguarding and SEAH/child protection policies.
• Investigations and Case Management: Handling complaints, investigations, case logs and donor reporting.
• Training Design: Building and delivering safeguarding training for staff, fellows and communities.
• Risk Assessment and Audits: Running field audits, compliance checklists and risk assessments.
• Data and Reporting: Collecting safeguarding data and producing monthly trend reports.

Soft Skills

• Confidentiality: Building trust while handling sensitive safeguarding issues.
• Communication: Explaining safeguarding policies clearly to diverse audiences.
• Empathy: Sensitivity to the needs of children and vulnerable people.
• Resilience: Staying professional in stressful situations.
• Independence: Working with strong attention to detail and meeting deadlines.

The advert offers a two-year renewable contract but does not state salary or other benefits.

• You become the organisation-wide focal point for safeguarding, with real influence over policy and HR practice.
• A two-year renewable contract offers more stability than many project-based NGO roles.
• Your work protects tens of thousands of children in more than 140 schools.
• The role covers policy, investigations, training and learning, building a complete safeguarding profile.
• You will work across 10 districts, from Mukono and Kayunga to Hoima and Kagadi.
• Teach For Uganda’s leadership-focused culture suits professionals who want to shape systems, not just follow them.

Email your resume, the names of 3 professional referees and a one-page cover letter to careers@teachforuganda.org. Put Safeguarding Officer in the email subject line.

Your cover letter should explain why you are interested in Teach For Uganda and in this position. The deadline is Thursday, 8 October 2026. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

• Use “Safeguarding Officer” as your email subject, as the advert requires.
• Answer both questions in the cover letter: why Teach For Uganda, and why this role.
• Give a specific example of a safeguarding investigation or case you managed, without breaking confidentiality.
• Name the Ugandan laws and frameworks you know, such as the Children Act, and any SEAH or PSEA training.
• Show training experience with numbers: sessions run, audiences and topics.
• Apply today or tomorrow; the deadline is Thursday.