ThaiNGO

Position: Interpreter and Paralegal Coordinator

Asylum Access is an innovative non-profit founded to make human rights a reality for refugees. We help refugees assert their fundamental rights using four integrated tools: individualized legal counsel and/or representation, community legal empowerment, policy advocacy and strategic litigation.

Asylum Access Thailand (AAT) provides direct information and advice to urban asylum seekers and refugees in Bangkok taking part in the Refugee Status Determination (RSD) process before the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

AAT strategically aims to engage refugees as part of the organizational strategic planning based on an approach of refugees’ meaningful participation. As a result, AAT has the initiative to fully employ potential refugees as our full-time staff.

The Interpreter and Paralegal Coordinator will provide support to the Legal Services teams in their management and communication with Community Paralegal and Interpreters program.

Job Responsibilities

Interpreter Program: Program management

• Ensure that interpreters and clients are booked for activities;
• Ensure that interpreters record on their timesheet on daily basis;
• Coordinate written translations request and review them for their quality;
• Ensure that interpreters attend the office on time and work to the high standards required by AAT;
• Constantly monitor whether the program has a sufficient number of interpreters of different languages and genders, and conducting hiring for new interpreters together with the Legal Solution Manager;

Community Paralegal program: Program management

• provide ongoing support and supervision to the community paralegals in conducting legal clinics in the community, with the support of the Legal Team
• Provide support to the paralegals to conduct legal clinics by communicating ideas and information to community members using interactive teaching methods;
• Coordinate with community paralegals and the Protection and Paralegal Program officer;
• Build a good relationship with community leaders and connect them to AAT;
• Develop positive working relationships with Thai landlords, local authorities and service delivery organizations.
• Manage the administrative paperwork for paralegal project
• Continue the development the community paralegal training program in conjunction with the Protection and Paralegal Program officer;
• Adhere to the AAT code of conduct.
• Build and maintain relationships with staff of operational partners, networks and coalitions to ensure the smooth running of the project;
• Build and maintain strong relationships with asylum seeker and refugee communities in Bangkok.
• Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E)
• Conduct regular one-to-one supervisor meetings with each interpreter/ paralegal
• Administer and provide feedback on the interpreter/paralegal evaluation system
• Organize monthly evaluations for interpreters by different groups within the office
• Collect feedback from interpreters about how effectively our staff engage with them
• Contribute to the preparation of donor reports in relation to the interpreter/ paralegal program on a quarterly basis

Capacity Building

• Conduct orientation of new interpreters/ paralegals
• Develop new training materials and review existing training materials for one-on-one mentorship for potential/new interpreters and or paralegals
• Coordinate and deliver training program for potential/new interpreters/ paralegals, by delivering training sessions and pairing mentor exciting interpreters/paralegals with new/potential interpreters/paralegals 
• Together with RSD team leader coordinate and deliver regular group training sessions for interpreters to help them develop their interpreting and professional skills
• Together with Protection and Paralegal Program officer, coordinate and deliver regular group training sessions for paralegals to help them develop their legal knowledge and professional skills
• Review and update materials for every related group interpreter/paralegal training
• Assist in the training of new staff and VAs on how to work with interpreters and what is paralegal program.
• Support the development of and help to implement an interpreter glossary

Other Administrative Duties

• As needed and whenever capacity allows, work as an interpreter or trainer
• Support organizing all interpreter/paralegal documents and ensure all interpreters and or paralegal have signed Child Safeguarding Policy, Confidentiality Agreement, Interpreter Code of Conduct, Paralegal Agreement.
• Monitor and evaluate the community paralegal program as required by supervisor and the project donor;
• Perform any other tasks as required by supervisor

Qualifications and Requirements:

• Knowledge of the situation of refugees and asylum seekers in Bangkok;
• Experience working in coordination and program management;
• Experience organizing the training, or facilatating skills
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and teamwork skills and the ability to work in a culturally diverse environment;
• Ability to multi-task and cope with competing demands under  deadlines, to identify priority activities and assignments and adjust priorities as required;
• Excellent computer skills, with particular experience with Microsoft Office and Google Drive;
• Excellent communication skills in English. Knowledge of a major refugee languages prevalent in Bangkok is considered an advantage.

Reporting

The Interpreter and Paralegal Coordinator reports directly to the AAT Legal Solutions Manager for all work responsibilities and professional development.

Benefits

This position will be contracted for 3 months with daily rate stipend and possible to extend as full time staff in year 2021. Position is based in Bangkok, Thailand .

To apply

Candidates interested in the position should submit a CV, cover letter, and details of two references, to AAT’s Operations Coordinator at apply.aat@asylumaccess.org  Please insert “Interpreter and Paralegal Coordinator – name of applicant” in the subject line of the email.

Closing date: 27 September 2020

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.