Position:                                 Project Director

Project:                                   Sustaining Education for Refugees

Location:                              Mae Hong Son

Reports to:                             Country Director

Starting date:                        Immediately

Contract duration:             1 year (extendable)

Date of posting:                  6 May 2026

Deadline of submission:   20 May 2026

This is a localised position open for both national and international

The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) is an international non-governmental organisation with a mission to accompany, serve, and advocate for the rights of refugees and forcibly displaced people.  The organisation was founded in November 1980 and has a presence in over 50 countries. JRS undertakes services at national and regional levels with the support of an international office in Rome. The style of JRS service is human and spiritual, working in situations of greatest need, seeking the long-term wellbeing of refugees and displaced persons, while not neglecting their immediate or urgent needs. JRS offers opportunities to a wide variety of staff, local and international, while maintaining a realistic and localised scheme of salary/stipend, insurance, etc. 

In Thailand, JRS manages six programmes spread throughout urban and rural areas serving refugees, asylum seekers, migrants, and people in detention. JRS Thailand has field offices in Bangkok and Mae Hong Son Province. The main areas of work include education, psycho-social services, livelihoods, legal assistance, emergency assistance, medical services, and advocacy. For more information about JRS in Asia Pacific and Thailand, visit: http://www.jrsap.org

Project Description:

JRS has been working with Karenni Education Department (KnED) in Mae Hong Son’s two refugee camps since 1997. JRS partners with the KnED to implement and deliver educational services and training in the following areas: primary, secondary, vocational, special education, teacher training, curriculum development and management. It is currently providing assistance to over 3000 children and around 260 teachers in 12 schools in two temporary shelters of Ban Mai Naisoi (BMN) and Ban Mai Surin (BMS). The primary goal of this support is to ensure the continuity of education while simultaneously developing the capacity of refugee educators and partner organisations for refugees’ own self-reliance.

The physical demands of work in temporary shelters are significant. In addition, Mae Hong Son is a small town and relatively remote. Since only basic medical care is available in Mae Hong Son, a pre-employment physical will be required. The candidate should carefully consider whether they have or how they will develop a sufficient emotional support network while on this assignment. 

Role

In Mae Hong Son, JRS partners the Karenni Education Department (KnED) in two refugee camps on the Thai-Burma border. JRS supports KnED as they manage and build the capacity of their education system in order to ensure access to quality education. This includes monitoring, support and training as needed. The Project Director leads the JRS team, consisting of local and international staff, in Mae Hong Son.

The Project Director reports to the JRS Thailand Country Director located in Bangkok. He/she is the leader of the team assisting the Karenni Education Department (KnED) offering quality education to refugee students/teachers.

Responsibilities

• Manage the whole management cycle of JRS projects in Mae Hong Son (MHS), from design, implementation, monitoring, to evaluation.
• Be responsible for the accountability of JRS operations in Mae Hong Son, following JRS and donors’ safeguarding, child protection, and anti-fraud policies, procurement guidelines, as well as JRS accountability to the people served.
• Responsible for the approval of all payments to KnED and KnED staff, material purchases and management of all resources of JRS, ensuring good financial management and documentation.
• Provide staff management, coaching and mentoring to JRS MHS team/staff in the spirit of JRS values, vision and mission, for the growth of JRS staff as individuals, as well as one organisation team.
• Assess the needs for capacity development of the staff in Mae Hong Son and work together with the Country Director for organisational and staff capacity development.
• Facilitate staff regular updates, in a reflective approach, seeking for better ways of serving, advocating, and accompanying refugees, while taking into consideration of staff wellbeing.
• Be a lead person to represent JRS partnership with KnED and other relevant stakeholders to manage and provide supportive environment to access Basic Education, Inclusive Education, Curriculum Development, Vocational Training, Education in Emergencies. At the heart of the services, JRS places child protection and safeguarding, prioritising at risk children and with the involvement of the whole community. 
• Collaborate with the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Education of the Royal Thai Government at both the Bangkok and local levels to ensure that programmes operate within the mandate granted by the government.  JRS also advocates changes to government policy/practice as needed for the benefit of the refugees.  
• Maintains good working relationships with Thai authorities, local district offices and village heads; with the local Catholic Diocese, UNHCR, INGOs and CBOs
• Co-ordinate JRS activities with other NGOs and UNHCR, especially in the areas of protection, security, vocational training, income generation and areas identified by programmes sectors.
• Represents JRS on the Education sub-committee and other relevant sub-committees of the Committee for Co-ordination of services to Displaced Persons in Thailand (CCSDPT), the main NGO co-ordination body and relevant committees as requested. 
• Cooperate with Country and Regional Advocacy and Communications Officers to coordinate national advocacy and produce articles for the JRS website and publications.
• Cooperate with other Regional and Country office staff to ensure overall effective management and coordination of the projects.
• Coordinate project and site visits for donors, country/regional staff and external visitors as approved.

Qualifications

• Proven track record in project management for at least 3 years.
• Experiences in middle management for at least 2 years.
• Bachelor’s degree in Education, Education Administration/Management, Social Work, and/or Development Studies;  or substituted with extensive experiences in a development or refugee context or resource challenged environment and working with other humanitarian agencies, with experiences at the field and management levels.
• Previous teaching and teacher training experiences.  Higher degrees are an added value for the service of refugees.
• A key attribute of this programme is capacity building and partnership with the Karenni Education Department.  A demonstrated ability and commitment to collaborate with refugees as partners, NGOs and the host government is key.
• Experience managing a multi-cultural staff including refugees and international volunteers including Catholic Priest/Sisters/Brothers as well as people from other religious traditions, especially Buddhist. Current staff is approximately 17.
• Strong staff management skills, able to work successfully in a multi-cultural environment.
• Good communication skills, particularly in the areas of report-writing and project proposals; good working knowledge of project cycle management, experience with accounting, budgeting and the monitoring of funds.
• Compatibility with JRS vision and mission and understanding of and empathy with low-income refugee communities; understanding of local cultural sensitivities a strong plus.
• English fluency in speaking, reading and writing; Fluency in Thai and Burmese is preferred.
• Computer literacy in MS Words, Excel, Power Point.

Conditions  

JRS offers a localized salary and benefits. Details will be discussed with short-listed candidates; salary depends on the status and qualifications of the successful applicant.  Interested candidates

must send their curriculum vitae (including three references with their contact information, phone and email address), and a motivation letter to jrsthailandco@gmail.com  Please include your last name and “MHS Project Director” in the subject line. 

JRS advocates for equality and non-discrimination and promotes a diversified and inspiring working environment. Therefore, qualified candidates of ethnic minorities and women are strongly encouraged to apply. Application close on 20 May 2026.  Early application are encouraged.  Thia is a rolling recruitment -  so we may select and hire a candidate before the 20 May 2026 dateline.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.