ThaiNGO

Job Title: Community Advocacy and Liaison Manager

Location: Bangkok, Thailand

Background/IRC Summary:  The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is at work in over 40 countries and 26 U.S, cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. The IRC has been operating in Thailand since 1975 and currently provides assistance to displaced persons in Tak, Kanchanaburi and Mae Hong Son Provinces.

Job Overview/Summary:  

The IRC’s Protection program in Thailand works to integrate international humanitarian protection principles and gender equality into all facets of program implementation, while promoting increasing access to justice and legal services for conflicted-affected individuals and communities. The program seeks to protect and promote the rights of displaced persons in refugee camps, migrant communities and urban areas in Thailand, as well as in southeast Myanmar. The program ensures that people are safe in their homes and communities; that they receive appropriate support after experiencing harm, and aims to enable displaced people to exercise free and informed decisions on how they live.

Under the direct supervision of the Protection Coordinator (PC), and the overall guidance of the Deputy Director of Program (DDP), the Community Advocacy and Liaison Manager will be responsible for coordinating and liaising with local stakeholders (i.e. Thai authorities, Myanmar Embassy in Thailand, civil society, non-governmental organizations, etc.) related to the protection of displaced people. The Community Advocacy and Liaison Manager will also be responsible for data collection and analysis of the displacement situation and migration trends in Thailand and southeast Myanmar in support of program development.   

Major Responsibilities:

Networking and Advocacy

• Maintain up-to-date information and data repository on the rights of the displaced population, including data and information on Thai and Myanmar policies on refugees and migrants, and provide analysis on policy implications and attributes. Attend relevant meetings and workshops as required.
• Coordinate with IRC project managers, the Migrant Working Group, the Migrant Rights Promotion Working Group and other working groups and networks to seek synergic approaches to advocacy activities and implementation that optimize support for refugees and other displaced people.
• Manage and facilitate activities for civil society, community-based organizations and local migrant community services organizations according to project work plans and strategies.
• Work closely with the IRC’s Livelihoods and Bangkok-based Programs teams to advocate, engage and coordinate with the private sector to promote the wellbeing of refugees and displaced people in Thailand in line with the IRC Thailand Strategy Action Plan (SAP).    
• Carry out secretariat functions for IRC Protection Coordination Meetings on a quarterly basis.

Project Implementation

• Assist the Protection Coordinator and the Senior Protection Manager in preparing project reports, analysis, data reporting, and other project reporting requirements.
• Assist the Protection Coordinator in monitoring program / project activities.
• Serve as an interpreter for Protection and other projects as necessary.
• Conduct rapid assessments and collect information during emergency situations relating to displaced persons. Ensure comprehensive information is provided to IRC senior staff to inform decision-making on immediate humanitarian assistance.
• Work with the Bangkok-based Programs Unit to devise and carry out monitoring plans on private sector-related activities as assigned.
• Assist the Programs Unit on any administrative tasks (i.e. payments, procurements, etc.) related to private sector engagement and coordination with local partners as required.

Capacity Building and Support to Local Partners

• Provide technical assistance to civil society organizations in developing communication messages, and work with local organizations/stakeholders to implement appropriate advocacy strategies.
• Facilitate trainings and workshops as required.
• Support community-based organizations to prepare for future activities as appropriate.
• Identify capacity building needs (both new and existing skills) of partners on an ongoing basis, and work with the appropriate IRC teams to address them.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to:  Protection Coordinator
Position directly supervises:  N/A

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Job Requirements:

• Post-graduate degree law, social work, humanitarian assistance, international relation or a related field.
• At least five years of working experience on access to justice or protection, including four years of project management experience.
• Experience working with civil society partners and/or community-based organizations on capacity building/organizational development is required.
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills, including the ability to design and deliver training, facilitate workshops and lead meetings/dialogues.
• Able to work independently while being a strong team player; culturally sensitive with the ability and interest to work with multi-ethnic, multi-language and a multi-cultural team.
• Good management skills; competent in Windows, MS office programs, and emails.
• Fluency in spoken and written English and Thai and/or Burmese is required. Karen is a plus.
• Able to travel regularly along the Thailand-Myanmar borders and able to travel to refugee camps and other project areas on a regular basis.

Working Environment: The position will be based in the IRC office in Bangkok, with extensive travel to the refugee camps and the Thailand-Myanmar border area.

Application letter and most recent CV in English stating qualifications and experience should be submitted to the IRC Human Resources Department at Thailand.HR@rescue.org.

All applications will be treated confidentially and not returned. The IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, national origin, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, age, marital status or physical or mental disability. The IRC is an equal opportunity employer.

   Application Deadline: 19 January 2018