Thailand: Refugee Status Determination/Refugee Resettlement Coordinator

Asylum Access is an international organization working to make refugee rights a reality in first countries of refuge in Africa, Asia and Latin America. 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. With offices in Ecuador, Panama, Thailand, Tanzania and Malaysia, we provide direct legal assistance reaching over 10,000 refugees per year.

The RSD/RST Coordinator at the Asylum Access Thailand office is part of the organization’s senior leadership team. The RSD/RST Coordinator will supervise at least 3 full time staff and approximately 5 volunteers. The RSD/RST Coordinator will work closely in collaboration with HQ and other Asylum Access Offices on many key programs with a particular focus on strategic approaches to legal services.

Application Submission by: 8 April 2016

Employment Status: 2 year contract

This is a full-time staff position with the possibility of renewal at the end of the contract period.

Key Responsibilities and Tasks:

The RSD/RST Coordinator will be responsible for the management of the RSD/RST Legal Aid program at Asylum Access Thailand, and provide expertise in international human rights and refugee law, including direct legal services and advocacy. The RSD/RST Coordinator will build relationships and adapt legal strategies to fit new and/or challenging circumstances. The RSD/RST Coordinator reports to the Country Director and works closely with other staff and volunteers. Key responsibilities and tasks include:

· Developing, reviewing and implementing best practices in legal services to ensure the effective legal representation of refugee clients in the RSD process under UNHCR’s mandate.

· Keeping appraised of local, national, and international legal and policy developments. Informing and training staff accordingly.

· Developing systems to prioritize and screen the urban refugee caseload, and adapting to new/challenging circumstances.

· Providing legal counsel and assistance to urban asylum seekers and refugees.

· Ensuring accurate and timely recording of client and casework data for the purposes of monitoring and evaluation, swiftly identifying database needs or challenges.

· Reporting regularly to the Country Director and Headquarters on the scope, nature, quality and challenges of AAT’s legal services and community empowerment programs.

· Advocating, particularly with UNHCR, on RSD/RST and protection issues relating to urban asylum seekers and refugees.

· Promoting networking and capacity building among Thai lawyers and Pro Bono lawyers in representing urban asylum seekers under the UNHCR mandate. Providing relevant trainings/ briefings/community presentations, where possible.

· Serving as liaison with the UNHCR as well as with other international and non-governmental organizations providing assistance to urban asylum seekers and refugees on all matters relating to their claim.

· Developing the team annual budget and monthly forecast, monitoring the team spending and ensuring cost effectiveness.

· Ensuring all case files, records of services rendered and outcome are input accurately by the quarterly reporting deadline to ensure the timely completion of necessary reports. Measuring deliverable outcomes needed for funder reporting.

Qualifications Required:

· University degree in law (e.g. LL.B., LL.M., J.D), preferably with a specialization in international law, human rights law or humanitarian law.

· Demonstrated expertise in legal services and community outreach, especially in human rights, International Refugee law, including the 1951 Convention and its interpretation.

· Demonstrated experience of supervision of staff and volunteers, ideally in a community legal aid setting.

· Demonstrated understanding of, and capacity to develop, creative responses in a rapidly changing context.

· Demonstrated understanding of UNHCR and the practices and challenges faced by other organizations working with urban refugee populations

· Excellent spoken and written English.

· Understanding of Thai legal and political systems. Experience working in Thailand is an advantage.

Salary and benefits:

Asylum Access Thailand offers a salary package that is locally competitive and commensurate with the successful applicant’s experience and qualifications. The incumbent will also receive health insurance. If the selected candidate is an international hire, Asylum Access Thailand will sponsor a foreign candidate’s work visa and work permit. Unfortunately at this time Asylum Access Thailand is unable to offer relocation and living stipend for international placements.

Applicants should send their CV and letter of interest to khemtida.petchtam@asylumaccess.org with “RSD/RST Coordinator - Thailand” in the subject line. Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.