Country: Thailand
Closing date: 30 Apr 2016
Position: Project Director
Project: Bangkok Child Protection Project
Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Reports to: Country Director, JRS Thailand
Starting date: As soon as possible
Contract duration: 31 December 2016
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 four programmes spread throughout urban and rural areas serving refugees, asylum seekers and migrants. JRS Thailand has field offices in Bangkok, Mae Hong Son, and Mae Sot (Tak). The main areas of work include education, psycho-social services, livelihoods, emergency assistance, advocacy and protection. For more information about JRS in Asia Pacific and Thailand, visit: http://www.jrsap.org
Project Description:
Although half of the world’s refugees live in urban areas such as Bangkok, the vast majority of assistance is focused on refugees living in camps. Guided by Pedro Arrupe’s vision for JRS – to go where no one else is working and serve the most forgotten – JRS Thailand is dedicated to serving, accompanying and advocating for urban refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants, particularly the most vulnerable. A response to the significant child protection gap that has emerged in Bangkok in 2014, the Bangkok Child Protection Project is an implementing partnership arrangement with UNHCR Thailand, whereby JRS has undertaken to carry out Best Interest Assessments (BIAs) for unaccompanied, separated, and other vulnerable children in Bangkok, to support them through accompaniment, emergency and casework assistance, including referrals to other services both within and external to JRS, such as psychosocial counselling, legal services and community capacity building.
Role:
The Bangkok Child Protection Project- Project Director (BCP-PD) is responsible for the direction and implementation of a local JRS project- which is also an implementing partnership with UNHCR Thailand- and management of its staff. The responsibilities of this position include carrying out direct case work, undertaking BIAs for unaccompanied and separated children who are, asylum seekers and unregistered refugees seeking asylum in Bangkok and surrounding provinces; developing new case work; implementation and evaluation of the approved JRS Project Proposal; compliance with the terms of the UNHCR Implementing Partnership arrangement, including assisting JRS Thailand Country Office in completion of reporting documents; administration of the project’s finances; and care for the JRS team and its relations with the local refugee population and with local authorities. The Project Director directly supervises: Caseworkers and Psychosocial Counsellor and Activity Coordinator.
The Project Director reports directly to the Country Director.
Responsibilities:
Managing the work of JRS at the field level
- To safeguard the vision, identity, and unity of JRS at the project level.
- To know and understand well JRS policies and to implement them at the project level.
- To implement all aspects of the project according to the approved proposal.
- To take initiative and develop case work to govern the successful completion of this work and project.
- To analyse the needs of unaccompanied and separated girls and boys and to recommend good practices to the Country Office for future programming.
- To facilitate reflection on and evaluation of the project.
- To represent JRS at meetings at field level and as requested by the Country Director.
- To maintain strong working relationships with UNHCR, Thai authorities, INGO, CBOs and church groups working on urban refugee issues.
- To cooperate with the Country Office and Regional Office to ensure overall effective management and coordination of the project, including in the areas of Programmes, Finance, Advocacy and Communications.
- To coordinate project and site visits for donors, Country Office/Regional Office staff, and external visitors as approved.
Programmatic/Technical
- To implement the project according to the JRS annual project management cycle, including needs assessment, proposal development, monitoring and evaluation, and reporting of all project activities as required.
- To develop, implement and monitor a case management system to identify unaccompanied and separated girls and boys, including those who are particularly vulnerable and to arrange for appropriate assistance.
- To conduct best interest assessments. Following the BIA template, interview individual unaccompanied and separated children (and occasionally the families hosting them) to produce the BIA recommending and providing referral services.
- To conduct home visits and accompany unaccompanied and separated children in negotiations with landlords to access accommodation, etc.
- To assist casework staff, when necessary, to interview clients, conduct home assessment and determine their eligibility and needs for services.
- To provide information and counseling to unaccompanied and separated children about living in Thailand and personal safety.
- To prepare Best Interest Assessment documents and home visit reports using the BIA format and JRS-BCP intake/assessment forms and maintain updated case files and progress notes.
- To prepare Best Interest Assessment documents and home visit reports using the BIA format and JRS-BCP intake/assessment forms and maintain updated case files and progress notes.
- To refer unaccompanied and separated children to other agencies for appropriate intervention.
- To direct or accompany child refugees and asylum seekers to government offices, UNHCR, or other service providers as needed.
- To build and maintain strong relationships with asylum seeker and refugee communities in Bangkok.
Policy/Advocacy
- To advocate to local Thai communities, Government Agencies, and UNHCR for the rights of unaccompanied and separated refugee and asylum seeker children living in Bangkok.
- To monitor policies affecting asylum-seekers and refugees in Bangkok, paying special attention to children and other particularly vulnerable or marginalized groups.
- To advocate, particularly with UNHCR and the Thai government, on salient protection issues relating to child asylum-seekers and refugees in Bangkok in collaboration with relevant JRS staff.
Finance/Administration
- With the support of the Country Office, to administer the project’s finances, guaranteeing a proper accounting of all project expenses.
- To monitor and maintain strong financial records and procedures as per the JRS Finance policy; approve all project expenses; ensure maintenance of all JRS assets; and ensure proper financial documentation of all activities.
Communication/Reporting
- To communicate regularly with the Country Director, reporting on all major issues and developments in the field and within the team.
- To meet with the Country Director on a regular basis.
- To submit monthly activity reports to the Country Office.
- To develop/complete JRS and UNHCR reports as required, together with other project team members.
Staff Care
- To support team members in their work including facilitation of regular team meetings and reflection.
- To implement a project end performance evaluation with each team member.
- Together with the Country Office, to make decisions regarding human resources for the project.
Qualifications & Experience:
- Thai Nationals only with University degree in social work, counselling, social science, development, law or related profession.
- Advanced university degree desirable.
- At least 2 years’ of direct case work experience.
- At least 2 years’ experience working with NGOs or humanitarian agencies.
- Fluency in spoken and written English and Thai.
- Expertise in mental and psychosocial support and stress management are an asset.
- Ability to problem solve and take initiative
- Compatible with the vision-mission of JRS.
- Prudent to maintain professional boundaries.
- Understanding of and empathy with migrant and refugee communities.
- Ability to remain calm in stressful situations.
- Strong teamwork skills, able to work successfully in a multi-cultural and flexible environment and to handle multiple priorities.
- Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office.
- Willingness to travel to/from sites, and be able to use public transport to/from clients’ residences as needed.
How to apply:
This position is opened to Thai Nationals only. It offers a localised salary package with insurance, health and other benefits. Interested candidates must apply by sending cover letter and CV (including 3 references) and address how they satisfy the criteria described above. Applications are to be sent to job.bcp_pd@jrs.or.th
Applications close on 30 April 2016. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.