Country: Egypt
Closing date: 11 May 2017
Founded in 1979, St Andrew’s Refugee Services (StARS) is a refugee service provider in central Cairo that works to enhance the quality of life for refugees and vulnerable migrants through four programs: adult and children’s education, legal, and psychosocial services. We provide high-quality services meeting the unaddressed needs of refugees, and we provide a safe and inclusive space for displaced people to come together as a community. We work for refugees, with refugees, to make rights recognition a reality.
StARS’ Mission is to enhance the quality of life of refugees in Egypt and make their rights a reality through client-centered programs.
StARS’ Vision is a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment for refugees in which they can exercise their rights, pursue their aspirations, and live in dignity.
Project Description: RLAP
RLAP provides advice and representation to refugees and other vulnerable migrants in matters relating to protection, refugee status determination (RSD), and resettlement under UNHCR’s mandate.
Role
Under the supervision of the Executive Director, the RLAP Director is responsible for the management of RLAP and its staff in the provision of legal advice and representation to urban refugees in matters of protection, RSD, and resettlement. In consultation with the Executive Director, the RLAP Director shall be responsible for determining the strategic direction of StARS’ legal services to refugees. The RLAP Director shall be responsible for all matters relating to staffing, supervision, and day-to-day management of StARS legal services. The RLAP Director is tasked with improving the delivery of quality legal advice and representation and engaging in advocacy that advances refugee rights in Egypt and more widely. The RLAP Director leads a team of approximately 15 full-time staff, 10-12 Volunteer Legal Advisors (VLAs), and a team of consultant interpreters.
Responsibilities
All duties are carried out under the supervision of the Executive Director of StARS. Effective communication with the Executive Director, and other members of the StARS’ leadership team, is essential to success in this role.
Legal and Technical
- To provide general legal counseling and assistance to refugees regarding their applications for registration, protection, RSD, and resettlement before UNHCR, and to supervise and coordinate the work of the RSD and Resettlement Team Coordinators, Legal Officers, and VLAs.
- To further develop RLAP’s on-call legal advice services and to streamline RLAP’s processes to maximize the number of clients provided with quality legal assistance.
- To supervise the screening and prioritization of clients for legal representation in RSD and resettlement procedures.
- To put in place procedures and guidelines to identify cases appropriate for expedited consideration by UNHCR and to review such requests.
- To put in place procedures and guidelines to identify clients appropriate for basic legal counseling and receipt of self-help kits.
- To ensure that all requests for legal appointments made by urban refugees are recorded and decide on appropriate follow-up action.
- To undertake country of origin research in support of individual claims and for general organizational research purposes and to maintain good working knowledge of the current political and social situations in the countries of origin of StARS’ clients.
- To maintain good working knowledge of UNHCR guidelines, processes, and procedures.
- To assess extra-legal client needs and refer to other StARS teams or external organizations as appropriate.
- To ensure that comprehensive case management practices and adhered to, including maintaining and updating electronic databases and records for each client, and keeping detailed notes of all casework activities.
- To oversee the delivery of RSD preparation workshops,Know Your Rights trainings for refugee communities, and other community outreach activities relating to RLAP’s services.
- To adhere to the Nairobi Code of Ethics, the StARS Policies and Procedures Manual, and the StARS Code of Conduct, while ensuring compliance by all RLAP staff and volunteers.
- To maintain a caseload of between one and three clients in RSD or resettlement matters.
Programmatic
- To develop, implement, and ensure adherence to RLAP program manuals and policies and procedures.
- To assist other members of RLAP and StARS programs regarding issues related to the urban refugee population.
- To provide case reporting data to the Executive Director as requested to accurately report work to senior management, funders, and others.
- To plan, schedule, run, and minute RLAP meetings and other staff meetings.
- To build and maintain strong relationships with refugee communities in Cairo.
- To build and maintain relationships with psychosocial and education staff, particularly Program Directors, and operational partners.
- To communicate with refugee communities, other service providers, and UNHCR to facilitate the transmission of accurate information leading to the fulfillment of refugee rights.
Supervisory
- To directly supervise the Resettlement Coordinator, RSD Coordinator, Interpreter Coordinator, Community Outreach Legal Officer, Policy & Advocacy Legal Officer, and RLAP Program Assistant.
- To recruit, train, supervise, and support paid staff and VLAs, ensuring that RLAP operates effectively and efficiently.
- To provide feedback on case strategies and recommendations for further action, directing RLAP staff on COI research, legal developments, and monitoring caseloads.
- To meet regularly with RLAP staff to coordinate caseloads, assign cases, improve team protocols, and monitor progress on RLAP programming and the strategic plan.
- To carry out and oversee periodic performance evaluations and annual appraisals for RLAP staff and volunteers.
- To assist in coordination and provision of intensive two-week training for new VLAs and psychosocial workers twice per year or as needed.
- To ensure all new staff members are well-trained so as to provide high quality legal advice and representation.
- To participate in external training opportunities or, where appropriate, assign other members of RLAP to participate.
- To arrange ongoing training RLAP staff and volunteers on RSD, protection, and resettlement matters.
- To attend continuing education provided for all StARS staff.
- To ensure that all members of RLAP carry out tasks in accordance with StARS’ policies, procedures, and standards, in particular ethics, conduct, confidentiality, anti-discrimination, and the prevention of sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse.
- To administer disciplinary procedures, staff leave, reimbursements, and budget expenditure.
- To engage proactively in promoting self-care among staff and volunteers.
- To ensure high quality legal advice and representation and a refugee rights-based approach.
Policy/Advocacy
- To supervise the Policy & Advocacy Legal Officer in advocating with UNHCR, embassies, external rights advocates, and partner organizations regarding the situation of urban refugees in Egypt.
- To monitor policies and external developments affecting refugees in Egypt, paying special attention to particularly vulnerable or marginalized groups.
- To directly advocate, particularly with UNHCR, on salient protection issues relating to urban refugees.
Finance/Administration
- To monitor and maintain strong financial records and procedures as per StARS financial rules and ensure proper financial documentation of all activities.
- To revise the strategy of RLAP in response to changing situations and participate in annual work planning.
- To undergo probation and regular performance appraisals.
Communication/Reporting
- To meet monthly with the Executive Director regarding the work of RLAP and self-care.
- To communicate regularly with the Executive Director, reporting on all major issues and developments in the field and within RLAP.
- To be an active member of the StARS leadership team and to provide all necessary support to other Program Directors and to StARS.
- To provide monthly and quarterly reports to the Executive Director, as requested, including problems and solutions, supervision issues, case studies, statistics, and notes on progress toward implementation of RLAP programming and the StARS strategic plan.
- To contribute input on RLAP activities to grant proposals and donor reports.
- To submit activity reports as requested.
- To promote information-sharing within RLAP and StARS on all issues affecting the populations served by StARS.
Requirements
Technical
- English being the official language of UNHCR Egypt and StARS, the RLAP Director must be fluent in both oral and written English. Arabic or a refugee language is an advantage.
- LLB, LLM, JD, or equivalent legal education; master’s/graduate level legal education or practical experience as a legal advocate.
- Three years of experience in representing refugees.
- A track record of team-building or similar management experience.
- Knowledge of various models and methods of providing legal aid to marginalized, indigent, and vulnerable populations.
- Ability to closely supervise the work of team members and provide necessary follow-up.
- Highly developed written and verbal communication skills.
Personal
- A demonstrated ability to lead, motivate, supervise, guide, support, and discipline team members as well as cooperate with peers.
- Belief in and commitment to non-discrimination on the basis of gender, race, disability, religious belief, gender identity, and sexual orientation.
- Diplomacy and assertiveness; the ability to confront and discuss sensitive issues with respect and care.
- Skill in obtaining information necessary to accomplish duties.
- Ability to prioritize work, multi-task, and meet deadlines.
- Ability to handle conflicting priorities in a fast-paced environment while working with limited resources.
- Strong organizational and planning skills and detail-orientation.
- Ability to analyze and solve complex problems on a strategic and functional level.
- Able to express technical ideas and concerns in a non-technical environment.
- Understanding of human rights and client-centered approach.
- Ability to develop effective systems considering organizational effectiveness and impact on people.
- A positive attitude and collaborative approach to dealing with clients, volunteers, and staff.
Hours: 8 hours/day, 5 days/week (Sunday – Thursday), and other hours as required.
Supervised by: Executive Director
Salary: 12,000 to 13,000 EGP/month, depending upon experience, rising to 12,300 to 13,300 EGP/month following successful completion of the three-month probationary period. Additional 400 EGP/month Cost of Living Allowance, plus 125 EGP/month medical allowance and 50 EGP/month pension contribution following completion of the probationary period.
Benefits: All StARS official benefit policies as stipulated in StARS Policies and Procedures Guidelines
Closing date for applications: 11 May 2017
Start date for position: 11 June 2017
How to apply:
Please send a CV, brief legal writing sample, and a cover letter addressing the role and requirements to ceades@stars-egypt.org. Use the subject line “RLAP Director.”