Associate Director of Programmes

Innovative Human Rights NGO Seeks Associate Programme Director

About Asylum Access

We are human rights advocates who support forcibly displaced individuals and communities as they reclaim their rights, agency and power.  Our unique combination of legal empowerment, policy advocacy and global systems change creates conditions in which refugees can live safely, move freely, work legally and go to school. Our work transforms the traditional approach of endless humanitarian handouts to a sustainable solution that honours refugees’ freedom, dignity and autonomy, and equips them to make choices about their own lives.

Asylum Access’ global team and family of local civil society organisations advocate to make human rights a reality for refugees throughout Africa, Asia and Latin America. Our national organisations are led and staffed primarily by community members in those countries, and there is strong mutual trust and respect between us and our clients. On the international stage, we work with established institutions to shift the global system to better uphold and promote refugees’ human rights. We can help catalyse and lead systemic transformation because, uniquely among NGOs in the refugee response sector, we focus exclusively on rights and governance.

Department Description

AAM’s programmes’ department is made up of the community outreach team as well as the legal services team that predominantly engages with refugee communities in Malaysia through individualised legal assistance, case management, capacity building, and community development. The team will work closely with the Associate Programme Director in strategizing work plan and impact as well as adhering to donor deliverables.

Position Description

The Associate Programme Director is responsible and accountable for the overall management of Asylum Access Malaysia’s development and programme activities in-country. This includes direct line management of the Community Outreach Manager and the Legal Services and Solutions Manager. In addition, this role will also be directly responsible for the management and implementation of the AAM’s strategic plan as well as overall programmatic monitoring and evaluation.

The role will report to AAM’s Executive Director and liaise regularly on project and impact management with team members from  Asylum Access Headquarters.

Key Responsibilities

Programme Management (60%)

• The Associate Programme Director is responsible for providing leadership and direction on AAM’s programmes;
• Lead implementation and evaluation of programmes with emphasis on measurable outcomes using data and best practices;
• Ensure prioritisation of programmatic objectives, activities, and budget needs;
• Steer development of financial resources to support prioritised areas of work;
• Ensure continuation and development of team-based approaches;
• Promote integration of programmatic activities as well as effective use of AAM staff capacity as well as promote shared accountability;
• Work independently and collaboratively with AAM staff to direct, develop, manage, and implement activities in the programmatic areas
• Support with grant proposal writing and reports submission;
• Support grant management as well as maintaining close contact with relevant funders;
• Oversee management of programmatic budgets to ensure effective and compliant use of grants and funds
• Interact with project teams to maintain consistent understanding of project status and deliverables and identify variances and errors to ensure sound fiscal management of programmes.
• Regularly monitor and review project activities to ensure quality, contractual compliance and timely reporting.
• Together with the Operations Manager, ensure responsibility for project expenditure, financial accountability and planning requirements, and provide a high level of support to these activities.
• Ensure budget development for new programmes and renewals.

Strategic Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation and Learning (30%)

• Oversee monitoring, evaluation and learning across programmes including facilitating group meetings, internally and externally regularly to gauge effectiveness of programmes, strategy and impact within AAM and communities.
• Develop and analyse monitoring and evaluation data
• Keep abreast with change, risk and resource management principles
• Develop reports depending on project requirements to funders and donors
• Disseminate evaluation findings and project results internally within the AAM team

Organisational Management (10%)

• Lead and motivate to achieve organisation’s goals while instilling the application of the organisational core values across programmes and teams;

• Lead programming team meetings for planning, reflection, feedback, and improvements;

• Lead the efforts of the recruitment of all programming staff in collaboration with human resources;

• Work closely with grants administration and finance teams to ensure grants are processed and managed in a timely, accurate and compliant manner;

• Serve as resource advisor to programme staff and support their work by managing resources, opportunity, time, and information;

• Participate in yearly performance assessments programme staff,goal setting,and support professional development on an ongoing basis;

• Play a leadership role in ensuring that AAM remains a desirable place to work including through clear communication of expectations and inspiration to all staff and volunteers,

• Ensure access to professional development opportunities, regular review of experiences and lessons learned, and bears primary responsibility for maintaining clear and open communication with Asylum Access global headquarters

• Assist Executive Director in design, develop, and implement organisation’s strategic plan;

• Other duties assigned by Executive Director

Reports to:  Asylum Access Malaysia’s Executive Director

Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum 5-7 years experience with international non-profit organisations;
• Extensive experience in working on forced displacement,
• Sound knowledge of all programme management procedures
• Sound knowledge of performance management and people management experience
• Experience with data analysis, budgeting, and reporting
• Sound judgement and an ability to effectively prioritise multiple tasks in a constantly changing environment.
• Exceptional leadership and organisational skills
• Have experience leading diverse teams
• Commitment to the mission, vision and values of Asylum Access.
• Self-motivated with ability to work autonomously.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Excellent organisational, planning, and interpersonal skills;

• Ability to communicate technical information to both technical and non-technical audiences;

• Ability to establish priorities in a time manner and meet deadlines with strong attention to consistency, detail, and quality.

• Excellent written, verbal communication and presentation skills; must be able to convey information to team at all level  in a clear, focused, and concise manner

• Demonstrated strong analytical skills

• Ability to adopt a proactive approach and offer solutions as appropriate.

• Ability to liaise and communicate effectively with a broad range of people at all levels, across different cultures and to act with credibility, discretion, tact and diplomacy both within and without the organisation.

• Maintain a calm disposition and positive outlook particularly when working under pressure.

• Strong team player.

Hours and Location of Work

The Associate Programme Director role is a full-time position based in our offices in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Candidates should be aware that some flexibility regarding working hours is required in order to take out-of-hours calls and meetings with international colleagues.

Salary and Benefits

Position comes with a competitive nonprofit salary, and a robust benefits package. The salary range is RM 10,000 - RM 12,000 per month depending on experience.

Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the recruitment process.

Asylum Access is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We value the expertise of those who have experienced displacement, and encourage people with such lived experience to apply.

For more information about our organisation, visit www.asylumaccess.org_._