Community Legal Empowerment Manager

Innovative Human Rights NGO Seeks Community Legal Empowerment Manager

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 honors 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 organizations advocate making human rights a reality for refugees throughout Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Our national organizations 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 catalyze and lead systemic transformation because, uniquely among NGOs in the refugee response sector, we focus exclusively on rights and governance.

Department Description

Asylum Access Malaysia's Community Outreach (CO) Department works on the front lines with refugee communities to inform and empower them to use their knowledge and skills to improve their situation in the country of refuge. Through the Community Legal Empowerment and Protection (CLEP) tools, we build the capacity of our clients to advocate for and exercise their rights and to take full advantage of the services and support that are available to them. The Community Outreach Team also works closely with other service providers for refugees needs, employers on employment disputes, non-governmental organizations and also government stakeholders in resolving refugees disputes. Internally, the CO team facilitates services with other departments at AAM, both by gathering information from community members that will enhance our legal services work as well as by assisting clients who are unable to visit our office.

Position Responsibilities:

Community Legal Empowerment Manager (CLEM) will be responsible for building the strategic approach for AAM’s community outreach and work rights programme activities including monitoring training sessions, supervising case management and case referrals, and increasing movement and momentum towards building a team of advocates within the refugee community.

Duties may include, but are not limited to:

• Developing, implementing and regularly evaluating strategies for community outreach and empowerment;
• Understanding the needs of refugees, and designing programs and other empowerment initiatives to ensure refugees access their rights. This includes the development of community outreach strategic plans, curating workshops, skills trainings and referrals;
• Developing and maintaining strategic partnerships to facilitate refugee empowerment initiatives. This including CBOs and other informal refugee groups, private institutions, government agencies, UNHCR and other NGOs;
• Oversee and grow AAM’s community outreach program;
• Develop strategy and oversee AAM’s work rights program;
• Supporting the Operational Director in
  • recruiting, training, and supervision of staff and volunteers for community outreach programme;
  • strengthening advocacy initiatives with the partner organisations and other relevant stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

The Community Legal Empowerment Manager (CLEM) will be specifically responsible for the design and implementation of community outreach and empowerment strategies, including but not limited to the following:

Community Outreach Programme (50%)

• Cultivating relationships, and maintaining regular communication with existing refugee  communities and CBOs;
• Developing strategies to reach out to new refugee communities;
• Developing needs assessment tools; carrying out regular assessments with refugee communities and other relevant partners to understand their needs and the resources available;
• Trouble-shooting and mediating issues within refugee communities that arise in the course of implementing AAM programs;
• Identifying partners and other stakeholders that can support refugee empowerment initiatives and access to rights, including NGOs, private and public institutions and the UNHCR;
• Ensure smooth and accurate communication with partners and other stakeholders that aligns with AAM’s communication protocols;
• Participate in and represent AAM in partner networks and strengthening networking strategies.
• Develop strategies to address refugee access including through referrals,workshops, training, direct assistance, advice and facilitation of refugee-led programs. Specifically:
  • Supervise the Community Outreach trainings and activities;
  • Conceptualise and facilitate refugee-led empowerment initiatives so that refugees are able to design and lead their own initiatives to access rights;
  • Work closely with the other program managers to ensure coordination of activities and goals between the Community Outreach and other AAM programs
• Supervise the Community Outreach Lead and benchmark the progress and activities of the community outreach team. Conduct regular meetings with community focal points to ensure the implementation of activities are in line with deliverables as well as impactful for the community served;
• Respond to community needs raised by the community focal points and to be the focal person in case referrals to external agencies;

Work Rights Programme (35%)

• Supervise the Work Rights Programme Officer in building the capacity of the team to respond effectively to the needs of cases;
• To work in close liaison with local authorities as well partner organisations and to be the focal point of contact in relation to case management with external agencies;
• Building strategies to effectively increase visibility of the work rights programme and to benchmark the effectiveness of approach in case management;
• Provide support and feedback to the work rights programme officer in approach and technical skills as well as to improve data management of cases;

Monitoring and Evaluation (15%)

• Regularly monitoring and evaluating progress, effectiveness and quality of programs and ensuring that the program is meeting AAM goals;
• Building and overseeing the database of refugee service providers;
• Tracking and monitoring trends,data and information raised through programmes and case management efforts;
• Collaborate with Legal Service, Policy and Operations team to ensure effective joint actions and activities;
• Assist with reporting, fundraising, communications and advocacy initiatives as needed;
• Other tasks as assigned by a supervisor.

Reports to: Executive Director of AAM

Minimum Qualifications

• Fluency in English (both written and verbal skills);
• Proven experience in community work and community support;
• Demonstrated knowledge of the local context in the area of migration and refugee rights;
• Solid case management skills; ability to manage multiple cases simultaneously, lead projects to completion and take initiative;
• Good knowledge of Google Workspace (Gmail, Google Drive, Calendar, Docs) and Microsoft Office;
• Interest in international human rights and/or refugee rights and/or related issues;
• Ability to work with diverse individuals and groups;
• Motivation towards Asylum Access Malaysia's mission, vision and approach to work;
• Ability to organise and work with diverse and multicultural teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• At least 3 years' experience in community work.
• Experience in case management on humanitarian or human rights issues.
• Proven experience in building relationships and networks
• Willingness to work under pressure and with a high degree of autonomy;

Hours and Location of Work

This is a full-time position based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Start Date: As soon as possible.

Salary and Benefits

The position comes with a competitive non-profit salary, and a robust benefits package including paid time off and professional development funds. The monthly salary range is between RM 7,000 - RM8,000.

Hours and Location of Work

We anticipate this position will require 40 working hours per week, with the occasional requirement to work outside of normal business hours for events, workshops, and other work-related commitments. Flexible hours are required in this position in order to respond to emergencies within the community.

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

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Asylum Access is an equal-opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We value the expense of those who have experienced displacement and encourage people with such lived experiences to apply. For more information about our organization, visit www.asylumaccess.org._