Team Lead, Refugee Emergency Response

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Team Lead, Refugee Emergency Response

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 empowers them to make choices about their own lives.

Asylum Access’ global team and family of local civil society organizations advocate to make 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

The Legal Team at Asylum Access Thailand (AAT) primarily provides legal services to refugees, ensuring that they have access to justice and protection, get necessary support during the refugee status determination (RSD) process and have  information on  Long Term Legal Solutions (LTLS). The Legal Team is overseen by the Protection Program Coordinator and includes the RSD,  Protection, Refugee Emergency Response, and Interpreter and Paralegal Team Leads,  Legal and Screening and Intake Officers, Volunteer Legal Advocates, Interpreters and Paralegals.

Position Description

The Refugee Emergency Response Team Lead assists the Protection Program Coordinator by overseeing AAT’s Refugee Emergency Response Team in providing legal assistance to certain refugee populations in Thailand who fall outside UNHCR Thailand’s mandate.  This involves overseeing the identification of protection issues, providing legal advice and enabling access to safety, basic needs and long term legal solutions through information and referrals. The Team Lead is also responsible for liaising and working collaboratively with representatives from international and local partner organizations, and supporting the development and integration of related networks, in order to enable positive case outcomes and policy and advocacy efforts. The Team Lead  assists AAT’s Policy Advocacy team by providing relevant information. In the future, the Team Lead will liaise with AAT’s Community Engagement team to enable training opportunities for refugee populations.

Key Responsibilities

All responsibilities will be undertaken with the guidance and support of the AAT Executive Director and/or Director of Programs and/or Protection Program Coordinator, and in collaboration with HRDF, RRLP and MRN, as required.

Case Management and Legal Assistance  (70%):

The Refugee Emergency Response Team Lead will oversee a Legal Advisor in Mae Sot and VLAs in conducting these duties, and at times conduct direct client work. The split between oversight and direct client work will change depending on the team’s capacity at the time.

• Conduct intake and screening interviews for, provide individualized legal advice and assistance to, and advise refugee clients facing protection concerns and requiring assistance on related issues involving Thai law (depending on urgency of the matter, advice may need to be provided on a walk-in basis, as on-call legal advisor);
• Conduct group workshops for clients on protection concerns, Thai law and long term legal solutions
• Provide full legal representation and short services for clients facing protection concerns and issues involving Thai law .  This may include (but is not limited to):
  • Preparing client and witness statements, including reviewing and providing feedback on client-drafted statements;
  • Drafting legal case materials;
  • Obtaining documents to support client cases such as witness statements, medical reports, etc.;
  • Preparing clients for and accompanying clients to interviews;
  • Following-up with external organizations on the status of client cases;
  • Representing and visiting clients in Immigration Detention Centers; and
  • Accompanying clients to the courts or police stations.
• Identify highly sensitive cases appropriate for special consideration by international organizations, draft inquiries and cross-check between clients and these organizations where required;
• Undertake comprehensive case management practices, including developing and maintaining database records and keeping detailed notes of all case work activities;
• Directly supervise and mentor the Legal Advisor in Mae Sot and VLAs by:
  • Monitoring workload and providing advice and expertise in case management;
  • Reviewing casework and case-specific advice to ensure high quality legal advice and representation;
  • Conducting introductory and on-going training;
  • Promoting self-care;
• Lead Refugee Emergency Response Team case management meetings, in collaboration with the Myanmar Response Network where appropriate;
• Maintain good working knowledge of current political and social situation in clients’ countries of origin (COO), and ensure distribution of this knowledge across the  Refugee Emergency Response Team to determine refugee claim, assess credibility and for general research purposes; and
• Adhere to and ensure the  Refugee Emergency Response Team’s adherence to the Nairobi Code of Ethics.

Community Empowerment (10%)

• In collaboration with AAT Legal team members and Community Engagement team members, Myanmar Response Network and external organizations, develop and deliver legal and other trainings to and materials for paralegals and refugee community members that are responsive to community needs (e.g on protection, Thai law, long-term legal solutions etc.)

Organizational Development / Planning and Human Resources (10%):

• Develop and maintain good working knowledge of Refugee Emergency Response Team guidelines, processes and procedures, and ensure distribution of this knowledge across the Refugee Emergency Response Team;
• Assist in Refugee Emergency Response Team recruitment processes and provide training to new team members;
• Ensure the Refugee Emergency Response Team’s adherence to the AAT Code of Conduct, policies, and manuals;
• Develop quarterly reports and maintain data collection and trends analysis on Refugee Emergency Response Team services (to manage workload, improve services and for donor reporting);
• Participate in AAT’s strategic and annual planning cycle and in planning new projects; and
• Attend and contribute to AAT and legal team meetings.

Relationship Building, Networking and Advocacy (10%):

• Build and maintain strong relationships with staff, operational partners and the Thai legal profession to ensure smooth running of operations and enable referrals;
• Plan for, coordinate and contribute to MRN meetings;
• Build and maintain strong relationships with refugee communities in Bangkok and Mae Sot, and facilitate communication of accurate information so as to enable the fulfillment of refugee rights;
• Support MRN and AAT’s Executive Director and Policy Advocacy Team in policy and advocacy on issues affecting refugees and international human rights mechanisms; and
• Other relevant work as assigned by supervisor.

Reports to: Protection Program Coordinator

Preferred Qualifications

• Qualified lawyer in Thailand or a bachelor’s degree in law or closed related subject in Thailand;
• Understanding of and/or experience working in Thai domestic law (e.g. criminal, employment, and immigration including arrest, detention and bail);
• Client interview, analysis, drafting and advocacy skills, or desire to develop in these areas quickly;
• Written and verbal communication skills;
• Ability to take initiative and ownership of cases and projects, proactively follow up, manage multiple deadlines, and work effectively with a high attention to detail;
• Advanced working knowledge of Microsoft Office, Gmail, Google Drive and related tools (Docs, Sheets, Calendar, etc.); and
• Ability to fluently speak and write in Thai (as the position will require liaising with Thai entities).

Salary and Benefits

The Refugee Emergency Response Team Lead will receive a monthly payment of THB 40,000 per month, health insurance and vacation and other leave days.

Hours and Location of Work

The Refugee Emergency Response Team Lead is a full-time, one-year contract position based in our office in Bangkok, Thailand. Candidates should be aware that travel to Mae Sot, Thailand is required from time to time and some flexibility regarding working hours is required in order to take calls and meetings with international colleagues outside of standard office hours.

Application Instructions to Candidates

Upload your resume and a cover letter via Asylum Access online portal BambooHR.  In your cover letter, please describe your reasons for applying, relevant qualifications, preferred start date, and how you learned about the position.

Deadline of application: until the position is filled. and only shortlist candidate will be contacted

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 organization, visit www.asylumaccess.org_._