Saint Andrew’s Refugee Services, Cairo
Vacancy Announcement: Resettlement Coordinator
Founded in 1979, StARS is a refugee service provider in central Cairo that works to enhance the quality of life for refugees and vulnerable migrants through five broad program areas: education, psychosocial, legal, community outreach and unaccompanied youth and children support 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: Driven by a commitment to justice and fairness, StARS works as displaced people and for displaced people to respect human dignity and enhance quality of life.
StARS’ Vision: Displaced people lead in the creation and implementation of responses to different forms of migration to establish safe, just, welcoming, and inclusive communities globally.
We serve people from many places, including Eritrea, Ethiopia, Iraq, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
Project Description: Refugee Legal Aid Program
The Refugee Legal Aid Program provides advice and representation to refugees seeking recognition by UNHCR through refugee status determination procedures in Egypt and assists refugees in accessing resettlement to safe third countries. The Refugee Legal Aid Program is seeking a Resettlement Coordinator to oversee the assistance to vulnerable refugees in accessing resettlement.
Role
Under the supervision of the Director and Deputy Director of the Refugee Legal Aid Program, the Resettlement Coordinator is responsible for the management and development of the Resettlement program. In consultation with the Director and Deputy Director, the Resettlement Coordinator is responsible for determining the strategic direction of the Refugee Legal Aid Program resettlement work. The Resettlement Coordinator will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the Resettlement Team, which consists of 10 Legal Officers, eight Senior Legal Officers and between three and five Volunteer Legal Advisors.
Responsibilities
All duties are carried out under the supervision of the Director and Deputy Director of the Refugee Legal Aid Program. Effective communication with the Director and Deputy and other StARS program coordinators is essential to the success of this role.
Legal and Technical
- To develop and supervise the screening and intake of potential clients for representation in resettlement matters.
- To maintain good working knowledge of UNHCR policies and procedures in resettlement matters.
- To oversee the review and preparation of resettlement referrals to the UNHCR Resettlement Unit.
- To manage regular referrals of resettlement cases to UNHCR’s Resettlement Unit and to manage follow-up communication and inquiries regarding resettlement cases.
- In coordination with the Director and Deputy of Refugee Legal Aid Program, to develop and manage the provision of legal assistance in protection matters and ensure close coordination with StARS’s Psychosocial Program regarding StARS responses to protection issues.
- To maintain accurate records of client representations, including client files and case dockets.
- To adhere to the Nairobi Code of Ethics, the StARS Policies and Procedures Manual, the StARS Code of Conduct, and the StARS Safety and Security Policy.
Programmatic
- In coordination with the Director and Deputy Refugee Legal Aid Program, to maintain and develop the Refugee Legal Aid Program relationship with UNHCR’s Resettlement Unit.
- To oversee and participate in the training for community groups and partner organizations regarding referral of potential resettlement cases to the Refugee Legal Aid Program.
- To assist as requested in the reporting to senior management, funders, and others.
- To regularly attend StARS management meetings for purposes of fostering close coordination with other StARS programs.
Supervisory
- In coordination with the Director and Deputy Director Refugee Legal Aid Program, to recruit, train, and supervise the Refugee Legal Aid Program Resettlement Team, including paid staff and volunteers.
- To complete tasks for and monitor progress on the StARS’ Strategic Plan.
- To engage proactively in promoting self-care among volunteers and staff.
- To ensure high-quality legal advice and representation and a refugee rights-based approach.
Finance and Administration
- To undergo probation and regular performance appraisals.
- To meet at least bi-weekly with the Director and Deputy Director of Refugee Legal Aid Program regarding the work of the Resettlement Program.
- To revise the Refugee Legal Aid Program in response to changing situations and participate in annual work planning.
Qualifications and Experience
The ideal candidate will be energetic, articulate, and comfortable interacting with diverse segments of society. She or he will have demonstrated a firm commitment to human rights and refugee issues.
Essential qualifications:
- English being the official language of UNHCR Cairo and StARS, the Resettlement Coordinator must be fluent in verbal and written English.
- Qualified lawyer in any jurisdiction (J.D., LLB or equivalent), Master’s degree in a related field (Middle East studies, international development, international law, development studies) and a minimum of one to two years of experience in providing assistance to refugees in the resettlement process.
- Excellent legal research and drafting skills.
- A demonstrated commitment to and sensitivity toward vulnerable or displaced people.
- Ability to live and work in a fluid security environment.
- Knowledge of or familiarity with UNHCR guidelines and procedures and the UNHCR resettlement process/handbook.
- Well organized, self-motivated, and reliable.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
- Demonstrated ability to work in a team as well as individually.
- Managerial/supervisory experience and/or familiarity with volunteer oversight.
- Interviewing skills and proven experience dealing with challenging scenarios, particularly in advocating for survivors of violence, trafficking, torture, and SGBV.
Desirable Characteristics:
- Working proficiency in Arabic is preferred.
- Experience designing and conducting training sessions for non-technical audiences.
- Life and work experience in the Middle East or Egypt or with an urban refugee population.
Working Hours: The Resettlement Coordinator is expected to be at work for 40 hours per week, between the hours of 9am and 5pm, from Sunday to Thursday. Longer hours, evening and weekend work are sometimes necessary. Work will be conducted both in StARS premises and also in refugee communities and centers.
Supervised by: Director of Refugee Legal Aid Program.
Salary: 19,950 EGP/month, rising to 22,150 EGP/month following successful completion of three-month probationary period. Plus 4,020 EGP/year Health Coverage and 100 EGP/month Saving Scheme Contribution upon completion of probationary period.
Additional official benefits as stipulated in StARS Staff Handbook Guidelines.
This position is subject to a three-month probationary period, at which time the employee’s performance will be reviewed and probation may be extended.
Closing date for applications: 31 January 2024
Anticipated Starting date: As soon as possible
To apply: Please send your Cover Letter and CV and brief legal writing sample to [email protected] using the subject line “Resettlement Coordinator”. All applications should provide contact information for two professional/academic reference (referees will only be contacted after interviews).
Note: Only short-listed applicants will be contacted for an interview.
