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.
To learn more please visit our website: www.stars-egypt.org or our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/standrewsrefugeeservices?fref=ts
Project Description: Refugee Legal Aid Program
The Refugee Legal Aid Program (RLAP) provides advice and representation to refugees seeking recognition by UNHCR through refugee status determination procedures in Egypt, assists refugees in accessing resettlement to safe third countries, and advises refugees on protection matters. RLAP is seeking a Resettlement Senior Legal Officer to assist and advise vulnerable refugees in resettlement processes, and protection matters.
Role
Under the supervision of the RLAP Director, the RLAP Resettlement Program Coordinator is responsible for the management and development of RLAP’s resettlement program. In consultation with the RLAP Director, the RLAP Resettlement Coordinator shall be responsible for determining the strategic direction of RLAP’s resettlement and protection work. The RLAP Resettlement Program Coordinator will be responsible for the day-to-day management of RLAP’s Resettlement Team.
Responsibilities
All duties are carried out under the supervision of the RLAP Director. Effective communication with the RLAP Director 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 and protection matters.
- To maintain good working knowledge of UNHCR policies and procedures in resettlement and protection matters.
- To oversee the review and preparation of resettlement referrals to the UNHCR Resettlement Unit.
- To manage regular referrals of resettlement cases to the UNHCR Resettlement Unit and to manage follow-up communication and inquiries regarding resettlement cases.
- In coordination with the RLAP Director, to develop and manage RLAP’s provision of legal assistance in protection matters.
- In coordination with the StARS Community Outreach Department, and the RLAP Director, to develop training materials and contribute to Community Outreach projects as relevant.
- 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 RLAP Director, to maintain and develop RLAP’s relationship with UNHCR’s Resettlement Unit.
- To lead and participate in training for community groups and partner organizations regarding referral of vulnerable cases to RLAP.
- To provide reporting data to the RLAP Director as requested for purposes of reporting work to senior management, funders, and others.
- To regularly attend StARS management meetings for purposes of fostering close coordination with other StARS programs.
- To oversee the training program for newly-recruited staff, and oversee the assignment of staff to provide on-call services, and their location between different StARS sites.
Supervisory
- In coordination with the RLAP Director, Programs Officer, and Staffing Team, to recruit, train, and supervise the RLAP Resettlement Team, including paid staff and volunteers.
- To conduct regular supervision meetings with Senior Legal Officers.
- To manage and oversee the decision-making on representation for resettlement purposes.
- 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/Administration
- To undergo probation and regular performance appraisals.
- To meet with the RLAP Director regarding the work of RLAP’s Resettlement Team.
- To revise the strategy of RLAP in response to changing situations through regular meetings with the RLAP Director and Senior Resettlement staff.
Qualifications & 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 RLAP Resettlement Coordinator must be fluent in verbal and written English.
- Working proficiency in Arabic preferred.
- 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) OR a minimum of one year 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.
- 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 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:
- Experience designing and conducting trainings for non-technical audiences.
- Life and work experience in the Middle East or Egypt or with an urban refugee population.
Working Hours: The Resettlement Program 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: RLAP Director
Salary: 9,300 EGP/month, rising to 10,300 EGP/month following successful completion 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: 7 October 2020
Anticipated Starting date: 1 November 2020
How to apply
Interested applicants should send a cover letter including two references (referees will only be contacted after Interviews), CV, and brief legal writing sample to [email protected] using the subject line “Resettlement Program Coordinator”.
Note: Only short-listed applicants will be contacted for an interview.
More Information
- Job City Cairo
