Legal Action Worldwide (LAW) is a unique non-profit network and think tank of lawyers that provides creative legal assistance in fragile and conflict-affected areas and places national lawyers at the forefront of legal change. LAW uses advocacy, research, legal empowerment and strategic litigation to bring about this change. LAW’s thematic focuses include: Gender equality and sexual and gender-based violence; Accountability and the Rule of Law; and Transitional Justice. LAW’s Advisory Council and Board are comprised of senior international lawyers who advise LAW on the development of innovative litigation and legal strategies.
LAW’s ground-breaking work has been included in a number of UN and Member State government reports and has received international media coverage, including in the New York Times, the Times of London, the Guardian, Voice of America, BBC News, Sky News, Al Jazeera, Huffington Post and Foreign Policy.
Bangladesh Programme
LAW works closely with the Rohingya community located in Bangladesh to secure justice for crimes experienced in Myanmar. LAW’s work seeks to build on the findings of the United Nations International Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar which recommended that senior Tatmadaw and political figures from Myanmar be investigated and prosecuted for crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide, linked to the Rohingya Crisis.
LAW is currently looking for a passionate, committed, human-rights lawyer for the role of Programme Manager, to be based in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. You will work closely with LAW’s Executive Director, Head of Legal Programmes, LAW’s administrative and financial staff and with LAW’s programme partners. You will take the lead on specific projects and be given a large degree of autonomy, room for creativity and space to develop the projects on which they work.
The role will combine a technical legal focus with programme management and fundraising. We are therefore looking for an international human rights lawyer with legal, programme management and fundraising experience. Women lawyers with experience representing at-risk clients are particularly encouraged to apply.
POSITION DESCRIPTION
Reports to:
LAW Executive Director
Functional reporting to Head of Programmes
Duration: 12 Months subject to funding
Location: Cox Bazar, Bangladesh
Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week
Functions/Key Deliverables Expected:
The Programme Manager will perform duties and responsibilities in accordance with the responsibilities outlined below:
Programmatic
· Establish and develop relationships with Shanti Mohila (‘Peace Women’) and Male Survivor Advocates.
· Oversee and the capacity building and up-skilling and expansion of these groups, as well as their activities in the camps.
· Build and develop LAW’s relationship with the Hijra Rohingya community, including through chairing regular meetings of the Hijra working group in Cox’s Bazar.
· Manage and develop LAW’s work with survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, ensuring that survivors identified are promptly interviewed and supported in accessing relevant services, in line with their wishes and views.
· Leading on LAW’s work on international justice mechanisms addressing the Rohingya Crisis, including but not limited to, the International Criminal Court, the International Court of Justice, the Independent Investigative Mechanism on Myanmar and any other relevant mechanism/ strategic litigation effort;
· Identify new measures and processes of securing accountability for crimes against ethnic minority populations in Myanmar;
· Develop work supporting Bangladeshi host community and Bangladeshi diaspora overseas (including in other countries where LAW operates);
· Develop and maintain key partnerships with Cox’s Bazar based actors including, local and national civil society, INGOs and UN actors by attendance and contribution to relevant humanitarian working groups, sub-sectors and clusters
· Document lessons learned, best practices, success stories, most significant changes, case studies and other useful changes during project implementation;
· Close coordination with LAW’s offices in London and Geneva, to coordinate research, legal advocacy efforts and identify strategic cases and other creative legal interventions;
Programme Management:
· Ensuring project activities, outcomes and donor deadlines are achieved
· Oversight of programme and project monitoring and evaluation;
· Management of LAW’s Bangladesh office, including staff and consultants;
· Oversight of relevant project expenditure and the overall LAW Bangladesh budget
· Coordination with LAW’s Senior Management Team, and other programme managers as needed
Fundraising and Advocacy**:**
· Contributing to the design of projects and proposals, building on previous project proposals, to develop high quality proposals in consultation with the Bangladesh team;
· Regularly monitoring donor websites and identify donor opportunities matching the vision and mandate of LAW including key funding priorities and funding sources
· Maintain a database of key donors for Bangladesh/ The Rohingya Crisis;
· Ensure website and social media content related to the LAW Bangladesh programme is up-to-date and engaging audiences;
· Maintain and contribute to LAW advocacy tools, including fact sheets and the LAW Annual Report;
· Support LAW Executive Director in developing and implementing high-level advocacy, including at government and UN level.
Any other task relevant to the position as requested by the Executive Director.
Experience, Skills and Qualifications Required:
· Masters degree in law or human rights;
· Qualified international lawyer with demonstrated 5 years’ post-qualification experience in, human rights law, criminal law, refugee law.
· Experience representing vulnerable individuals is essential, with experience in cases of sexual and gender-based violence preferred;
· Understanding of protection and displacement issues in the South Asia/ Southeast Asia context;
· Demonstrated experience working within humanitarian response;
· Demonstrated experience in programme management, including budget management;
· Demonstrated experience in fundraising for international donor funded legal projects in complex or conflict affected environment and liaising with donors;
· Experience in overseeing the growth or expansion of projects/an organization preferred;
· Excellent research and drafting skills;
· Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and strong technical literacy;
· Experience managing a large and variable workload, meeting tight deadlines and accurate completion of assigned work
Preference / desired requirements:
· Experience advising government or judicial institutions;
· Observation, active listening and analytical skills with ability to make sound judgment;
· Good relationship management skills and the ability to communicate and work closely with local partners, community members, and other stakeholders;
· Flexibility: someone who is familiar with the unpredictable nature of working in humanitarian environments;
· Ability to recognise and work effectively with diverse backgrounds and cultures
Benefits Package
This is a project funded position for which a full and attractive package commensurate within the nature of the position will be offered including; 25 days annual leave per annum, public holidays plus 2 days R&R (rest and recuperation), return flight home once a year, and medical cover. In addition, great travelling and training opportunities to enhance your professional development. The contract will be renewable on the basis of performance and availability of funds.
How to apply:
If you have a combination of technical legal knowledge, programme management, fundraising experience and looking for your next career opportunity we would like to hear from you.
Deadline for receiving applications: Tuesday 26th May 2020
Start date: July 2020 or the earliest opportunity
Please send an email with a CV and statement of interest (neither exceeding 2 pages of A4) in English to waheed@legalactionworldwide.org. The subject of the application should read ‘**Programme Manager-Bangladesh**’
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews.
· LAW is an equal opportunity employer
· Women lawyers with experience representing at-risk clients are particularly encouraged to apply.