Malaysia: Global Programs Director

Organization: Asylum Access
Country: Malaysia, Mexico, United States of America
Closing date: 30 Sep 2017

About Asylum Access

Asylum Access is a leading refugee rights organization headquartered in Oakland, CA with operations in six countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Asylum Access is the only international organization working to make refugee rights a reality in first countries of refuge. Our unique combination of five integrated strategies provides grassroots assistance and changes the legal landscape for refugees and their host communities. By helping refugees assert their rights, we are putting power back into their hands. Our work transforms the traditional approach of endless humanitarian hand outs to a sustainable solution that gives refugees the tools to provide for themselves and make choices about their own lives. Asylum Access envisions a world where refugees are seen as people with rights, not just people with needs. Asylum Access believes that by empowering refugees to assert their human rights, we can create effective, lasting solutions for refugees around the world.

Department Description

The Global Programs Team (GPT) consists of three programs staff: Global Programs Director, Global Learning and Strategy Lead, and Global Legal Services and Empowerment Lead. Together, the team provides programmatic oversight and technical assistance to national-level programming, including our National Offices, the Volunteer Advocate Program, Asylum Access Global Services and the Refugee Rights Toolkit. The team is geographically disbursed.

Position Location

This position may be filled in either Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Mexico City, Mexico; or Oakland, United States of America. Within your application, please specify your preference(s).

Position Description

The Global Programs Director is a key member of Asylum Access’s Global Leadership Team (GLT), serving as our strategic programmatic advisor and leader on refugee rights interventions at the national level and through global programs. The Global Programs Director is directly responsible for ensuring Asylum Access programs are strategically aimed at impact, and for devising and implementing strategies that replicate Asylum Access’s unique approach to refugee response. The Global Programs Director is expected to have a significant level of knowledge and experience in direct refugee rights programming and a high level of comfort with people and project management. The Global Programs Director must also be able to think strategically about potential innovations of program design from an organization-wide perspective, offering recommendations for the new programs and strategies where appropriate. The Global Programs Director reports to the Deputy Director.

Key Responsibilities:

The duties of the role include but not limited to,

Programmatic Strategist and Leader (30%)

Lead in program innovation and strategy to develop new programs and advise on high-level improvements of ongoing programs, particularly pertaining to legal empowerment and policy change at national and global levels
Oversee provision of technical support and guidance to national staff and organizational partners core programmatic priorities to ensure progress towards organizational mission
Oversee national-level and global program plans to ensure they are strategic in nature and centered on impact-focused activities with a growth mindset for the organization
Serve on Global Leadership Team, reflecting on the overall strategic direction of the organization’s programs and operations
Represent the organization in key external arenas as a leader in refugee rights programming
Hire, manage, and where appropriate mentor a three-person programs team plus volunteers and interns, tasked primarily with support initiatives below

Asylum Access Global Services (AAGS) Strategist and Leader (AAGS) (20%)

Serve as primary strategist and architect for AAGS, the Asylum Access scaling methodology
Generate new partners and manage on going partnerships by marketing AAGS in key spaces, identifying new partners, developing marketing materials, proposals and concept notes as needed, and designing and overseeing implementation of program plans
Liaise with communications department to ensure AAGS materials and the Refugee Rights Toolkit is marketed to increase the reputation of the organization as refugee rights leaders globally
Liaise with national teams to develop and implement AAGS strategies at regional levels in Latin America, East Africa, and South East Asia
Oversee continued development and use of the Refugee Rights Toolkit, including improving quality and marketability of online content and mentorship program

Technical Assistance Oversight and Coordination (20%)

Prioritize, organize and track annual provision of programmatic technical assistance to overseas offices by overseeing, managing and coaching the GPT, and where appropriate, provide technical assistance directly
Communicate technical assistance agenda to Global Leadership Team (GLT) in order to promote accountability between Asylum Access Headquarters and national operations

Oversight of Global Programs Team Activities (20%)

Oversee annual program planning cycle with our global programmatic leaders, promoting accountability to our clients and donors and effectuating impact
Provide oversight to the development, implementation, and improvement of monitoring and evaluation mechanisms for all national-level programs and all programs overseen by the GPT
Oversee the development of case and program management tools adequately support quality programs and adequate collect information for learning, communications and fundraising purposes; where necessary to build, deploy or iterate upon management tools e.g. client database
Oversee programmatic strategy development, planning and implementation for the Volunteer Advocate (VA) program, providing direction to VA program work plans and training and volunteer management tools
Liaise with human resources and communications teams to ensure continually improved and innovative recruitment and advertising techniques for the Volunteer Advocate Program

Support Fundraising and Reputation Building Efforts (10%)

Review and approve major grant applications to ensure alignment with internal program plan
Serve as relationship owner for key institutional and individual donors; represent the organization’s interests in order to cultivate and steward donors

Required Qualifications

Law degree or degree in human rights
Experience with direct refugee rights empowerment programming in Asia, Africa and/or Latin America
Candidate should have demonstrated experience working in a multicultural environment managing a diverse workforce/multicultural team members
Experience in complex project management
Experience with donor management and grant construction or review
Basic working knowledge of Gmail, Google Drive, Ms. Office and related tools (Docs, Sheets, etc.)
Strong skills in diplomacy and persuasive communication
Strong cross-cultural communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

Fluency in Spanish and English
Experience with direct government advocacy
Experience with building partnerships with outside parties
Experience working in the Middle East
Experience in communications and digital marketing
Experience building training or educational modules for impacted communities and professionals alike
Experience developing and/or implementing grassroots organizing and community advocacy **

How to apply:

**How to apply

Interested candidates can send in their resume and cover letter to Nivetha Krishnan at apply@asylumaccess.org with subject line “Global Programs Director”.
Please specify your location preference on the cover letter.
Asylum Access is unable to provide US visa sponsorship for this position. Applicants will be considered on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Applicants in need of accommodation during the interview can contact HR – apply@asylumaccess.org

Asylum Access is an equal opportunity employer