Project Assistant based in Mae Sot

MRN  in collaboration with Asylum Access Thailand

Seeks Project Assistant, based in Mae Sot, Thailand

About Us

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 equips 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.

Project Description

Advancing Legal Rights Protection for New Refugees Project aims to contribute to, protect and expand the rights of new refugees in Thailand, especially those who fled because of exercising their basic rights and freedoms. To that end, the key interventions include providing  legal assistance, training community members as paralegals and community representatives, and advocating for improved protections.

This project is a joint implementation with the MRN, and will require strengthening the coordination among, and ensuring the input of, MRN members throughout the lifespan of the project. The expertise shared by these members will underpin the development of strategy, outreach, and execution of this project. AAT will play a vital role in co-managing the legal services with HRDF and RRLP, and managing the administration process with the support of MRN members.

Position Description

The Project Assistant  is working primarily to help the Project Team Lead and Legal Advisor  in executing operational and administrative tasks. Moreover, the Project Assistant is also responsible in supporting the Legal Advisor to provide legal assistance to the new refugee populations in the Mae Sot area of Thailand.

​​Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate and coordinate with network and partner organizations in ensuring effective implementation of project activities;
• Participate in meetings and conferences;
• Assist in coordinating implementation activities related to Advancing Legal Rights Protection for New Myanmar Refugees program with MRN and other stakeholders relevant to the projects;
• Support legal advisor in providing legal clinics to paralegals in community, and in undertaking collaboration efforts with other organizations;
• Coordinate logistics and undertake administration to ensure smooth activity implementation;
• Maintain records, participant lists and timesheets, collect documents and prepare paperwork for submission to finance department;
• Attend and participate in AAT staff meetings as required; and
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor

Reports to: Legal Advisor

Qualifications

• Experienced in administration and coordination on diverse and complex issues.
• Experience in organizing events and logistics.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the local context in the area of migration and refugee rights.
• Demonstrated coordination and organizational skills;
• Ability to take initiative, manage multiple deadlines, and work effectively independently and collaboratively in a team environment;
• 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 and Burmese is required; ability to communicate in English would be an asset.

Salary and Benefits

The Project Assistant will receive a monthly payment of THB 15,000 per month, health insurance and vacation and other leave days.

Hours and Location of Work

The Legal Officer is a full-time, one-year contract position based in Mae Sot, Thailand.  Candidates should be aware that some flexibility regarding working hours is required in order to complete duties outside of standard office hours.

Application Instructions to Candidates

Upload your resume and a cover letter via Asylum Access online portal BambooHR by February 28th. In your cover letter, please describe your reasons for applying, relevant qualifications, preferred start date, expected salary and how you learned about the position.

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_._