Africa Middle East Refugee Assistance (AMERA), a UK-based refugee rights organization assisting refugees who seek asylum in Egypt, is seeking an experienced human rights advocate to lead its work advising and representing asylum-seekers in the process of refugee status determination and in rare cases for resettlement in third countries. The RSD Team Leader should be a strong manager and team-builder with expertise in international refugee law and legal aid techniques. We are looking for an intelligent, hard-working person with a commitment to service to vulnerable people, and an interest in finding innovative ways to help refugees access their human rights.
AMERA is the leading refugee rights NGO in Egypt, and is a pioneer in the development of legal aid in RSD procedures conducted by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Our Egypt office serves more than 1000 refugees each year and involves the efforts of more than 40 staff, interns, and interpreters from Egypt and other countries. It is one of the leading organizations providing legal aid to asylum seekers undergoing refugee status determination with UNHCR, and it has specialized teams dealing with unaccompanied minors survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, and community outreach.

Position Description
The job of RSD Team Leader is a full-time position and s/he works under the day-to-day supervision of the Deputy Country Director. This job description is a general overview and is supplemented by the specific activities and tasks described in the current version of the AMERA-Egypt Strategic Plan.

Requirements/Qualifications
English being the official language of the UNHCR RO Cairo as well as of the Office, the RSD Team Leader must be fluent in both oral and written English.
LLB, LLM, JD or equivalent legal education; master’s/graduate level legal education and/or practical experience as a legal advocate preferred.
Experience in human rights and/or with refugees and asylum-seekers.
A track record of team building or similar management experience preferred.
Knowledge of various models and methods of providing legal aid to marginalized and vulnerable populations.

Responsibilities
1. Supervision of RSD Team: Supervise one RSD team, including supervising all casework for the team conducted by legal advisors, meeting monthly with the team to coordinate caseloads, assign cases, improve team protocols, and monitor progress on the strategic plan.

2. Supervision of Casework: Provide casework supervision for Legal Advisors on the RSD Team by reviewing their legal submissions, reviewing and editing testimonies, providing feedback on case strategies, directing team members on COI research, assigning cases, and monitoring caseloads.

3. Policies and Procedures: Develop and maintain detailed procedures and protocols for the work for the RSD Team, including procedures for receiving clients, assigning cases, developing case plans, and maintaining caseloads.

5. Monitoring and analysis:

Track individual legal claims of clients and the UNHCR approach to these types of claims (in terms of results, reasons for rejection, and questions asked at UNHCR interviews).

6. Strategic planning: Monitor and analyse the above information to determine the RSD team’s approach towards different types of claims and further research that needs to be carried out; revise the strategy of the RSD team in response to the changing situation and participate in annual strategic planning.

7. Research and Advocacy: Initiate and coordinate COI and advocacy projects as and when necessary, and coordinate COI research on specific issues as and when required.

8. Communication with the UNHCR: Communicate with the UNHCR on RSD and related matters, for example making fast-track requests, requests for reasons for rejection and individual inquiries, and coordination of formal meetings with the UNHCR, both at local and international level, with the view to the solving of individual matters and advocating for RSD reform as a whole.

9. Reporting: Provide monthly reports to the Country Director including problems and solutions, supervision issues, case studies, statistics, and notes on progress towards implementation of strategic plan.

10. Staff Meetings: Attend weekly staff meetings, and as well attend team meetings and supervisors’ meeting, and conduct monthly individual supervision sessions with members of the team.

11. Community Networking: Coordinate with the Community Team Leader re community assessment and information sessions.

12. Training and Education: Attend continuing education provided for all direct services staff; assist in coordination and provision of intensive two-week training for new volunteer lawyers and psychosocial workers twice per year; assist in training new staff members who are a part of the team; participate in external training opportunities; arrange on-going training for members of staff on RSD matters.

14. Minors RSD: Advise the Minors Team regarding RSD related matters.

15. Undertake any other duties appropriate to the position.
Starting Date: 04 July 2010

Duration of Position: minimum one year, with possibility of extension.
Note: Short-listed candidates abroad can be interviewed via Skype.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 22nd May 2010

To apply, email a cover letter (in English), a complete CV and names and contact details of two references to: [email][email protected]