ThaiNGO

Senior Program Officer, Thailand

Australian Volunteers International (AVI) is recruiting for a Senior Program Officer in Thailand to support the implementation of the Australian Government-funded Australian Volunteers for International Development (AVID) program in Thailand. 

Job Summary

Reporting to AVI’s Country Office based in Yangon, Myanmar, the Senior Program Officer will be responsible for the support of up to 12 Australian volunteers based in Mae Sot, Thailand, and strengthening relationships with our host organisation partners, including the development of volunteer assignments. This is a contract position for two years.  The incumbent will work from his/her home, based in Mae Sot, Tak Province, Thailand.

Duties and Responsibility

Program Support

  - Support the Country Director (CD) in the delivery of the AVID program in Thailand by providing a day-to-day point of contact for volunteers, host organisations and other key stakeholders.

  - Support the CD by improving the quality of support and level of communication with partners/host organisations of the AVID program in Thailand.

  - Work with the CD to identify possible opportunities for AVI, and research potential partners and/or sectors of work.

  - Support the CD to develop and implement employer/partner preparedness workshops.

Volunteer Management Support

  - Ensure appropriate responses to all enquiries and requests for support from volunteers on placement.

  - Assist with pastoral care support and interventions for volunteers on placement as required.

  - Support volunteers obtain visas and work permit as required.

  - Assist CD to organise volunteer workshops and meetings as necessary.

  - Support and assist in the co-ordination of In Country Orientation for volunteers.

  - Ensure all volunteer details, activities and records of discussion are recorded accurately in AVI’s database, PIMS.

Risks Management

  - Report on any risks in line with the AVI Risk Management Policy.

  - Provide emergency support to volunteers to manage critical incidents.

  - Ensure all volunteers have provided AVI with an up-to-date Personal Security Plan and are provided with updated security information regularly.

  - Be aware of changes in the political climate and day-to-day health and security issues within Thailand and Myanmar and inform CD.

Representation/Relationship Management

  - In consultation with CD, maintain professional relationships with “the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)”, volunteers, employer organisations and other significant organisations including volunteer sending agencies.

  - Work closely with AVI contractors to support them in delivering effective services.

  - Ensure that volunteer support and host organisation support is coordinated and respectful of host organisation development needs.

  - Attend strategic meetings, such as Committee for Coordination of Services to Displaced Persons in Thailand (CCSDPT), as required.

Monitoring and Evaluation

  - Facilitate the completion of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of assignments.

  - Monitor M&E schedule and action tasks as required.

Other Duties

  - Provide a 24 hour emergency contact point for volunteers in Thailand.

  - Manage the finances of the AVI program in Thailand, including managing a bank account, budgeting, requesting funds and acquitting expenditure.

Selection Criteria

Knowledge and Experience

  - Relevant tertiary qualifications (eg. social science, international development, international

  - relations, etc.) or relevant, equivalent experience in a similar position/s.

  - A high level of cross-cultural awareness, as well as some understanding of the challenges faced when working in an international development context.

  - Understanding of the development issues facing Myanmar and how capacity-development can contribute to address these issues.

  - Understanding and commitment to AVI’s vision and values, equal opportunity, child protection and privacy principles.

Skills and Attributes

  - Strong interpersonal skills, including the capacity to maintain open and constructive communications with a wide range of stakeholders in an international context.

  - Proven people management skills, coupled with an empathic approach and the ability to

  - effectively and efficiently respond to a diverse range of people issues.

  - Proven administrative skills, including competency and accuracy in word processing, spreadsheets, and presentation packages.

  - Fluency in both written and spoken English and Thai and the ability to translate, including proposal and report writing skills in English. Another local language (eg. Karen or Burmese) preferable.

Application Procedure

Qualified candidates are invited to send a letter of interest addressing each selection criteria, and a recent CV by email, by midnight (Thai time) Friday 25 September 2015, to ajennings@australianvolunteers.com.  Please write “Senior Program Officer, Thailand” and your name in the subject line.

Only shortlisted candidates will be notified, by Friday 2 October, 2015.