Regional Technical Advisor, Legal Protection, Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) at HIAS

POSITION SUMMARY:

HIAS seeks a Regional Technical Advisor, Legal Protection, Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) to oversee programs and provide technical support that ensure forcibly displaced people can secure legal status, access to basic human rights and access to resettlement in extreme cases. They will lead efforts to support country offices on the planning, implementation and monitoring of programs related to legal protection. They will play a key role in developing HIAS’ legal programs in the frame of emergency response. They will facilitate the exchange of best practices globally and show impact across countries of operation in the region. The position will be a conduit for translating global standards and change initiatives to the field. Reporting to the Director, Legal Protection and working closely with Regional Directors and country office teams, they will support and build the capacity of HIAS clients, staff and partners in the region.

Note, this position is based in Silver Spring, Maryland or remote in the LAC region, and will include significant travel to/within the LAC region.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Supports the strategic design of legal protection programs in LAC and the United States in line with HIAS’ refugee rights framework during planning phases.
• Supports the implementation of legal protection programs in LAC through ongoing coaching and problem-solving.
• Supports the review of legal protection programs in LAC and the U.S. during evaluation phases.
• Incorporates a community empowerment, inclusion and equity lens to the design and implementation of all programs and policies.
• Liaises with other technical staff supporting other sectors (Mental Health & Psychosocial Support, Gender & GBV, Economic Inclusion) to mainstream legal protection into their approaches and strategies.
• Leads the exchange, documentation and dissemination of best practices and lessons learned with internal and external stakeholders.
• Establishes and maintains an internal network of legal protection, protection and resettlement professionals to ensure cross office learning and knowledge transfer.
• Identifies skills and knowledge gaps related to legal and resettlement programs among HIAS country offices and addresses these through training and capacity building.
• Coordinates closely with regional staff to ensure connectivity between legal protection, protection and resettlement strategies in the region.
• Designs and coordinates legal protection context assessments, feasibility studies and other tools to support the rapid implementation of legal programming in emergency responses.
• Supports the application of international standards and guidance for legal and resettlement programming across the region.
• Identifies new donors and initiatives for HIAS and develops high quality proposals in the legal protection and resettlement sectors.

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS:

• Graduate degree in a relevant field; law degree preferred.
• 3-5 years of experience designing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating legal and/or resettlement programs in a refugee, forced displacement or humanitarian context.
• 3-5 years of field-based experience in Latin America and the Caribbean.
• Fluency in Spanish and English required.
• Collaborative, flexible team player with the ability to think creatively, logically and critically about solutions to gaps in legal and resettlement programming.
• Excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication skills, including the ability to regularly communicate with, motivate and support field-based staff, as well as effectively communicate key program achievements and operational challenges.
• Lived experiences of forced displacement desirable.
• Experience designing and implementing legal and/or resettlement programs in an emergency context, with expertise in gender and other protection implications.
• Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to travel up to up to 30% of the time.
• Ability to deploy to emergencies if needed.

SAMPLE HIRING PROCESS:

We are committed to a fair and respectful hiring process, and we do our absolute best to respond to every applicant. We prioritize communication and transparency with all candidates, even those who are not moving forward. Here’s a snapshot of our hiring process:

Step 1: Submit your application!

Step 2: Phone screen with a HIAS recruiter.

Step 3: Video interview with the hiring manager.

Step 4: Video interview with a panel of HIAS employees.

Step 5: Online reference check with SkillSurvey.

Step 6: Offer and background check with Shield Screening.

Step 7: Start your professional journey with HIAS!

Note: Some of our hiring processes may vary, and not all candidates will advance to each step.

ABOUT US:

Over one hundred years ago, the Jewish community founded HIAS (originally the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society) in New York City, the immigrant gateway to America. Supporting Jews fleeing persecution and poverty in Eastern Europe, our founders were guided by the traditions, texts, and history of the Jewish people – a history of oppression, displacement, and diaspora. HIAS has since helped generations of Jews facing violence because of who they were, and HIAS remains committed to helping Jewish refugees anywhere in the world. Today, our clients at HIAS come from diverse faiths, ethnicities, and backgrounds, as do our staff. We bring our experience, history, and values to our work across five continents, ensuring that refugees today receive the vital services and opportunities they need to thrive.

HIAS is a learning community, committed to diversity and inclusion. We do our work with integrity, accountability, transparency, and a commitment to the highest ethical standards. We seek employees from diverse backgrounds and life experiences to join our teams located in the United States and across the globe. People who identify as BIPOC, people with disabilities, people from the LGBTQ+ community, and people with lived experiences of forced displacement or immigration are all encouraged to apply. We are committed to building a diverse workforce that reflects our vision, mission, and values.

VISION:

HIAS stands for a world in which refugees find welcome, safety, and opportunity.

MISSION:

Drawing on our Jewish values and history, HIAS provides vital services to refugees and asylum seekers around the world and advocates for their fundamental rights so they can rebuild their lives.

VALUES:

Welcome • Acogimiento • Hospitalité • הכנסת אורחים (Hachnasat Orchim)

We Welcome the Stranger

Justice • Justicia • Justice • צדק (Tzedek)

We Pursue Justice

Empathy • Empatía • Empathie • חסד (Chesed)

We Approach our Clients with Empathy

Partnership • Compañerismo • Coopération • חברותא (Chevruta)

We Believe in Changing the World through Partnership

Courage • Coraje • Courage • אומץ (Ometz)

We Act with Courage to Build a Better World

Resilience • Resiliencia • Résilience • רוח (Ruach)

We Adapt and Thrive, Continuously Demonstrating our Resilience

DIVERSITY:

HIAS is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. As an equal opportunity employer, all qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, ethnic background, ancestry, citizenship status, religious creed, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, registered domestic partner or civil union status, familial status, pregnancy, childbirth, military status, protected veteran status, political orientation, or other legally protected status.