Senior Livelihood Officer

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is one of the world's largest international humanitarian non-governmental organizations (INGO), at work in more than 40 countries and 29 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. A force for humanity, IRC employees deliver lasting impact by restoring safety, dignity and hope to millions. If you're a solutions-driven, passionate change-maker, come join us in positively impacting the lives of millions of people world-wide for a better future.

Background/IRC Summary: The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises, helping to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing, and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. Founded in 1933 at the call of Albert Einstein, the IRC is at work in over 40 countries and 26 U.S. cities helping people to survive, reclaim control of their future and strengthen their communities. The IRC has been operating in Thailand since 1975 and currently provides assistance to displaced persons in Tak, Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, and Mae Hong Son provinces.

Established in 1975 to assist refugees from Vietnam, Loas and Cambodia, the IRC Thailand is one of the longest-running country programs. Operating from Mae Sot with a small representational office in Bangkok, the IRC is currently supporting the transition of residents of the Thai-Myanmar refugee camps to a life of self-reliance within Thailand. IRC also provides emergency assistance to people fleeing violence and unrest in Myanmar and supports the Royal Thai Government and local civil society to strengthen climate resilience in Thailand’s southern states.

The IRC Protection and Empowerment Program work to protect and promote the rights of crisis-affected and displaced populations along the Thailand – Myanmar border by ensuring people are safe in their homes and communities, receiving timely and appropriate support after experiencing harm, and are empowered to make free and informed decisions about their lives and futures. The program supports displaced populations to build self-reliance and future planning capacity, including through employability and life-skill development. It adopts a multi-sectoral approach, coordinating legal, medical, and psychosocial services to provide comprehensive and integrated protection assistance. Gender equality, diversity, and inclusion are mainstreamed across all activities, and the program is committed to strengthening the use of data for evidence-based decision-making and advocacy to improve protection system and outcomes for displaced population in Thailand.

Job Overview/Summary:

Under the supervision of Protection and Empowerment Coordinator, the Senior Livelihood Officer is responsible for leading and coordinating the implementation of livelihood interventions in Tak and Mae Hong Son provinces in alignment with IRC Thailand’s country strategy, project workplans, and donor requirements. The role focuses on strengthening refugee and vulnerable populations’ economic self‑reliance through enterprise development, employment access, and integrated livelihood support linked to protection and empowerment services. The position works closely with partners, MEAL teams, and local stakeholders to ensure quality programming, effective coordination, compliance, and evidence based advocacy, while supporting budget management, reporting, and representing IRC’s livelihood programming across multiple refugee camp locations.

Major Responsibilities:

Program Implementation

• Lead the implementation of livelihood activities in Tak and Mae Hong Son province in alignment with project work plans and strategy of IRC Thailand of country program.

• Ensure capacity building intervention effectively strengthens clients’ skills in enterprise development, income generation, and financial management.

• Conduct regular monitoring of partner-led livelihood activities and field implementation to ensure quality, accountability, and compliance with IRC standards.

• Work with livelihood actors and partners to promote refugee access to employment opportunities through information sharing, skill development, employer and business sector engagement, and advocacy initiatives.

• Work closely with protection and empowerment members to support integrated livelihood intervention, including cash assistance and targeted livelihood support for case management clients, ensuring services respond to identified protection and economic needs.

• Coordinate with relevant local organizations and community leaders to identify livelihood needs within refugee camps and host communities, ensuring inclusion of the most vulnerable population.

• Work with MEAL team on assessment activities, data collection, and analysis related to livelihood interventions.

Program Management

• Support Protection and Empowerment Coordinator to develop spending plan and ensure project spending for livelihood activities are on track and aligned with IRC and donor compliance.

• Support Protection and Empowerment Coordinator in preparation of project report and other project documentation.

Coordination and Partnership

• Represent IRC Livelihood program across refugee camps in Tak, Mae Hong Son and occasional for Ratchaburi and Kanchanaburi.

• Maintain effective working relationships with local government authorities, local organization, community leaders and other stakeholders.

Key Working Relationships:

Position Reports to: Protection and Empowerment Coordinator

Position directly supervises: NA

Indirect Reporting: N/A

Other Internal and/or external contacts:

Internal: Technical Coordinators and Managers, Operations team, Health team, MEAL team

External: Local partner organization, local government authorities, community leaders and the CCSDPT’s member organizations.

Job Requirements:

• A diploma or university degree in social science, development, humanitarian studies or related fields.

• Proven expertise in humanitarian or development programing, with focus on refugee inclusion and livelihoods.

• Experience in entrepreneurship support and cash and voucher programming.

• Strong communication skills in written, verbal and presentation in English and Karen/Burmese.

• Ability to work under tight deadlines and manage multiple priorities.

• Competence in Windows, MS office programs, emails, and relevant database.

• Interpersonal Qualities: works in a teamwork with minimum supervision, comfortable in a multi-cultural environment, flexible and able to handle pressure well.

Working Environment: This position is home based in Mae Hong Son province, with extensive travel other work areas in Tak, Mae Hong Son, Ratchaburi and Kanchanaburi as required.

Standard of Professional Conduct: The IRC and IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability and Equality. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on safeguarding (including PSEAH, Adult Safeguarding and Child Safeguarding), Anti Workplace Harassment, Fiscal Integrity, and Anti-Retaliation.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION:                    15 May 2026

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS

All International Rescue Committee workers must adhere to the core values and principles outlined in IRC Way - Standards for Professional Conduct. Our Standards are Integrity, Service, Equality and Accountability. In accordance with these values, the IRC operates and enforces policies on Safeguarding, Conflicts of Interest, Fiscal Integrity, and Reporting Wrongdoing and Protection from Retaliation. IRC is committed to take all necessary preventive measures and create an environment where people feel safe, and to take all necessary actions and corrective measures when harm occurs. IRC builds teams of professionals who promote critical reflection, power sharing, debate, and objectivity to deliver the best possible services to our clients.

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