Site Management Support Interpreter Community Mobilization Assistant

Introduction

The Danish Refugee Council assists refugees and internally displaced persons across the globe: we provide emergency aid, fight for their rights, and strengthen their opportunity for a brighter future. We work in conflict-affected areas, along the displacement routes, and in the countries where refugees settle. In cooperation with local communities, we strive for responsible and sustainable solutions. We work toward successful integration and – whenever possible – for the fulfillment of the wish to return home.

The Danish Refugee Council was founded in Denmark in 1956 and has since grown to become an international humanitarian organization with more than 7,000 staff and 8,000 volunteers. Based in Copenhagen (Denmark) and present in forty countries, the Danish Refugee Council is a non-profit-making, politically independent, non-governmental and non-denominational relief organization.

Our vision is a dignified life for all displaced. All our efforts are based on our value compass: humanity, respect, independence and neutrality, participation, and honesty and transparency.

Background

The Danish Refugee Council initiated its activities in the island of Lesvos in November 2015 due to the unprecedented influx of asylum seekers. Following new political developments and displacement dynamics in early 2016, DRC expanded its activities to the mainland to support the people living in several sites across the country. With offices in Athens, Larissa and Thessaloniki, it currently implements a wide range of activities, including Site Management Support, legal assistance, identification of individual needs and protection of highly vulnerable persons, access to services within and outside the hosting sites through cultural mediation, and non-formal education. DRC works closely with the refugee communities, the Greek authorities and other humanitarian actors to ensure a protective environment for refugees and asylum seekers in Greece

Purpose

DRC Greece is looking to recruit a qualified, flexible and enthusiastic professional to work for its in the sites of Central Greece as Site Management Support (SMS) Interpreter/Community Mobilization Assistant. Under supervision of the Camp (SMS) Manager and the SMS Team Leader and in close coordination with other DRC field units, the SMS Interpreter/Community Mobilization Assistant will contribute to the implementation of DRC’s activities intended to improve relations between refugees and host communities and implement campaigns to work with refugees on improving living conditions in the sites in DRC’s area of responsibility in Central Greece. Furthermore, the SMS Interpreter/Community Mobilization Assistant will develop and maintain good relations with the persons of concern (PoC), relevant stakeholders and other humanitarian actors, to support adequate implementation and coordination of DRC’s activities.

Duties and Responsibilities

SMS Interpreter /Community Mobilization Assistant responsibilities will include, but not necessarily be limited to, the following:

• Accurate verbal interpretation and written translation for the SMS team and other relevant actors
• Ensuring the language used is culturally appropriate and relevant and that messages are well understood by the POC
• Contributions to maintaining and strengthening the relations among DRC team and other actors with the PoC communities
• Understanding and sensitive to the needs of people from a variety of backgrounds and cultures, including a strong commitment to confidentiality.
• Good collaboration with the public actors
• Perform other duties as assigned by the SMS Manager and the SMS team leader, which support Site Management’s activities implementation
• Help Desk support
• Support the implementation of activities aimed at improving collaboration and relations between persons of concern and the host community.
• Community outreach in collaboration with the DRC team and other actors
• Participate in the verification exercise
• Support daily SMS/Site Ops activities, announcements, data collection, informing PoC of upcoming works, activities etc.
• Participate in awareness raising sessions and information campaigns for activities to improve camp sanitation and organization.
• Identify vulnerable individuals and facilitate appropriate action, including referrals to specialized services and protective accompaniment as necessary
• Provide appropriate and relevant information to beneficiaries regarding relevant information, and services and activities available to them
• Promote a participatory approach to site management and service provision in the sites and support community mobilization activities with beneficiaries
• Contribute to the dissemination of various communications for the beneficiaries, based on agreed key messages
• Ensure the observance of the DRC Code of Conduct throughout activity implementation.
• Any other duties as may be assigned by the SMS Manager and the Team Leader, relevant to the achievement of DRC objectives

Required Qualifications

• Strong verbal and written English skills
• Working knowledge of Arabic and/or Kurmanji and/or Sorani and/or French and/or Farsi
• At least one year working experience in a related field; previous working experience with local or international NGOs will be considered as a strong advantage
• Experience of community-based or community mobilization work in a humanitarian context is a strong advantage
• High professional ethics

Other/Additional Qualifications                 

• University degree would be an advantage
• Strong verbal and written Greek would be an advantage
• Computer skills would be an advantage

Required Skills & Qualities

• Core Competencies of DRC:

• Striving for excellence
• Collaboration
• Taking the lead
• Communication
• Demonstrating Integrity

• Proactivity, with a sound commitment to teamwork and with a spirit of genuine collaboration
• Strong initiative and self-motivated, with a strong commitment to humanitarian principle and high sense of ethics
• Excellent communication skills, as well as patience and politeness, are needed
• Ability to cope with high workload and stress and identify priority activities and assignments, and adjust priorities as required
• Multi-tasking and organizational skills are must, and a good sense of humor
• Strong initiative with a strong commitment to humanitarian principle
• Flexible, enthusiastic and willing to learn from others
• Ability to cope with competing demands under tight deadlines
• Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships in a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary environment

Terms and Conditions

• The contract will be under the Greek Labor Law (this is a national position)
• All allowances will be provided to the employees (Christmas, Easter, Vacation bonus)
• DRC provides training opportunities to develop and strengthen the quality of its services as well as its staff members’ professional and personal development.
• The position will be based in Larisa (camps in Central Greece) and national terms and conditions apply

Application Process

Are you interested? Then apply for this position on line: www.drc.dk/about-drc/vacancies/current-vacancies. All applicants must send a cover letter and an updated CV (no longer than four pages). Both must be in English.

DRC provides equal opportunity in employment and prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability. DRC encourages all applicants to apply and does not practice any discrimination in any recruitment process. However, applicants must be aware that DRC cannot systemically sponsor non-EU citizen or non-Greek resident for all the steps of legal process to get a work permit and/or a residency permit in Greece.

Applications close on the 31st of January. Applications submitted after this date will not be considered.

Due to the urgency of the position DRC reserves the right to recruit a candidate who matches the required profile before the above deadline.