Director, Safeguarding

POSITION SUMMARY:

HIAS is seeking a Director, Safeguarding to develop, implement and maintain its safeguarding programs to ensure HIAS’ working environments, programs and operations are safe and respectful for the vulnerable adults, families and children we serve around the world. The Director, Safeguarding will establish the policies, tools, guidance, training and other technical support to HIAS’ operational areas (to include Country Offices) and partners around the world, to include building up safeguarding networks in each of the operational locations, ensuring policies and procedures are implemented in all of its programming around the world. The Director, Safeguarding will also be responsible for ensuring that safeguarding concerns are responded to swiftly and effectively in alignment with industry best practices. The Director, Safeguarding will ensure that HIAS continues to keep safeguarding at the forefront of all programmatic activities around the world.

Note, this position is based at our headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland or our office in New York, New York, and we will consider a remote option for applicants who live outside of commuting distance to either of our offices and are based in other states in which we are registered (Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin).

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Establishes and maintains HIAS’ safeguarding framework in close collaboration with colleagues across the Office of the General Counsel, Human Resources, Programs, the Chief Operating Officer and HIAS leadership.
• Establishes and maintains the culture of safeguarding throughout HIAS and with HIAS leadership to ensure safeguarding is at the forefront of all of HIAS’ programmatic activities and that there is a strong understanding of safeguarding in theory and practice.
• Maintains, mentors and trains safeguarding focal points across all of HIAS’ offices globally.
• Sets-up HIAS Risk Matrix and monitoring for all areas of safeguarding.
• Sets-up, maintains and mentors partner and subgrantee safeguarding targets and requirements.
• Prepares monthly, quarterly and annual reports for management.
• Ensures that reviews and lessons learned are conducted following monitoring of safeguarding activities and following investigations.
• Sits and serves on various safeguarding working groups such as IASC, InterAction, etc. to maintain awareness of safeguarding best practices.
• Ensures HIAS is committed to various safeguarding pledges and meeting the requirements of current safeguarding pledges.
• Ensures that HIAS is seen as an example and becomes a voice for the safeguarding of vulnerable populations.
• Attends up-to-date trainings on best practices of safeguarding, including plan implementation, victims-centered approaches and best practices around investigations.
• Serves as focal point for donor safeguarding assessments and communicates with partners and donors as needed around safeguarding concerns.
• Ensures that HIAS’ systems are in place and monitored for safeguarding concerns to be reported around the world and in the most safe and timely manners possible.
• Oversees all intakes of safeguarding concerns and develops and implements safeguarding intake teams.
• Oversees all safeguarding investigations to include conducting investigations, overseeing investigations taking place and working with appropriate colleagues on such.
• Maintains HIAS investigation roster to ensure that HIAS has a diverse global group of investigators ready to respond to investigation in a timely manner.
• Ensures that all investigation findings are followed through and that management recommendations are moved forward.
• Ensures that HIAS is abreast of all laws and regulations in each operating area regarding safeguarding.
• Ensures and maintains network of referrals for survivors and leads on ensuring care to those harmed by safeguarding violations have the best support and services available to them.
• Maintains all HIAS Safeguarding Investigations policies and procedures.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS:

• Undergraduate degree in Social Sciences, International Development or another related field required; Graduate degree strongly preferred.
• 6-8 years of relevant work experience with progressive responsibilities, ideally with an international NGO, with minimum of 2 years of relevant field-based experience in PSEA/safeguarding and protection mainstreaming approaches in humanitarian response contexts.
• English fluency required; Spanish and/or French fluency preferred.
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally 50% of the time, including travel to insecure operating environments, required.
• Knowledge of technical principles, concepts and international standards in safeguarding/PSEA and protection mainstreaming in humanitarian response; general knowledge of other related disciplines to ensure proper cross-sectoral approach.
• Demonstrated experience conducting safeguarding investigations.
• Demonstrated commitment to and experience in implementing programs using a survivor/victim-centered approach.
• Experience in project design and proposal development and review; experience in writing content for and reviewing proposals.
• Demonstrated ability to oversee and lead projects, set realistic priorities and plan for the successful implementation of activities.
• Informed of current program developments in technical area.
• Knowledge of capacity strengthening best practices and partnership building principles.
• Experience with program monitoring, evaluation and analysis.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Proven ability to work independently under difficult conditions, as well as collaboratively on teams.
• Strong computer skills (MS Word, Excel, Outlook and Power Point).
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and make decisions independently.
• Ability to manage stress and complexity.
• Actively promotes safety and security.

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 or ESR.

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 • Hachnasat Orchim

We Welcome the Stranger

Justice • Justicia • Justice • Tzedek

We Pursue Justice

Empathy • Empatía • Empathie • Chesed

We Approach our Clients with Empathy

Partnership • Compañerismo • Coopération • Chevruta

We Believe in Changing the World through Partnership

Courage • Coraje • Courage • Ometz

We Act with Courage to Build a Better World

Resilience • Resiliencia • Résilience • 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.

SAFEGUARDING:

HIAS is committed to the protection of children, vulnerable adults and any other person from any harm caused directly or indirectly due to their coming into contact with HIAS.We will not tolerate sexual exploitation, abuse or any form of child abuse or neglect by our staff or associated personnel**.** Any candidate offered a job with HIAS will be expected to sign and adhere to HIAS’ Code of Conduct and Safeguarding policies.All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records. HIAS also participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. Likewise, HIAS will share this information when other organizations inquire about current and former HIAS staff as part of their recruitment process. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

Please submit your resume, cover letter and application to our website: https://hias.hrmdirect.com/employment/job-opening.php?req=2494474&&&nohd#job