LEGAL ACTION WORLDWIDE (LAW) is an independent, non-profit organization. LAW’s thematic area of focus is gender justice, particularly the needs of women and children as well as victims and survivors of sexual violence and abuse working in conflict-affected areas in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia.

You will lead the Sri Lanka office working closely with senior management and partners to develop and strategies LAW’s programming in Sri Lanka. You will also create dialogue and coordinate with government stakeholders, civil society organizations, academic institutions, and gender experts.

You will coordinate with the senior management and will lead the country office to provide overall leadership and direction to the programme team as well as contribute towards LAWs global working groups on thematic issues.

 

Leadership and Programme Management:

• Develop a national strategy for LAW’s programme in Sri Lanka including legal, research and advocacy programmes;
• Lead LAW’s work with survivors of sexual and gender-based violence, including monitoring and supporting the work of partners;
• Strengthen relationships with key actors including relevant government departments, NGOs, partners, academics grassroots-level organizations and community groups in Sri Lanka;
• Represent LAW at all national, regional and international meetings and conferences;

• Design and organize trainings, workshops, roundtables and other events for justice actors;

• Oversee the projects, ensuring high-quality programming and robust monitoring and evaluation methodologies and that learning is integrated into project design and development;
• Build the capacity of partners to deliver technical assistance, monitoring, fundraising, M&E and security, safeguarding and other relevant skills;
• Coordinate with LAW’s Senior Management Team, and other programme managers as needed;
• Lead on risk management.

 

Advocacy and Communications:

• Develop an advocacy strategy based on evidence gathered from the programmes;
• Develop the profile and visibility of the programme and represent LAW on national and regional platforms;
• Coordinate high-level legal events.

 

People Management:

• Create an enabling environment for innovation and high performance, ensuring staff are appropriately supervised, develop work plans and engaged in training and development opportunities;
• Manage a network of technical experts and their consultancy agreements;
• Ensure the Sri Lanka office is compliant with all relevant legal requirements relating to employment law as well as safety, security, health and safety regulations.

 

Finance Management and Accountability:

• Develop a fundraising strategy to identify opportunities to ensure the sustainability and expansion of programmes;

• Develop project proposals and fundraise for new programmes;

• Prepare budgets and oversee programme expenditure, ensuring accurate projections of spend and implementation of expenditure plans;

• Ensure timely and quality narrative reporting to donors and compliance with donor grant requirements and LAW policies and procedures.
• Any other task relevant to the position as requested.

 

Required Skills, Qualifications and Experience:

• Qualified lawyer with at least five years of relevant experience;
• Master’s degree in international human rights or criminal law preferred;
• Substantive knowledge and experience in implementing legal aid services, working with vulnerable communities and those who have suffered from sexual and gender-based violence;
• Experience working with justice institutions preferred

• Demonstrated experience in a similar role preferred,

• Demonstrated experience in fundraising for legal and protection projects in complex environments and liaising with donors preferred;
• Proven management skills and experience to lead and motivate a geographically dispersed team;

• Excellent written and oral required in English, also research and drafting skills;
• Ability to effectively manage individual and project workplan in a fast-paced environment and to effectively problem solve and troubleshoot;
• Flexibility and ability to work simultaneously on a wide range of tasks and projects; ability to prioritise tasks, particularly under pressure, and to meet tight deadlines.