Country Officer – Sri Lanka

The American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative (ABA ROLI) seeks a Country Officer (CO) to support the implementation of projects funded by the U.S. Department of State and other international donors. Working closely with ABA ROLI’s regional office in the Maldives and headquarters in Washington, DC, the CO will manage implementation of a project focused on human rights of minority communities and will also support new business development and coordination of regional activities that include Sri Lanka. A typical workday for the CO might include holding a coordination meeting with project partner organizations to discuss an upcoming workshop; getting quotes from conference facilities and caterers and arranging travel for the workshop trainer; writing a draft of a progress report for the program donor; and reviewing a budget for a new proposal.

The candidate should have at least 3 years of experience in project management and operations with experience working with minority communities, human rights, civil society, and/or the legal profession in Sri Lanka. Prior experience managing international donor-funded programs is preferred. The candidate must possess work authorization in Sri Lanka and be based in the Colombo metro area. The CO will be hired on a consultant contract and will report to a regional manager based in the Maldives. The position is expected to begin in July 2023.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Responsible for day-to-day management of assigned programs and ensures that all programmatic requirements are being met/exceeded according to the ABA, ROLI, and donor requirements;
• Participates in the development of and oversees the implementation of substantive programming and activities, including, but not limited to, project work plans, managing volunteer legal specialists and consultants, and convening, organizing, and participating in events;
• Supports timely, accurate, and compliant in-country programmatic monitoring and evaluation;
• Builds relationships with local organizations and other development partners to fulfill program objectives within cost constraints;
• Maintains proactive communications with program staff and ROLI leadership to ensure timely and accurate updates on program activities, achievements, and shortcomings.
• Collaborates with program staff and local authorities to ensure that all programs and operations are compliant with local laws and regulations and, if required, have received all regulatory licensing/registrations prior to offering the program;
• In collaboration with ABA ROLI headquarters, local counsel, and Sri Lankan authorities, ensures that all programs and operations are compliant with local laws and regulations;
• Provide technical insight and support to proposal/new business development opportunities;
• Plan workshops, potentially including making logistical arrangements as required;
• Monitor legal and political developments, reporting them to program manager;
• Translate and interpret, as requested; and
• Performs other related duties as required.

SKILL AND EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• University degree in law, international human rights, international relations, international development, public policy, or a related field;
• A minimum of 3 years’ experience in project management and operations, ideally with international donor-funded programs, in Sri Lanka;
• Experience working with minority communities, human rights, and civil society in Sri Lanka;
• Experience working with colleagues and partners remotely, including using videoconferencing and online collaboration programs such as Teams, Zoom, or Sharepoint;
• Ability to travel within Sri Lanka;
• Legal ability to work in Sri Lanka; and
• Fluent written and verbal communication skills in English and in Sinhala and/or Tamil.

ABOUT ABA ROLI

The mission of ABA ROLI is to promote justice, economic opportunity, and human dignity through the rule of law. For more than 30 years in over 100 countries, ABA ROLI has worked to strengthen legal institutions, to support legal professionals, to foster respect for human rights, and to advance public understanding of the law and citizen rights. In collaboration with our in-country partners, we design programs that are responsive to local needs and that prioritize sustainable solutions to pressing rule of law challenges.