Emergency GBV Specialist

POSITION SUMMARY:

HIAS seeks an experienced Emergency GBV Specialist to join its team. The Emergency GBV Specialist will be responsible for leading HIAS’ emergency GBV response on the ground, in emergency settings and new country contexts, and providing GBV technical guidance and oversight across HIAS’ emergency GBV programs. The Emergency GBV Specialist will provide surge capacity to HIAS’ emergency operations, and support critical functions, such as rapid assessments, emergency program design, proposal writing, humanitarian coordination, communications, partnerships and others. The Emergency GBV Specialist will be responsible for ensuring the quality and effectiveness of HIAS’ gender and GBV emergency response.

The Emergency GBV Specialist will report to the Technical Director, Gender & GBV and will work closely with emergency staff, HIAS’ technical team and the respective country offices and regional teams. This is a deployable position and during deployment, the Emergency GBV Specialist will report to the Emergency Team Lead. In situations where there is no Emergency Team Lead, this position will report to the relevant Country Director. HIAS’ approach to emergency GBV programming is cross-cutting and specialized, requiring close coordination with other technical team members, the Strategy & Measurement department, the Global Public Affairs division and/or other HIAS departments or divisions relevant to their area of expertise.

Once deployed, the Emergency GBV Specialist will lead HIAS’ emergency GBV response on the ground, ensuring the technical integrity of HIAS’ survivor-centered approach. This position is a key part of HIAS’ surge capacity to support HIAS’ emergency programming.

Note, this position can be based in Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Mexico, Venezuela, Guyana, Aruba, Costa Rica, Panama, Israel, Belgium, Poland, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, Austria, Spain, Greece, Chad or Kenya.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Conducts rapid assessments to identify priority needs and resources needed, in collaboration with on the ground HIAS colleagues and affected population.
• Recommends and prioritizes concrete actions needed to address the most urgent GBV issues requiring a response.
• Represents HIAS in relevant clusters, stakeholders and Governmental and non-Governmental platforms for the purposes of ensuring GBV issues are prioritized in joint needs assessment and/or similar initiatives.
• Assist in capacity building of national staff.
• Identifies potential partnerships to implement recommendations, assess potential partners where available or make recommendations on how to fill gaps.
• Ensures assessments address the needs of diverse women and girls, and are in line with international standards.
• Working with other technical leads, designs appropriate GBV interventions based on the findings of assessments and the context.
• Works in close collaboration with other technical sectors to ensure that emergency interventions build upon each other and link into longer term programming.
• Develops GBV program plan, concept papers and proposals in respect of the above.
• Beneficiary participation in program design—listens directly to women, girls and LGBTQ+ community members to understand their risks, needs, support systems and ideas.
• Works closely with the relevant implementation manager(s) to ensure that the implementation of relevant GBV activities is planned and implemented in a phased and prioritized manner in full consultation and co-ordination with all relevant agencies, both governmental and non-governmental.
• Provides technical guidance and direction for effective planning, implementation and monitoring of agreed GBV and broader protection plans, including the psychosocial recovery (care) and assistance (legal and social) to vulnerable children and their families.
• Makes frequent field visits to all affected locations to monitor implementation of activities, identify opportunities and constraints and any adjustments needed, including additional staffing or staff training or other.
• Recruits and trains GBV staff as needed; trains partners in core concepts and skills for GBV in emergencies.
• Ensures early and rigorous implementation of quality and accountability mechanisms.
• Provides regular updates to relevant emergency teams on progress, priorities and constraints—verbally and in writing on an agreed frequency; contributes to Sitreps in a timely manner.
• Provides timely and accurate information to support communications, media and advocacy efforts around emergency response.

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS:

• Undergraduate degree required.
• 3-5 years of experience in GBV emergency/humanitarian work, of which at least two must be directly managing programs in complex or insecure environments.
• Fluency in English required; proficiency in Spanish or French preferred.
• Willingness to relocate for up to three months and at short notice (within 1-2 weeks).
• Completion of Hostile Environment Awareness Training (HEAT) within the past three years preferred.
• Strong grounding in the principles of gender equality, gender equity and intersectionality, and ability to apply this in practice to the work.
• Demonstrated experience responding to emergencies in multiple contexts, with a high level of emergency technical expertise within gender and GBV, including knowledge and understanding of the latest standards and best practices among international humanitarian and emergency actors.
• Demonstrated experience conducting rapid needs assessments and designing technically-sound GBV programs to respond to identified needs on the ground.
• Experience in both direct implementation and sub-grantee management preferred.
• Experience designing programs and contributing to proposals and budgets for institutional emergency donors.
• Ability to work well with others and rapidly adapt to new countries/contexts.
• Flexibility to work in challenging environments and with high workloads, potentially with limited mobility.

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.

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.