Director Refugee Law Project

The Director works with key stakeholders in setting the strategic direction of RLP and oversees multiple simultaneous impact evaluation in a range of programmes. The position requires provision of leadership for Refugee Law Project through evidence based advocacy and practice in Psychosocial, Legal and public policy for forced migrants and close interaction with academic researchers, donors and local government agencies.
Responsible for overall strategic planning, revenue generation, financial management, organizational development, human resources, research and staff management, and program operations.
The Director will work under the supervision of the Principal School of Law and has a responsibility of reporting to the School of Law board, and maintaining a good working relationship between Refugee Law Project and School of Law.

Key Performance Areas
KPA 1: Strategy and Planning
1. Develops and leads the strategy of the organization within the broad context of the local, national and international landscape by using performance measurements to guide strategic and operational decision-making.
2. Takes a leadership role in driving a collaborative process with the Board, staff and community members that would result in the development of goals, objectives and operational plans for the organization.
Oversees preparation of the annual budget and other necessary financial documents. Provides information and justifications for Board in its budgetary review and approval process.
4. Cultivates a strong partnership with the Board in setting policies consistent with the mission and values of the Refugee Law Project work as needed.
KPA 2: Organizational Management
5. Leads, motivates and develops staff and reports to the school of law board.
6. Ensures the organization has diverse staff with skills appropriate to the needs of the position through people management activities including hiring, separation of employment, ongoing staff development, performance management, compensation and benefits.
Ascertains that employment policies are adhered to in all employment practices and partners with the Board to implement changes.
8. Ensures that organization has the appropriate systems, physical space, and technology to operate efficiently and effectively.
9. Ensures that all Field Offices operations are monitored and measures put in place to curb against any inconsistency.
KPA 3: Governance
10. Ensures regular updates and involves the Board in the work, progress and challenges of RLP, and supports the Board Chair to convene quarterly meetings.
11. Reports to the Board on a quarterly basis against the organisational strategy, targets and budget and ensures that RLP complies with the high standards of probity and good governance.
12. Ensures that RLP operates within the terms and conditions of all legal agreements with the Ugandan Government.
13. Ensures that meetings are promptly convened to address matters arising from the board to Refugee Law Project team.
KPA 4: Knowledge Production
14. Identify, assess, and inform the Board and Management team of emerging policy and research issues relevant to the organization
15. Provide research and intellectual leadership
16. Oversee the collection of teaching and research materials and establish a database of literature and other materials in the field of human rights and forced migration
17. Actively participate in local and international research conferences
Create opportunities for RLP staff to conduct research, and share their research findings in local, national and international fora
19. Build and maintain RLP’s visibility and reputation as a leading research institution
KPA 5: Fund Development and Management
20. Oversee all fund development activities, including grant writing, cultivation and stewardship of donors, event planning, and identifying new resources. Actively seeks and maintains a diverse donor base of individual, business, foundation and government segments.
21. Builds long term relationships with key donor segments based on mission, cultivation and stewardship, program outcomes and sound fiscal management.
22. Leads organization’s financial management in order to maintain healthy cash flow, provide full services to our constituents and maintain adequate reserves to support necessary investments and risk-taking
KPA 6: Public Relations/Advocacy
23. Leads in promoting RLP’s visibility and welfare through participation and membership in community forums, civic organizations and activities that are aligned with RLP’s mission and vision.
24. Oversees advocacy at the local, national and international level for the psychosocial, legal and public policy issues that impact people in forced migration.
Leads the development of a strategic advocacy plan that provides a clear and concise message telling the organization’s story. Oversees the execution of media relations.
26. Ensures RLP’s representation in all media relations by participating in interviews, developing press releases and all other media type engagements
27. Ensures that the impact of RLPs work is well documented and adequately communicated to stakeholders.
KPA 7: Program and Project Development and Implementation
28. Oversees and supports the development, design and delivery of program initiatives and projects, assuring that the goals and objectives are aligned with RLP’s overall strategic plan.
29. Oversees and supports the administrative components of all program and project services, including contract negotiations with donors, contract and grant reporting.
30. Provides for quality assurance Monitoring and Evaluation of all RLPs programs and projects, assuring correction of any deficiencies in program and projects execution.
KPA 8: Mitigate and Manage Risks
31. Set security standards and parameters for work and ensure that staff follow security measures.
32. Monitor security concerns for operations and act as the primary contact in crisis management
33. Take steps to mitigate risk and safeguard the organization’s reputation
Oversee safety and security and ensure organizationally, and legal compliance

Qualification, Experience, and Skills:
• Master’s degree in law, international affairs, International Relations, international public policy, development, economics, or any field related to international development.
• Must possess an undergraduate degree in any of the following fields; Bachelor of Laws, Public Management, Social Work and Social Administration, Social Sciences, Public Administration and Management, Arts in Arts (Social Sciences/humanities)
• A minimum of 10 years of relevant work experience, out of which at least 5 years’ experience working in an academic institution, civil society organization or research institution of international repute of having a comparable research experience, two years of which should be in a senior leadership role as a senior lecturer, Director of Programmes, senior research fellow or general management.
• Experience in building, leading and developing a team of staff with different backgrounds and expertise as well as working with vulnerable communities
• Experience in managing challenging situations requiring effective prioritisation and rapid action to respond
Ability to communicate effectively across cultures with multiple stakeholders, including international and local academic researchers, government officials, NGO partners, enumeration teams, and study participants;
• Experience of building networks at a senior level (i.e. donors, members, partners and governmental bodies), resulting in securing new opportunities for the organisation
• Good understanding of programme, financial and operational management processes
• Experience and knowledge of context and actors in Uganda
• Previous experience as a Director in sub-Saharan Africa would be highly desirable
• Excellent management and organizational skills and ability to work independently;
• Experience in the use of participatory methodologies
• Experience in managing multi-year contract agreements
Possession of a Doctorate degree will be an added advantage