Field Officer (Greece) - HIAS - Silver Spring, MD

Position Summary:
HIAS seeks a Field Officer (Greece) to support its mission to provide legal support to refugees and other forced migrants in Greece. S/he holds the position for a period of three or six months, with the possibility of extension and provides aid to refugees and other forced migrants through the provision of individual asylum counseling and casework, group asylum information presentations, assistance with family reunification, group alternative pathways to migration presentations and other protection-related advocacy. Trainings on EU and Greek asylum law will be provided.

Essential Functions:

• Conducts interviews with individual refugees and families.


• Compiles biographical data, persecution stories, and evidence to produce comprehensive asylum case submissions.


• Drafts asylum petitions, accompanying legal briefs, advisory letters and other case materials.


• Advocates for clients in first instance and/or appeal instance asylum hearings.


• Researches and develops pro-se representation materials.


• Advocates for client access to asylum procedures and process.


• Develops group presentation materials on asylum procedures and alternative pathways to migration.


• Provides legal information (group and/or through individual sessions) to refugees and migrants.


• Refers refugees and forced migrants to assistance from partners as needed.


• Mentors and assists volunteer attorneys from around the world.

Qualifications and Requirements:

• Undergraduate or graduate degree in a relevant field (e.g. international law, human rights, refugee law, international relations, political science); refugees with relevant experience whose university level schooling was interrupted will also be considered.


• Excellent oral and written English skills; excellent drafting, analytical and communication skills.


• Fluency in Arabic, Farsi/Dari, Pashtu, or Urdu; fluency in Greek is highly preferred.


• Knowledge of country conditions in Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and other refugee producing countries required.


• Experience with refugee status determination procedures and emergency response preferred.


• Knowledge of international refugee law, human rights law and application preferred.


• Ability to flexibly adapt to a changing legal, emergency-response environment.


• Ability to work in a fast-paced, multicultural environment.

About Us:
HIAS is a global Jewish nonprofit organization working in 14 countries across five continents to ensure that refugees and displaced persons are protected. Throughout the United States, we help refugees reunite with families, resettle and become self-sufficient. Guided by our values and history, we help refugees rebuild their lives in safety and security and advocate to ensure that all displaced people are treated with dignity.

Application Instructions:
Please submit your resume and cover letter to our website, http://www.hias.org/career-and-internship-opportunities.

HIAS IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER AND COMPLIES WITH ALL FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL EMPLOYMENT LAWS.

Job Type: Full-time