National Ombuds Bangladesh

The Ombuds Office for SOS Children’s Villages is an independent office supporting children and young people in situations that have not been successfully resolved by SOS Children’s Villages safeguarding processes. An Ombuds is a trustworthy person who listens, supports, and guides children and young people. There are national, regional, and global Ombuds. Developed with input from children and young people, the Ombuds Office functions on the fundamental principles of independence, impartiality, confidentiality, and informality. Honoring these principles are critical to the success of the Ombuds Office. The Ombuds Office works independently of SOS Children’s Villages as a check and balance to safeguarding with the goal of finding a solution to the concern raised.

SOS Children’s Villages International is the umbrella organisation for the global federation of SOS Children’s Villages. SOS Children's Village International in Bangladesh (www.sos-bangladesh.org) is a non-governmental social devolvement organization that provides care for children who have lost parental care or who are at risk of losing parental care and are deprived of a caring family environment. We are committed to safeguarding and protecting children in our programs by having a zero-tolerance policy in this regard. SOS Children’s Villages International is currently working in 137 countries and territories around the world. In Bangladesh, we have been working since 1972 and presently have programmes in Dhaka, Rajshahi, Khulna, Chattogram, Bogura, Sylhet and Bagerhat.

SOS Bangladesh is looking for a committed person to fulfill the following position

Position National Ombuds

Location of job Dhaka

Nature of Job Full-time contractual for one year renewable.

The National Ombuds in Bangladesh, as designated neutral professionals, will build awareness, promote prevention, nurture child participation, and enable children and young people to be safe in all SOS CV programs and services.

The National Ombuds will operate independently from the National Office of SOS Children’s Villages in Bangladesh and will report to the Regional Ombuds & Global Ombuds.

Area of Responsibilities

• To provide informal and confidential conflict resolution support to children, youths, care leavers and their families;
• Listen carefully to concerns, discuss an ‘action plan’, suggest next steps, guide inquirers through the agreed process as needed, and be available for ongoing support;
• Help inquirers to understand SOS processes and coordinate between SOS and community structures and systems;
• Collaborate & support children and youths within the framework of child-friendly safeguarding and Ombuds policies and processes;
• Develop and maintain a confidential database that tracks concerns until they are resolved;
• Adhere to the guidelines of the Child & Youth Safeguarding Policy and Value-Based Code of Conduct.
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Essential Values, Behaviors and Skills

• Ability to work using child-centered principles;
• Knowledge of child rights, human rights, best interests of the child, safeguarding, and related issues;
• Honest and transparent with an understanding of children and young people’s developmental stages and needs;
• Highly skilled in managing people and building effective teams across cultural contexts;
• Understanding of the local context, including laws, policies, practices, language and social norms;
• Motivated to visit and spend time with children and young people;
• Excellent problem-solving, mediation and listening skills;
• Ability to work in a virtual office and global team;
• Ability to speak and write in English. Knowledge of more than one Asian regional language will be preferred;
• Demonstrated commitment to principles of Gender Equity, Diversity, Prevention & Protection Against Sexual Harassment Exploitation and Abuse (PSHEA);
• Strong moral character and good physical & mental health;
• Speaks local language and has a professional proficiency in one official federation language English, French, Spanish or Arabic;
• You have the legal right to live and work in Bangladesh.
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Qualification & Experience

• Bachelor degree level in a relevant area such as social work, child psychology, sociology, child rights or protection, child and youth studies, law, or psychosocial wellbeing (Master represents a plus);
• Minimum five years demonstrated experience in one of the following fields ombudsperson, mediation, child safeguarding, child protection, or child rights;
• Experience in working with children and youths;Conflict management experience desirable;
• Demonstrated ability to build rapport with children and young people, to identify marginalized children and young people and connect with them and build trust;
• Strong facilitation/training experience - Ability to develop and implement engaging trainings and ongoing support workshops for staff and children' representatives.
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Essential points to be noted

• To protect the independence of the Ombuds Office, this position is not open to SOS Children's Villages employees or those who have been employed by SOS Children's Villages within the last 2 years, or for those who have relatives working for SOS Children's Villages.
• This position involves working with an INGO committed to children and adult safeguarding and is subject to strict safer recruitment checks. Accordingly, the successful candidate will be required to go through background verification checks to verify their suitability to work for SOS Children’s Villages International in Bangladesh, including criminal record checks.
• Only successful candidates will be contacted.
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In case you have questions, please reach out to us by email hr@ombuds-sos-cv.org

You can find more details about us here Ombuds Office - SOS Children's Villages (ombuds-sos-childrensvillages.org

We offer

• The opportunity to work with a passionate, innovative and collaborative team in a multicultural environment.
• You will gain experience working for a globally recognized organisation making a difference in the lives of children & youth.
• Excellent learning opportunities.
• Monthly honorarium BDT 1,50,000.00 (necessary statutory deduction will be applicable)
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SOS Children’s Villages provide equal employment opportunities to all employees & qualified applicants without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, ancestry, national origin, age, disability, marital status, or class. SOS Children´s Villages complies with all applicable laws governing non-discrimination in employment. We strictly follow the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and zero-tolerance neither on sexual exploitation, harassment and abuse nor fraud and corruption, amongst other safeguarding aspects. All co-workers must understand, respect and follow the rights of children to live without fear of abuse. The organization cherishes a non-smoking working environment.

Interested Candidates are requested to forward a motivation letter and CV along with our prescribed “Employment Application Form” (please download from www.sos-bangladesh.org/download) in PDF format & rename to hr@ombuds-sos-cv.org (mentioning the Position Name/Country applied for in the subject of the e-mail) on or before 26 May 2024