Government Liaison Officer

Job Description

Title: Government Liaison Officer

Company Name: Relief International

Vacancy: Not specific

Job Location: Dhaka

Employment Status: Contractual

Educational Requirements:
∎ Bachelor/ Master Degree in Public Administration/ Humanities/ Social Sciences/ Social Work/ Law/Management or relevant degree.

Job Context:
∎ Duty Station: Based in Dhaka, Bangladesh (With frequent travel to field offices as required). Dhaka (60%) and Cox`s Bazar (40%)
∎ Report To: Deputy Country Director
∎ Expected Start Date: At Earliest
∎ Contract length: Up to December 31, 2022 (With possibility of extension subject to funding, program needs and performance of incumbent)
∎ Position Summary:
∎ S/he will be in charge of ensuring that Relief International complies with the rules and regulations of the Government of Bangladesh and relevant local authorities such as NGO Affairs Bureau (NGOAB) at Dhaka level and support the compliance requirements of Office of the Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC), Camp In Charge (CiC), Upazilla Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Office, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Office, National Bureau of Revenue (NBR), and so on. S/he is expected to support the operations of RI Bangladesh`s country offices and field offices in terms of managing government relationships (at various administrative levels) and ensuring legal compliances set by NGO AB, RRRC, CiC, UNO Office, DC office, and NBR.

Job Responsibilities:
∎ Specific responsibilities will include but are not limited to:
∎ Ensure that RI operates in Bangladesh following all legal and mandatory compliances set by NGO Affairs Bureau, RRRC, CiC in quality and timely manner. This includes leading and processing of (i) NGO AB FD Act requirements at the start, during and end of the projects; (ii) various approvals from different level of authorities during the project lifespan; (iii) Project closure formalities etc.; (iv) Coordination for approval of various projects, construction works in the refugee camps, staff visit to the refugee camps etc.; (v) Coordination and secure No Objection Certificate (NOC) from local authorities such as UNO, DC etc. for RI projects in Bangladesh.
∎ Ensure all GoB compliances relevant for INGOs are met by the organization specially related to NGOAB, RRRC, CiC, UNO and DC office, NBR and National Security agencies.
∎ Remain updated on the changes in GoB compliances and policies for INGOs and provide regular update to senior management team with necessary suggestions and recommendations.
∎ Handle regular reporting to government offices including NGOAB, RRRC, CiC, UNO, DC office in RI project directs , seeking approval and permission for program activities and travel authorizations, and ensure positive working relations with the government at all times.
∎ Proactively engage with government and local authorities and facilitate or organize consultations with government or community as required both in Cox's and Dhaka level
∎ Coordinate with various departments within RI to gather necessary information for processing of application for project approval, NOC etc.
∎ Familiar with FD 7, FD 6 project approval processes, necessary documentations related to the approval process, follow up communication such as periodic reporting of FD 7 and FD 6 projects approved by NGO AB.
∎ Lead processing of new visa and work permit applications and renewals for international staffs and visitors following all mandatory requirements in timely manner.
∎ Maintain up-to-date documentations in both hard and soft copy including up to date tracking sheet of visa, work permit and revise on regular basis; actively and dedicatedly communicate with concerned staff and senior managers on the visa, work permit & camp permit renewals.
∎ Remain updated on the changes in Bangladesh visa and work permit related requirements and provide update to senior management regularly with necessary advice and recommendations.
∎ Anticipate potential risks in relation to RI staying in sync with Bangladesh's visa and work permit rules & regulations for foreigners, immediately inform senior management and lead / support to manage those risks.
∎ Ensure Airport Protocol, Immigration process, check in process at Airport for the international staff's.
∎ Ensure Security Clearance for the international staff's.
∎ Ensure RI Bangladesh complies with NBR rules in regard to payment of VAT, Tax , submission of VAT and TAX Return; coordination with relevant consultants and audit firms.
∎ Responsible to develop and circulate various types of letters, circulars, notes, office memos, visa letters, NOCs etc.
∎ Maintain all records of the documents of the above mentioned tasks (both hard copies and soft copies on RI's cloud based file management application).
∎ Undertake other responsibilities as assigned by the supervisor.

Additional Requirements:
∎ This position demands a dynamic individual with a demonstrated ability to achieve results in a demanding and fast paced environment;
∎ Minimum Five to Seven years of relevant work experience.
∎ Excellent understanding and proven experience of working with NGO Affairs Bureau, RRRC, CiC. UNO Office, DC office in relation to approval and government compliance of international donors and UN funded projects in Bangladesh.
∎ Excellent understanding and proven experience of working on visa / work permits of international staffs & visitors.
∎ Excellent working relationship with government counterparts at all level in Dhaka and Cox Bazar.
∎ Strong interpersonal skills and ability to act professionally and diplomatically on behalf of the RI, including representation in high level meetings.
∎ Very good skills on MS Word, Excel, Outlook, Power point.
∎ Should be able to work independently and possess good time management skills.
∎ Demonstrable ability to handle crises.
∎ Excellent interpersonal and team skills.
∎ Dedications towards humanitarian principles and values.
∎ Excellent command over Bangla & English language (writing, reading and speaking).

Job Source: Bdjobs.com Online Job Posting.

Application Deadline: 31 Dec 2021

Company Information:
∎ 22 Dec 2021
∎ Relief International
∎ Business : Relief International, headquartered in USA, is a leading international non-government organization working in 16 countries to relieve poverty, ensure well-being and advance dignity. We specialize in fragile settings, responding to natural disasters, humanitarian crises and chronic poverty.

Relief International (RI) has been working in Bangladesh since 2004, implementing programs covering emergency response, health, economic opportunity, trafficking in persons, gender equality and youth empowerment. RI has been present in Cox’s Bazar since 2014 where it was implementing a trafficking in persons project in Ukhiya and Teknaf supporting old caseload refugees as well as host communities prior to the large-scale influx. Since 2017, RI has scaled up its operations in Cox’s Bazar to support the emergency response by providing integrated, multi-sectoral programming for refugee and host communities, covering health services, including a 132 bed COVID-19 Isolation and Treatment Center in Ukhiya, child protection, SGBV, complimentary food and livelihoods opportunities to support social cohesion. Relief International is currently implementing a large scale refugee response program in Cox`s Bazar in Bangladesh in collaboration with multiple partners including UNHCR, WFP, USAID.RI maintains a country office in Dhaka with multiple field offices in Cox`s Bazar.

Relief International combines humanitarian and development approaches to provide immediate services while laying the groundwork for long-term impact. Our signature approach which we call the RI Way emphasizes local participation, an integration of services, strategic partnerships, and a focus on civic skills. In this way, we empower communities to find, design and implement the solutions that work best for them.


Category: NGO/Development

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