Social Cohesion Officer

Islamic Relief Pakistan seeks an experienced Social Cohesion Officer to lead efforts in promoting social harmony and inclusive community development. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in social mobilization and community engagement, particularly within an NGO environment. This role requires a committed professional capable of fostering inclusion, addressing gender-based violence and protection issues, and promoting health and hygiene awareness. The Social Cohesion Officer will manage a team of five, guiding them to deliver impactful programs that strengthen communal bonds and social resilience across beneficiary populations. This position involves designing and implementing interventions that respond to the diverse needs of communities while ensuring active participation of marginalized groups. The role demands proficiency in participatory rural appraisal and rapid rural appraisal tools to gather community insights and evaluate program effectiveness. The Social Cohesion Officer must facilitate collaboration across multiple stakeholders to promote sustainable social cohesion and protect vulnerable groups through targeted protection strategies. The candidate will report regularly on progress and challenges, helping Islamic Relief Pakistan to enhance its social programs and community outreach.
Responsibilities

Technical Level :

• Facilitation of dialogue between host and refugee communities.
• Conflict identification, analysis, and resolution at community level.
• Consensus-building on shared community issues.
• Strengthening community-based peace and dialogue mechanisms.
• Promotion of peaceful coexistence and social harmony.
• Capacity building of community groups on social cohesion.
• Gender, diversity, and inclusion mainstreaming in interventions.
• Application of conflict sensitivity and Do No Harm principles.
• Coordination with protection, safeguarding, and psychosocial teams.
• Monitoring of community dynamics and conflict trends.
• Documentation and reporting of social cohesion outcomes.
• Support to advocacy and peacebuilding initiatives.
• Organize advocacy based events at Tehsil and District level.
• Ensure strong coordination with the stakeholders.
• Conduct regular meeting with community groups and ensure community ownership in project activities.
• Provide data to maintain a regular database system of project monitoring and evaluation.
• Consult with the Technical lead(s) regarding appropriate adjustments in program design or implementation strategies.
• Assist and facilitate project staff at field level for smooth implementation of project activities.
• Develop case studies/success stories to reflect project impacts.
• Preparation of daily, weekly and monthly work plans.
• Ensure the timely submission of activities reports (weekly and monthly).
• Perform related duties and responsibilities as required.
• Conduct regular field visits in field and in office for reporting
• Weekly and monthly reports.

Perform any task assigned by project lead as and when required.

Operational Level:

• Development of work plans for timely implementation

• Surveys, Data Collection & report generation

• Record management – field visits, CO meetings, beneficiary data etc.

• Working knowledge of MS Word, Excel, Power point, Outlook, ERP systems

Communication, Planning & Scheduling, Time, Stress & Conflict Management, Situation handling, Leadership Skills, People & team management

Organizational Level 

• Demonstration of IR Values while working with communities

• Empowering communities to ensure organizational accountability

• Knowledge of IR strategic priorities

• Identification & documentation of organizational successes

• Adaptation of environment friendly & cost effective approaches / activities for community development

• Special attention to inclusion during the implementation.

Strengthen mechanism to influence the decision makers through communities’ advocacy & campaigning.

KEYACCOUNTABILITIES 

The following are the main responsibilities that the role holder will be accountable for: 

• Facilitate structured and inclusive dialogue between host and refugee communities.
• Identify, document, and mediate community-level conflicts and grievances.
• Promote consensus-based solutions and peaceful dispute resolution mechanisms.
• Ensure meaningful participation of women, youth, persons with disabilities, and marginalized groups.
• Coordinate closely with project staff for integrated and conflict-sensitive programming.
• Maintain accurate records and submit timely reports to management.
• Uphold Islamic Relief safeguarding, protection, and accountability standards at all times.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

• It is essential that the post holder shows a good understanding and sympathy with the organizational values & principles, vision and mission as well as commitment to its SEAH (sexual exploitation abuse and harassment) protocols. We have zero tolerance policy towards SEAH and doesn’t support any action that promote or encourage SEAH.

Qualification:

• Bachelor / master’s degree in social sciences, Peace & Conflict Studies, Sociology, or related field

Experience:

• Minimum experience of similar role in NGO setup: 

•  

• 3 years with Master degree 16 years of education or  5 years with Bachelor degree (14 Years of Education)

Number of positions: 

1 (male/female) 

Computer Skills:

• MS Office, Outlook, ERP systems familiarity 

Language:

• English, Urdu and Local Languages

Key Personal Qualities:

• Strong emotional intelligence and resilience, and able to maintain self-control in difficult situations.

• Able to work under extreme conditions in field areas.

• Good communication skills in local as well as English / Urdu language which delivers information with clarity in a wide range of situations. 

• Has a positive nature and able to overcome issues that create hindrance in achievement of entrusted goals / objectives. 

• Has a learning attitude and a continuous improvement philosophy. 

Value Added Skills 

• Advance level Social Mobilization
• PRA / RRA Tools
• Inclusion
• Advocacy & Campaigning
• GBV / Protection
• Health & Hygiene Promotion
• Monitoring & Accountability
• Water, Health & Sanitation
• Food Security & Livelihood

• Declarations # 1: I hereby confirm that I have never been involved and/or charged in violation of SEAH (Sexual Exploitation Abuse & Harassment) related concerns in my career.
  Declarations # 2: I confirm that the above information in the CV/Application is complete and correct and that any untrue or misleading information will give my employer the right to terminate any employment contract offered.
  Declarations # 3: I agree that information contained within this application and supporting documents (including "sensitive information”) may be accessed, stored and used and by the organization in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998.
   
  Pre-employment Checks:
  Any employment with Islamic Relief will be subject to the following checks:
  * Screening clearance
  * Receipt of satisfactory references

  Our Values and Commitment to Safeguarding:
  IR is committed to preventing any type of unwanted behaviour at work including sexual harassment, exploitation and abuse, lack of integrity and financial misconduct; and committed to promoting the welfare of children, young people, adults and beneficiaries with whom IR engages. IR expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct. We place a high priority on ensuring that only those who share and demonstrate our values are recruited to work for us.

• The post holder will undertake the appropriate level of training and is responsible for ensuring that they understand and work within the safeguarding policies of the organization.
• All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records checks. IRW 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.
• Please note, we are only able to accept applications from candidates who are eligible to live and work in Pakistan. We are unable to progress applications that would require sponsorship.

• By applying, the job applicant confirms his/her understanding of these recruitment procedures.

  Islamic Relief is an equal opportunities employer.