Asylum Program Coordinator (Kenya)

Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), which shared in the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997, is a U.S.-based international advocacy organization working at the intersection of medicine, science, and law. With a global network of thousands of medical, scientific, and legal experts, PHR uses the power of medical and scientific evidence to document violations of human rights and humanitarian law, prevent abuses, protect survivors, and promote justice and universal human rights for all.

Building upon its highly respected place in the field, and supported by a committed and talented team, PHR seeks an Asylum Program Coordinator.

Work Authorization: Applicants must be authorized to work in Kenya.

Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Reports to: Senior Program Officer, Asylum Program

Organizational Overview

Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) deploys scientific, medical, public health, and forensic technical expertise to document and seek justice for human rights and humanitarian violations and international crimes.

Through advocacy and partnerships with affected communities, mobilization of the moral authority of medical and public health professionals, and collaboration with local and international organizations and associations, we empower our networks of health professionals to serve as human rights advocates.

In parallel, we strengthen the methods by which clinicians, alongside law enforcement and legal sectors, gather and present evidence that documents cases of human rights violations and war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.

Role Description

Reporting to the Senior Program Officer, we seek a Program Coordinator to join PHR's Asylum Program. As the Program Coordinator, you will take primary ownership of the daily operations of PHR's Asylum Case Management program.

PHR's case management work sits at the heart of the Asylum Program's mission: each year, PHR matches between 600 and 900 requests for forensic medical evaluations, submitted by attorneys representing people seeking asylum and protection in the United States, with volunteer clinicians and medical school clinics. These evaluations independently and objectively corroborate accounts of harm, providing critical medical evidence for use in immigration proceedings. You will be responsible for the end-to-end coordination that makes each of these placements possible.

You will be the central point of contact for a wide range of external stakeholders, attorneys, clinicians, and partner organizations, and are expected to manage this work with a high degree of independence, initiative, and professionalism. This includes screening clients and new volunteers, conducting outreach to clinicians, managing clinic relationships, liaising with legal partners, and providing programmatic and administrative support. You will collect, aggregate, and analyze case management data, maintain accurate records, and respond promptly and professionally to all case-related enquiries, escalating to the Senior Program Officer as needed.

Responsibilities

• Take primary ownership of PHR's asylum case management operations, driving workflow, identifying efficiencies, and proactively flagging issues to the Senior Program Officer.
• Serve as the chief liaison between volunteer clinicians, and external legal partners, including onboarding new volunteers, screening client referrals from attorneys, and managing forensic evaluation case placement.
• Manage correspondence with a wide range of stakeholders, attorneys, clinicians, medical schools, and partner organizations relating to case management, maintaining a high standard of timely, clear, and professional communication across a high volume of email.
• Manage medical school asylum clinic relationships by ensuring partnership agreements are signed and stored, and that referrals are processed in line with internal deadlines.
• Own case placement data collection and reporting, tracking progress toward quarterly and annual goals.
• Maintain, upkeep, and develop Salesforce records and other program systems; proactively explore new uses of technology to improve program efficiency and workflow.
• Assist in the hiring and supervision of interns.
• Carry out all responsibilities to a high standard, consistent with PHR's mission and the strategy of the Asylum Program and the wider Research, Legal and Advocacy department.
• Additional duties as assigned.

Qualifications of the Ideal Candidate

• Bachelor's degree in related field.
• At least one to two years of relevant professional experience.
• Exceptional written communication skills, including the ability to manage high-volume professional email correspondence with diverse stakeholders with clarity, warmth, and precision.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and take initiative without close supervision.
• Outstanding organizational skills, attention to detail, and rigorous follow-through.
• Technologically savvy, with a strong aptitude for learning and optimizing digital tools and workflows; experience with Salesforce or similar platforms strongly preferred.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Strong interpersonal skills, maturity, creativity, and flexibility; a collaborative team player who also thrives when working autonomously.
• Demonstrated commitment to cultural competency and human rights; comfortable working with people from diverse backgrounds and experiences.
• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• Additional language proficiencies are welcome.
• Passion for PHR's mission and a demonstrated commitment to human rights.

Salary and Benefits

This is a full-time position located in Nairobi, Kenya with a hybrid work model. Salary range is $12,000 - $15,000 USD and is commensurate with experience. PHR offers comprehensive employer-paid benefits, including medical, dental, disability, and life insurance, a retirement savings plan, and generous vacation.

How to Apply

Please email cover letter and resume to resumes@phr.org. Please include the job title of the position you are applying for in the subject line of your email and where you saw this job posting in the email body. Application deadline is April 10, 2026. Due to the high volume of applications, only candidates selected to move forward in the process will be contacted.

Physicians for Human Rights is an equal opportunity employer committed to inclusive hiring and dedicated to diversity in its work and staff. We recruit and hire without discrimination based on race, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, prior conviction, arrest history, disability, marital status, veteran status, or age.

PHR offers comprehensive employer-paid benefits, including medical, dental, disability, and life insurance, a retirement savings plan, and generous vacation.

• Fluency in written and spoken English.
• Additional language proficiencies are welcome.