The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) is an international organization with a mission to
accompany, serve and advocate on behalf of refugees and other forcibly displaced persons.
Founded in November 1980 as a work of the Society of Jesus, JRS is today found in 50
countries, providing assistance to refugees in camps and cities, individuals displaced within
their own countries, asylum seekers in cities, and those held in detention centers. The main
areas of work are in the field of education, emergency assistance, healthcare, livelihood
activities, and social services.

Jesuit Refugee Service SouthEast Europe (JRS-SEE), a non-profit humanitarian association,
is seeking to recruit a Cultural Mediator/Interpreter on a 6 month probationary (with the
possibility of indefinite) term contract to assess the needs of refugees and migrants, and to
develop actions, practices, and services for the unaccompanied minors staying in the JRS
Reception Center

The number of required positions is 1.

Location: Sarajevo

This document outlines the qualifications required for the post as well as the job description.

Qualifications

Applicants must:
 understand the role of a faith-based organisation in humanitarian work and ensure its
mission and values are envisioned in all the work
 be willing to work with and for people from diverse cultures
 have the ability to work in a team
 knowledge of English/Arabic languages. 
 Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian language strongly recommended
 have work permit in Bosnia and Herzegovina
 have desirable work experience in the same or similar jobs
 have willingness for dynamic work
 have responsibility, kindness and helpfulness

Previous experience working with refugees, migrants and/or asylum seekers will be
considered an asset.

Job description

Position
Summary

The main responsibility of the Cultural mediator is the support
beneficiaries of Reception Center established for the most vulnerable categories of refugees and asylum seekers.
Communication and translation are the main tasks of any cultural
mediator’s work, enabling meaningful exchange and helping to
build trust. The three-way communication that occurs between
cultural mediators, their clients and other team members (such as
psychologists) is an extremely important triangular relationship
that helps beneficiaries to access and benefit from essential
services. This relationship helps to build trust between the cultural
mediator and the client, in turn improving communication between
the client and the service provider.
Cultural mediators are often the first point of contact that people
have with mental health services. The mediators are often able to
facilitate a more adequate and earlier understanding of needs and
prevent mistakes from being made or avoid missed opportunities
for timely access to care and services. 

Key
Responsibilities

Creating a relationship of trust between the two parties
Translating the doctor/psychologist’s and other Reception center staff
words into the beneficiary’s mother language
Helping JRS staff to understand specific aspects of the
beneficiary’s culture with whom you have cultural ties,
Exchanging with other cultural mediators and all JRS collaborators in
order to approach each person in the best possible way
Guaranteeing confidentiality, impartiality and neutrality
Actively participating in all parallel activities related to the health and
social assistance of patients, including information and advocacy
activities

Regularly report to the Country Manager

Participate in formation programs useful for his/her responsibilities

Application and selection process
Applicants are to submit a letter of application and motivation (not longer than 2 pages) and
detailed Curriculum Vitae (not longer than 3 pages) by 16 August 2024 to email address
vedran.mihic@jrs.net .
Shortlisted candidates will be required to attend an interview and undertake a number of
tasks before a final decision is taken. All candidates will receive the answer to their
application by …