National Ombuds Specialist Cambodia

About us:

The Ombuds Office for SOS Children's Villages is an independent entity within SOS Children’s Villages dedicated to supporting individuals concerned about the safety or well-being of children and young people involved in SOS programmes and services, past or present. Its approach is child-centred, participatory, and 'ground-up', meaning it adapts to each national context and seeks local solutions to local challenges.

An Ombuds is a trustworthy individual who listens, supports, and guides children, young people, and adults to find solutions to their concerns related to children and young people. Each Ombuds follows the four principles: Confidentiality, Impartiality, Independence and Informality. They work 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 Cambodia:

SOS Children’s Villages Cambodia is a child-focused national organization dedicated to ensuring that every child grows up in a safe, caring, and supportive family environment. Since its establishment in 1999 and official registration with the Ministry of Interior (MoI) on 24 April 2001, the organization has worked alongside vulnerable children, young people, families, communities, government and CSO partners to strengthen child protection systems and improve the lives of children and young people in Cambodia.

As a member of the global federation of SOS Children’s Villages International, SOS Children’s Villages Cambodia combines international experience with strong local partnerships and community-based approaches to support children and young people who have lost parental care or are at risk of losing it.

Today, the organization operates in seven project locations across Cambodia: Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Battambang, Ratanakiri, Kratie, Kampot, and Prey Veng. Through integrated programs in alternative care, family strengthening, youth empowerment, early childhood care and development, education, safeguarding, and advocacy, SOS Children’s Villages Cambodia has been supporting thousands of vulnerable children, young people and families.

The organization’s work is grounded in the belief that children thrive in safe, supportive family and community environments. Guided by Cambodia’s national care reform priorities and international child rights principles, SOS Children’s Villages Cambodia is actively transitioning toward more family- and community-based care solutions that prioritize prevention of family separation, safe reintegration, and long-term resilience for vulnerable families.

About the role:

Location of the role: Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Fulltime, Fixed-Duration Contract (FDC)

In order to further their mission, SOS Children’s Villages has decided to implement an Ombuds Office.

The National Ombuds Specialist Specialist – Cambodia, 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.

She/He is a person of trust who has the skills and interest to work through their concerns and find a local solution by:

• Adhering to the principles of confidentiality, independence, informality and impartiality;
• Guiding a fair process through listening and supporting;
• Utilizing dispute resolution skills;
• Being a check and balance;
• Identifying trends and making recommendations to SOS Children’s Villages Cambodia.

The National Ombuds Specialist Specialist will operate independently from SOS Children’s Villages Cambodia and will report to the Regional Ombuds.

Profile, skills and qualifications:

• Minimum 5 years demonstrated experience in one of the following fields: ombudsperson, mediation, child safeguarding, child protection, or child rights;
• Bachelor’s or higher degree in a relevant area such as child rights or child protection, child and youth studies, mediation, social work, child psychology, safeguarding or psychosocial wellbeing, law, or equivalent;
• Good level of knowledge of children’s rights or child protection/prevention and related issues - child safeguarding, child development and health, law, policies, regulations and International Standards related to children's care;
• Minimum 3 years demonstrated experience in working with children and youths;
• Experience in working in communities;
• Very good listener with good observational skills;
• Strong communication skills;
• Strong facilitation/training skills - Ability to develop and implement engaging trainings and ongoing support workshops for staff and children' representatives;
• Demonstrated ability to build rapport with children and young people, to identify marginalized children and young people and connect with them and build trust;
• A problem solver, adviser and mediator capable of resolving young people’s and adults’ concerns effectively and in a timely manner;
• Understanding of the local context, including laws, policies, practices, language and social norms;
• Be gender and diverse sensitive and representative;
• Be able to work in two languages: Khmer and English;
• Understand the foundations of the Ombuds’ work;
• You have the legal right to live and work in Cambodia;
• Experience working in an NGO or international organization would be an asset.

We offer:

• A fulltime fixed-duration employment contract for 40 hours/week
• Training and development
• Support from the Regional Ombuds
• Satisfying and stimulating work
• Remote and in-person work arrangements
• The opportunity to work for an NGO that is a member of a recognized international network.

We are looking forward to receiving your motivation letter and CV by 25^th October 2026.

 * 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.

 ** Please note that only successful candidates will be contacted.

In case you have question, please reach out to us by email: hr@ombuds-sos-cv.org

You can find more detail about us here:

Ombuds Office - SOS Children's Villages (ombuds-sos-childrensvillages.org)

In accordance with the organisation’s child protection policy, this position will be subject to applicable background checks, including criminal record checks.