Emerge Centre Operations Officer (Residential)

Role overview

The residential Centre Operations Officer is responsible for the day-to-day running of the Emerge Centre household. You will help create a safe, structured, and nurturing environment for up to 12 young women at a time.

This role combines operations, caregiving, mentorship, and coordination. You will support daily routines, oversee the home environment, guide participants in building life skills, and act as a consistent adult presence in their lives.

This is a residential role, requiring you to live on-site at the Centre.

Responsibilities

1. Oversee daily Centre operations, ensuring a clean, organized, and well-functioning household
2. Support participants’ daily routines, including hygiene, chores, and personal responsibility
3. Monitor wellbeing and flag any concerns to the Centre Manager and team
4. Help maintain a positive, respectful, and structured living environment
5. Coordinate meals, kitchen operations, and basic life skills learning (e.g. cooking)
6. Manage household inventory, supplies, and basic logistics
7. Support documentation, donations, and Centre records
8. Assist with participant reintegration logistics (documentation, transitions, external activities)
9. Support events, exposure visits, and occasional travel with participants
10. Respond to emergencies and ensure participant safety at all times

Who you are

We are looking for someone who:

1. Is deeply aligned with Emerge’s mission and values
2. Is kind, patient, and emotionally grounded
3. Can navigate challenging situations calmly and responsibly
4. Is highly organized and able to manage a household environment
5. Enjoys working closely with young people in a residential setting
6. Is comfortable taking initiative while also working as part of a team
7. Is open to learning about trauma-informed care and survivor-centered approaches

Requirements

1. 2+ years experience working with young people (residential or institutional settings preferred)
2. Ability to communicate fluently in Sinhala (verbal and written). Ability to communicate in Tamil and English would be an added advantage.
3. Basic computer literacy skills such as typing and internet usage
4. Must be kind, patient, and able to calmly navigate and address stressful situations.
5. Must be able to work independently as well as effectively with a team.
6. Must be aware of and sensitive to the unique background and needs of survivors of abuse, and willing to attend trainings to continue learning.
7. Must be willing to adhere to all Emerge values and principles on non-discrimination, equality, child protection, and related policies.
8. Above all else, they should have a deep commitment to serving our target population, a belief in the work of Emerge Lanka as an organization, and a desire to learn.

Due to the nature of the role, we are seeking female candidates.

Benefits

Benefits include health insurance and paid time off.

About the company

Emerge Lanka Foundation is a survivor-centered nonprofit working with girls and young women who have experienced child sexual abuse. For over 20 years, Emerge has walked alongside more than 1,800 young women as they heal, build confidence, and transition into independent adulthood.

At the heart of this work is our Centre for Reintegration, a residential space where young women live in community, build life skills, and prepare for life beyond institutional care.

We are looking for a compassionate, grounded, and highly responsible individual to join us as a Residential Centre Operations Officer. This is a unique, live-in role for someone who wants to play a meaningful part in the daily lives and growth journeys of young women.

The Emerge team is small, deeply committed, and works closely together to achieve big goals. Our culture is empathetic and caring, responsible and high achieving, empowering, and inclusive. We are a group of self-starters, who are unafraid to wear many hats and are excited to be building a high-impact organization. If you’re looking for a place where you can be yourself, support others, and roll up your sleeves to get things done, we’re interested in meeting you!

When applying

Submit your CV and cover letter through our online application form. In your cover letter, explain why you’re interested in Emerge and which role you want.

Use a computer – the form works best on desktop (mobile phones may have issues)

Deadline: 22 may 2026, 5:00 PM (Sri Lanka time)

A detailed job description will be shared with shortlisted candidates during the interview process.