Program Officer Roma Initiatives – Early Childhood Program

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Program Officer Roma Initiatives – Early Childhood Program (Full – Time)

Position to be based in either London or Budapest

The Open Society Foundations work to build vibrant and tolerant democracies whose governments are accountable to their citizens. To achieve this mission, the Foundations seek to shape public policies that assure greater fairness in political, legal, and economic systems and safeguard fundamental rights. On a local level, the Open Society Foundations implement a range of initiatives to advance justice, education, public health, and independent media. At the same time, we build alliances across borders and continents on issues such as corruption and freedom of information. The Foundations place a high priority on protecting and improving the lives of people in marginalized communities.

Investor and philanthropist George Soros established the Open Society Foundations, starting in 1984, to help countries make the transition from communism. Our activities have grown to encompass the United States and more than 70 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America. Each Foundation relies on the expertise of boards composed of eminent citizens who determine individual agendas based on local priorities.

The Early Childhood Program (ECP) promotes healthy development and wellbeing of young children, through initiatives that emphasize parent and community engagement, professional development and government accountability. Its rights-based approach and social justice framework give particular attention to minorities; children with developmental delays, malnutrition and disabilities; and children living in poverty. ECP programs are most active in Open Society Foundations traditional region (CEE/CIS), while at the same time providing technical expertise and planning more extensive initiatives in parts of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East/North Africa.

The ECP seeks to increase the quality, access and comprehensiveness of early childhood services, prioritizing disadvantaged populations, with the aim of improving equity and capability. To achieve these objectives in target countries, the ECP develops initiatives aimed at improving public policies and programs, builds capacity of professionals and civil society, promotes equity through targeting of early childhood programs, and monitors accountability of investments and service provision that impact young children and their families. The aim is to build effective systems in which government, professionals, civil society, communities and monitoring mechanisms effectively fulfill their respective roles to guarantee the right of each child to develop to his or her full potential.

Building on over a decade of Open Society Foundations work with young Roma children and their families, the Program Officer (Roma Initiatives) will coordinate a new initiative aimed at ensuring universal, quality early childhood services for Roma and other disadvantaged minorities in Central Eastern Europe and Eurasia. ECP’s new initiative will target EU decision makers in order to advocate for increased and measurable action to recognize the importance of early childhood services for Roma and other minority families and their children, from birth onwards, as a means to promote inclusion. Building on Open Society Foundations considerable experience of support for Roma and Minority issues, the Program Officer will identify key internal and external allies, networks and coalitions (drawing in actors from both the Roma, minority and early childhood communities) and will be proactive in seeking out and creating opportunities to advance the early childhood agenda within the final five years of the Roma Decade, with demonstrable impact. At the program level, the Program Officer will coordinate two main threads of work: piloting of innovative programs and services and scale-up of proven programs and services. The post will report to the Director of Early Childhood Programs (based in London).

Responsibilities:

• Develop and deliver a strategic advocacy plan based on Open Society Foundations experience in the region to promote increased policy focus and funding for early childhood development services for Roma and Minority communities across Europe, in consultation with Open Society Foundations Early Childhood Program.
• Partner and influence key Open Society Foundations network programs and national foundations, and associated entities, to promote early childhood development as a key policy activity.
• Work collaboratively with Open Society Foundations ECP team members in order to devise practical and effective policy and programming interventions derived from past and current work on areas such as inclusion and social justice.
• Develop external partnerships with Roma, Minority and early childhood development actors and organizations (at both European and country levels) and donor agencies, research institutions and advocacy organizations to promote early childhood development for Roma and Minority families.
• Manage and monitor multi country and in country monitoring projects, evaluations and pilots in order to generate evidence for change.
• Produce briefings, policy papers and presentations for diverse audiences on all aspects of improving access of Roma and Minority children and families to high quality, inclusive and effective early childhood services.
• Initiate events to promote increased interest in and understanding of ECD as a means to promote Roma and Minority inclusion.

Experience & Skills:

• Postgraduate degree in Social sciences or other relevant field.
• Proven knowledge, experience and success in advocacy at European level in the area of Roma and Minority rights, early childhood development or related areas.
• Excellent contacts with key European Roma and Minority organizations, networks and actors.
• Knowledge of the European early childhood development and social justice fields, with demonstrable understanding of the research issues and current debates in early childhood.
• Knowledge of European funding structures and social policy frameworks.
• Demonstrable experience in providing technical assistance to governments as well as strategic and organizational support to grantees in transitional developing countries.
• Demonstrable experience in developing and managing multi-country, multi-agency initiatives, including management of consultants and budgets and the ability to mentor and monitor field teams through long-distance support.
• Experience negotiating projects, project budgets, grants and contracts with diverse organizations.
• Ability to listen and communicate clearly and effectively with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds.
• Willingness to travel frequently.
• High level of organization and self-motivation.
• Ability to work effectively and efficiently as part of a small team within a diverse and decentralized network.
• Excellent spoken and written English and presentation skills.
• Preference will be given to candidates who have foreign language skills, particularly capacity in Romany and/or other languages used in Central Europe and Eurasia.

To apply:
Please send a short cover letter (with ref: ECPROMA) in the subject line), your CV and a writing sample to: recruitment-ECP@osf-eu.org by 7 February 2011

Start Date: March/April 2011

Salary: Salary range commensurate with skills and experience. Excellent Benefits package.

Please note:
Due to the large volume of applicants expected – only those candidates selected for interview will receive notification.

No phone calls, please. The Open Society Foundations is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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