Senior Policy Officer, Roma Initiatives

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POSITION AVAILABLE
SENIOR POLICY OFFICER
ROMA INITIATIVES
OPEN SOCIETY institute, 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. 

BACKGROUND 

The Open Society Foundations are the major nongovernmental supporters of efforts to improve the economic and social inclusion of Roma in Central and South Eastern Europe. Over the last 15 years, the Open Society Foundations’ Roma-related programs have worked on a wide range of issues, including equal access to quality education, women’s empowerment and gender equity, public health, civic and political participation, media access and development of Roma media, promoting tolerance, cultural diversity, and challenging anti-Roma prejudice.  

The Open Society Foundations are the major supporters of the Decade of Roma Inclusion. The Roma Initiatives guide and coordinate all aspects of Open Society Foundations programming and grantmaking activity related to Roma within the framework of the Decade.  

Main Responsibilities

-           Contributes to the Open Society Roma Initiatives grants review, monitoring and evaluation, particularly for those tackling national advocacy on the Decade of Roma Inclusion and other national policy and legal frameworks 

-           Indentifies needs and provides capacity building  Roma NGO development

-           Facilitates advocacy organizing of Roma NGOs

-           Works on design of monitoring and evaluation tools and procedures of the Roma Initiatives

-           Advices the Director on Roma Initiatives activities in the context of the Decade of Roma Inclusion and other national policy and legal frameworks at national level

-           Assists the Director in collaboration with the International Decade Secretariat

-           Develops and coordinates national and local advocacy projects in strategic countries for the Open Society Roma Initiatives

-           Provides analytical and policy writing support to the office 

-           Provides input to the annual report of the Open Society Roma Initiatives

-           Exchanges information with Open Society foundations on national advocacy on the Decade of Roma Inclusion and other national policy and legal frameworks

-           Collect information about activities of the Open Society foundations on Roma national and local advocacy

-           Provides input to the network coordination activities of the Open Society Roma Initiatives

 Besides these main responsibilities, Senior Policy Officer might be asked by the Director to undertake additional or different responsibilities and tasks. 

Reporting: Director 

Note: the job description will be revisited six months after its finalization and inception. 

Requirements

-          Minimum Bachelor's degree, preferably in social sciences

-          At least 5 years of relevant experience

-          Knowledge of the Decade of Roma Inclusion

-          Minimum 3 years of experience in monitoring and evaluation

-          Experience in working with Roma NGOs in the region

-          Experience in policy research and writing. Published materials would be a significant asset

-          In-depth knowledge of situation of Roma from Central and South Eastern Europe

-          Flexible, proactive self-starter with problem solving attitude

-          Diplomatic and respectful manner and disposition in interacting with senior management, co-workers, grantees, partners, Roma communities and other contacts

-          Excellent command of English, proficient command of Romanes would be an advantage

-          Excellent computer skills (proficient usage of Microsoft Office, Internet Explorer) are required

START DATE: Immediately. 

TO APPLY

Please send applications in English, including a motivation letter and curriculum vitae, to applications@admingroup.hu indicating “Senior Policy Officer – Roma Initiatives” in the subject line. 

Application deadline: January 21, 2011

For more information about Roma Initiatives, please see http://www.soros.org/initiatives/roma

The Open Society Foundations are an Equal Opportunity Employer which supports diversity and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnicity, nationality, gender, age, disability, or sexual orientation.

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