Program Manager, Roma Initiatives

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POSITION AVAILABLE
PROGRAM MANAGER
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

-          Provides input on project proposals submitted to the Open Society Roma Initiatives, particularly those tackling Roma grassroots empowerment, leadership, organizing, local advocacy, voters’ empowerment, NGO capacity building

-          Works on Roma Initiatives projects on grassroots empowerment, mobilizing, local advocacy in strategic countries for Open Society Roma Initiatives

-          Develops and coordinate projects on voters’ empowerment in strategic countries for the Open Society Roma Initiatives

-          Facilitates ideas and partnerships on the Roma organizing and mobilizing

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

-          Exchanges information with Open Society foundations and network programs on projects addressing local-level advocacy and organizing

-          Collects information about the Open Society Foundations’ activities on Roma mobilization and grassroots empowerment

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

Besides these main responsibilities, the Program Manager 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

-          Bachelor's degree, preferably in social sciences

-          Minimum 3 years of field work in Roma communities, grassroots Roma NGO work and/or organizing of local Roma campaigning

-          Knowledge and experience of voter empowerment, in particular Roma voter registration

-          Experience in drafting and managing projects on locally-based organizing campaigns, local advocacy and voters empowerment

-          Experience in working with Roma refugees, IDPs, returnees, or failed asylum seekers would be desirable

-          Excellent organizational and communication skills

-          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

-          In-depth knowledge of situation of Roma from Central and South Eastern Europe; in particular, knowledge of the situation of Roma in the Western Balkans is a strong plus

-          Excellent English and Romani language skills; Knowledge of one of languages of Western Balkans is a strong plus

-          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 “Program Manager – 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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