HEAD OF BRUSSELS OFFICE
SAVE THE CHILDREN
The International Save the Children Alliance is a membership organisation of 26 Save the Children organisations around the world, working together to make a reality of childrenŐs rights at the global level. Further information about the Alliance and the membership can be found at www.savethechildren.net.
The International Save the Children Alliance groups together Save the Children organisations working to achieve lasting benefits for children world-wide. Save the Children organisations have been promoting the rights and interests of children since 1919. The Europe group is a regional grouping of Save the Children members in Europe.
Save the ChildrenŐs global programme activities encompass long term development
programmes, rehabilitation and emergency aid, and advocacy for childrenŐs
rights, using the UN convention on the Rights of the Child as a framework. An
important aspect of this work is its role as a spokesperson for children and
raising awareness on issues facing children globally.
At international level, the International Save the Children Alliance has consultative status with the United NationsŐ Economic and Social Committee, the NGO Committee of the World Bank and the Council of Europe. Save the Children is a member of the NGO Group on the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child. Save the Children has offices in New York and Geneva and an international Secretariat in London.
Save
the Children in Europe
The European Save the Children
members began meeting in 1991 as an informal grouping within the wider Alliance
structure. This network is working together to influence the policies and
activities of European institutions, including the European Commission, the
European Parliament and the Council of Europe, as well as a wide range of
European networks in the fields of European social policy, development
co-operation, and humanitarian assistance. Its recent policy work has included
issues such as children's rights in EU Asylum and immigration policy, in EU
Development Cooperation, ChildrenŐs rights in the EU Treaty and in the
Convention on the Future of Europe, and working with other NGOs to produce a
comprehensive childrenŐs policy for 21st Century Europe. The
Europe Group also works to share experience and develop closer co-operation in
programming work in Europe. .
European programmes of individual Save the Children organisations involve working for and with disadvantaged children. Activities range from working with children facing discrimination e.g. refugee and migrant children, travellers, and disabled children. Save the Children is also involved in the monitoring of the implementation of the UN Convention for the Rights of the Child (1989).
Currently Save the Children in close co-operation with other
International and European Networks is involved in the European ChildrenŐs
Network - EURONET. Save the Children currently hosts the Secretariat of
EURONET, which is a wider network of childrenŐs organisations.
The
European Union Liaison Office
The European Union Liaison Office opened in Brussels in February 1992 as a resource for the European members of Save the Children. Its role is to liaise with the European institutions and to promote childrenŐs rights with the European institutions, lobbying for improvements in programmes, policy and legislation. Its main activities are research, policy work, and lobbying. It also provides information on EU children's rights issues both to Save the Children members and to the EU institutions. The office also ensures that Save the Children members in Europe are kept fully informed about developments in European policy and to a lesser extent funding, and that both collectively and individually, Save the ChildrenŐs profile in Europe as a network of childrenŐs NGOs is maximised.
The office works approximately 50% on children's rights issues within Europe and 50% on development and humanitarian aid issues. Its main role is policy development and lobbying. It has only a signposting role with regard to EU funding opportunities. It also facilitates co-operation between European members of Save the Children on programmes.
The office is staffed by the Head of the office, by a policy officer and an Information and Communications officer. The office also hosts the Secretariat of the Euronet network.
Line Management
The post is based in Brussels and is line managed a national Save the Children member to whom the postholder will be formally accountable. Overall accountability is to the Europe Group of Save the Children through regular reporting of work planning and performance review. The Europe Group has an agreed common agenda and work programme which the Head of Office designs and implements in conjunction with the group.
PURPOSE OF THE POST
To promote and ensure the influence of the Save the Children in European policy development and decision-making on both European and international issues affecting childrenŐs rights.
TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
á To co-ordinate and promote the representation of the Save the Children to European bodies, including the institutions of the European Union and the Council of Europe.
á To represent Save the Children Europe Group in day to day contacts with European institutions and networks in order to influence their policies and decision in accordance with the aims and policies of Save the Children.
á To organise two meetings of the Europe Group per year, including preparation of work programme, budgets, work reports and other papers.
á To oversee the production and dissemination of the monthly Newsletter and the regular updating of the website. (These tasks are carried out by the Information and Communications officer under the supervision of the Head of Office).
á To develop and advise on specific policy influencing materials and activities to influence European policy development and decision making (e.g. press releases, publications, speeches, briefing papers, legislative amendments, seminars), ensuring that major initiatives or activities have the prior approval of the member organisations.
á To develop and maintain a network of external contacts with people in positions of influence in Europe (e.g. Commissioners, civil servants in key directorates, journalists, parliamentarians, professionals and other specialists) in order to promote the work of Save the Children and its policy objectives.
á To develop and maintain good working relationships with other European NGO networks in the fields of European social policy, development co-operation and humanitarian assistance, for the purposes of information exchange and joint working on European policy and funding matters.
á To develop a good understanding of the work and interests of the European Save the Children members through the maintenance of close contact with each of the member organisations, especially staff in those organisations with specific responsibilities for European working.
á To work within the framework of the aims, priorities, policies and working practices of Save the Children ensuring good communication with other Alliance bodies, working groups and representatives.
á To maintain a watching brief on policy development on funding opportunities, promptly advising the Europe Group of significant trends and developments as part of an overall information strategy. This will include regular monitoring of the activities of the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council of Europe.
á To provide guidance and support (including advice, contacts, and background briefings wherever possible) to Save the Children staff dealing with European institutions and networks.
á To participate in the Save the Children advocacy group meetings and maintain contact with staff in New York and Geneva and the international secretariat.
á To maintain and administer the office (including staff management and financial systems) of Save the Children in Brussels.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential
á A commitment to the aims and mission of Save the Children.
á Substantive knowledge of the roles, responsibilities and operations of European institutions and networks of relevance to Save the Children.
á Significant experience of European lobbying and influencing work in a field related to the concerns of Save the Children.
á Analytical skills and the ability to assimilate and process information on a wide range of issues for a variety of audience.
á Policy development experience, including the ability to work within a network to develop policy.
á Well-developed communication skills, written and oral.
á Fluency in English and French, both written and oral.
á Ability to work effectively within a European-wide membership organisation, maintaining the confidence and co-operation of member organisations and staff through good quality communication and consultation.
á Ability to initiate external contacts and to network effectively in order to build support for key Save the Children objectives, as well as to gather intelligence on developments on policy matters.
á Ability to work collaboratively with staff from a range of Save the Children and other organisations in formal and informal working groups, requiring negotiating, planning and problem solving skills.
á Ability to manage a complex workload, often to short deadlines, and to plan and organise own work.
á Ability to manage support staff.
á Experience of budgeting and budget setting
á Understanding of equal opportunities policies and practices and ability to implement these values in the work of this post.
á Word-processing skills in order to be self-supporting in the preparation of written communications.
á Ability to travel and work outside normal office hours as appropriate.
Desirable
á Experience of work with a social welfare and/or development NGO.
á A good understanding of policy issues affecting children in Europe and internationally.
CONDITIONS OF SERVICE
The post is a full time, and permanent and is subject to a probationary period of six months in line with Belgian legal requirements.
Travel: Extensive travel throughout Europe and some travel outside Europe with the occasional need to be away overnight (probably once a month). There is also occasional working outside normal office hours.
SALARY: Salary will be in the region of 3000 Euros per month, (net Đ ie after tax and contributions).
Standard conditions of Belgian law apply including 13th month salary and 20 days holiday, plus bank holidays.
CLOSING DATE FOR COMPLETED APPLICATION FORMS: July 6 (16.00 CET) Deadline for receipt of applications
INTERVIEW DATE: July 13
Please return completed application form marked private and confidential to:
Mary Bermingham
Save the Children
39 Rue Montoyer
B-1000
Bruxelles
Belgium
E mail: savechildbru@skynet.be
Fax (+ 32 2) 513 4903