Job Description Programmes Policy Officer

Recruitment pack

Programmes & Policy Officer

JOB DESCRIPTION – PROGRAMMES POLICY OFFICER

PURPOSE OF JOB:

To coordinate capacity building initiatives at regional and pan-European level and develop advocacy initiatives aimed at supporting local and national civil society organistions; to carry out effective documentation work to support the work of ILGA-Europe and the achievement of the tasks set out in the work programmes and the postholder’s agreed objectives.

REPORTS TO: Programmes Director

Relationships with colleagues

ILGA-Europe values creative and inclusive approaches to work and management that have been achieved through work across teams and participation of staff at all levels in the organisation. Staff members have line management arrangements and specific key relationships which are detailed in their job descriptions but will also need to work collaboratively with their colleagues in order to achieve their agreed targets and outcomes to the required standards.

MAIN TASKS

Capacity Building

To coordinate and implement regional programmes to ensure they meet the needs of partners, offer effective interventions and contribute to the development of the LGBTI movement at local, national and (sub)regional levels;
To develop and implement capacity building activities and tools aimed at the strengthening of LGBTI initiatives and organisations to lead sustainable change for LGBTI communities;
Together with colleagues, to develop strategies to enhance the capacity of the membership to promote LGBTI rights at national and local level, including through building relevant alliances and partnerships;
To lead on organising capacity building seminars, workshops, study visits and training sessions, as well as other regional / pan-European events
To develop training materials in the field of documentation of human rights violations, strategic advocacy and awareness raising;
To develop and implement projects relating to discrimination and the dissemination of best practice.

Advocacy Development

To develop advocacy strategies at regional and/or international level to support advocacy goals of national civil society organisations
To act as a primary contact and country desk officer for dossiers relating to former-USSR countries;
To monitor and document developments in specific countries and/or region, and initiate proposals for appropriate responses by ILGA-Europe as required
To research advocacy opportunities and develop strategies for advocacy of human rights of LGBTI people within the framework of relevant European Union’s foreign policies, such as the Eastern Partnership framework, as well as with the Council of Europe;
To develop and maintain partnerships and co-operation with other NGO networks, human rights organisations, other relevant organisations and actors with a view of building effective alliances and coalitions to support advancement of ILGA-Europe’s work
To represent ILGA-Europe at relevant meetings, conferences, events and to prepare and give presentations related to the work of ILGA-Europe as required

To prepare reports, discussion papers, briefings and other documents concerning, inter alia, appropriate for a range of audiences

General

Work as part of the ILGA-Europe staff team in ways that achieve agreed goals and objectives
To prepare reports, discussion papers, briefs and other appropriate documents for meetings of the executive board, annual conference and other internal meetings
To assist in the organisation of ILGA-Europe’s annual conference, seminars, meetings and other events, take notes and draft reports on such events as required
To support the Programmes Director in the monitoring of the effectiveness, efficiency, quality and equality of the team’s work and to bring forward proposals for continuous improvement
To prepare budgets, progress reports and financial monitoring information for internal purposes and for funding organisations where and when relevant
To provide accurate information for and assist in the preparation of the Annual Report and other reports, funding applications and submissions
To be accountable for the achievement of the agreed inputs related to the officer’s portfolios as defined in the annual work programmes
To ensure that all activities are carried out with full regard to ILGA-Europe’s policies on diversity and equal opportunities
To undertake other duties which may be reasonably required from time to time

Person specification

Programmes and Policy Officer

Criteria / Essential / Desirable
Qualifications/Training / Relevant degree / Post-graduate degree in relevant area
IE Competencies / Governance
Working on own initiative
Providing Direction
Facilitating Change
Working with People
Using resources
Supporting member and stakeholder satisfaction
Managing Performance
Management of Projects
Equalities
Partnership Working
Facilitation of meetings and events
Competences / Written and verbal presentational Skills
Working with computers
Managing Information
Production of documents
Special Aptitudes / Fluent in English and possess a working knowledge of a second European language
A commitment to equal opportunities
A good knowledge of human rights and equality issues, particularly as they relate to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender and intersex people / Russian language
Any other job related personal circumstances or qualities / Ability to relocate to Brussels and travel in Europe
Occasional unsociable working (weekends and evenings and working away from home) with reasonable notice
Previous experience / Experience of project work at national or international level
Experience with organizing in challenging environments / Experience of working in an NGO

Programmes and Policy Officer

Role Competencies

Area of Competence / Competencies
Governance / Promote the values and mission of the organisation
Managing Self and Personal Skills / Manage your own resources and professional development effectively in order to meet the requirements of the job
Develop your personal networks
Agree achievable objectives for self and give a consistent and stable performance
Schedule work to make best use of time and resources
Demonstrate high standards of honesty, integrity and fairness
Takes responsibility for own actions
Resist pressures that encourage unethical behaviour.
Show respect for the views and actions of others
Providing Direction / Know who the key influencers are – both internally and externally to your area of responsibility – and how to go about involving them, as required in work programme
Map the environment in which your area of responsibility operates
Understand political processes relevant to work role and how to operate within them
Develop and implement strategy and operational plan within your area of responsibility
Take initiative and accept responsibility and accountability for your area of work
Demonstrate clear commitment and enthusiasm for organisational values, goals and policies, including those related to equality
Comply with legal, regulatory, ethical and social requirements
Promote equality of opportunity and diversity in your work
Communicate relevant information and knowledge to work colleagues
Facilitating Change / Foster the development and application of knowledge in your work
Recognise changes in circumstances promptly and adjust plans and activities accordingly.
Find practical ways to overcome barriers
Present information clearly, concisely, accurately and in ways that promote understanding.
Make time available to support others
Recognise the achievements and the success of others
Working with People / Develop productive working relationships with colleagues and stakeholders
Value team work and respect the role of other team members.
Share knowledge and expertise without taking over.
Address problems affecting work performance
Seek to resolve conflict with colleagues
Facilitate, and participate effectively in meetings, conferences, training and events
Using Resources / Prioritise objectives and plan work to make best use of time and resources
Foster the development and application of knowledge
Ensure your own action reduces risks to health and safety
Financial / Manage budgets to support goals and objectives
Prepare realistic budget estimates for time and resources for particular programmes and their means of procurement
Obtaining best value for money for the organisation
Management of projects / Scopes and plans projects effectively.
Recognise changes in circumstances promptly and adjust plans and activities accordingly
Present information clearly, concisely, accurately and in ways that promote understanding
Make best use of available resources and proactively seek new sources of support when necessary
Co-ordinates activities, resources, and plans in order to complete project activities to agreed timescale.
Keeps key stakeholders informed and effectively communicates project outcomes.
Contributes to the evaluation of project planning and implementation
Supporting Member and Stakeholder Satisfaction / Monitor and solve member & service user problems
Support member & service user problems
Work with others to improve member & service user support and communication
Contribute to your organisation’s understanding of its members & service users needs
Managing Performance / Manage personal targets and work programme in order to achieve agreed standards and outcomes
Continually improve personal performance and learning
Analyse information accurately for decision making within a complex environment
Identify the factors affecting the quality of their performance and take appropriate action
Welcome and use feedback on performance constructively
Incorporate result of appraisal into personal development plan
Equalities / Translate equalities awareness into service delivery
Set a good example of good equalities practice at all times.
Partnership Working / Identifies key partners and strategic partnership opportunities locally, nationally and internationally.
Contributes to multi-cultural projects and partnerships in a culture-sensitive manner
Establishes both formal and informal partnerships for project implementation and advocacy purposes
Sets up partnerships to maximise benefit
Facilitating Meetings and Events / Facilitate meetings and events through providing appropriate venues and support, adequate notice of the event, making sure the right people are notified, thoughtful inclusion of all abilities, providing for special needs to enable full participation where required, contribute to agenda planning, good time management, recording and distribution of decisions and information in accessible formats, making sure that actions allocated are followed through.

In addition the Programmes and Policy Officer will require the following areas of Professional Competence

Area of Competence / Skills/Knowledge
Working with
computers / Communicate information effectively electronically
Support the use of information technology in the workplace
Enter, retrieve and print data in a database
Access, retrieve and verify information from the Internet, intranets and the world-wide web, using browser software
Maintain the security of data
Production of Documents / Use word processing software efficiently to produce complex documents that communicate effectively and meet typographical standards
Produce accurate documents from own notes
Written
and Presentational Skills / Write articles and documents in plain English that communicate effectively with their targeted audience
Edit documents written in English to achieve clear and precise meaning in plain English and ,where appropriate, rewrite to reflect a ‘house style’
A good level of literacy in the English language (defined as intermediate standard by the British Council), as a minimum.
Ability to proof-read documents written in English for syntax, meaning, grammar and spelling and make appropriate corrections to text
Ability to present material to a range of audiences using multi-media
Managing Information / Design and implement information retrieval systems
Record, store and supply information using a paper-based filing system
Identify information required by members, the public and other clients and provide information to meet their requirements
Know how to find and use sources of information and expertise, including IT
Programming Skills / General principles and processes for identifying and defining requirements
Analysis and evaluation techniques
Project management methods and techniques
Project evaluation and review methods [1]