LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC SERVICE REFORM INITIATIVE

PGF Senior Program Manager – Program Generation Facility (PGF)

under the “Making the Most of EU Funding for Roma” Initiative

The Open Society Institute (OSI) is a private operating and grantmaking foundation created in 1993 by investor and philanthropist George Soros. OSI aims to shape public policy to promote democratic governance, human rights, and economic, legal, and social reform. The Roma Initiatives Offices (RIO) provides guidance and coordination to all aspects of network programming and grantmaking activity related to Roma beneficiaries, including work undertaken by network programs and national foundations. 

Position Summary: Responsible for the development, management and monitoring of the PGF in 5 target countries with full technical and professional responsibility for the PGF program implementation.

Duties include:

·         Building a network of PGFs in all the five target countries and cooperate their work (announcing calls for tenders, applying a system of selecting National Partners)

·         Coordinating the work of PGF and the National Partners (organizes and assists the National Partners in the performance of their duties to collect, process and disseminate information from governments and supporting institutions)

·         Collecting information from Decade Secretariat and PGFs anchors and other sources; disseminate them through Internet and other means of communication.

·         Supporting the development and implementation of other interventions under the “Making the Most…” initiative and the work of the LGI Senior Program Manager

·         Reporting on program progress to LGI Senior Program Manager and the PGF Board

·         Overviews the design and implementation of a PGF Website under LGI.

·         Representing and presenting PGF at conferences, workshops.

·         Participating in preparing strategic reports and advocacy

·         Preparing materials for and reporting at Board meetings.

·         Follow up and monitoring of National Partners’ deadlines (Board decisions, audit and monitoring results)

·         In conjunction with the PGF Board, development of strategic goals and program budget

·         Overview PGF contracts and expenditures and affiliated administrative processes, i.e. project coding, database requirements, etc.

·         Oversees grant and contract payments according to OSI procurement policy requirements

·         Manage the national Partners’ auditing process.

·         Organize PGF Board meetings and the affiliated advance preparations

·         Liaise with other interventions under the “Making the Most…” Initiative

·         Reports to the PGF Board

Qualifications & skills:

·         Educated to university level

·         Good understanding of EU programming and funding

·         Good understanding and high level commitment to Roma inclusion and social justice based development

·         Knowledge of EU funding mechanisms and the role of various European and national, regional and local level institutions

·         Good knowledge of challenges of Roma inclusion

·         Excellent connection with Roma networks in target countries

·         Experience in working with Roma communities

·         Work experience with EU structural funds

·         Experience in managing similar scaled projects

·         Experience in drafting policy advocacy papers

·         Strategic thinking and leadership capacity necessary to reconcile a variety of interests and to forge a goal oriented partnership between key implementing partners

·         Thorough understanding of OSI mission and the Decade of Roma Inclusion

·         Ability to organize and monitor program related activities and staff

·         Ability to represent OSI in its relations, and consult with central and local government bodies or officials

·         Excellent English oral and written communication skills

·         Proficiency in Romani language and/or other languages spoken in target countries

·         Full computer literate

·         Ability to work independently

·         Good team player

·         Readiness to work under pressure while maintaining a positive attitude

·         Willingness to travel in the region

Applications in English, including a cover letter and detailed curriculum vitae, should be sent to applications@adminconsult.hu.

Application deadline: June 6, 2008

For more information about LGI, please see http://lgi.osi.hu.

OSI is 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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