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REF seeks a Program Officer, responsible for program development and management

The Roma Education Fund seeks a program officer who will be responsible for developing and managing a country program in selected countries where REF is active


 


Job description


The program officer will participate in the strategic thinking on REF activity and directions, in particular on building large scale, sustainable activities for inclusion of Roma in education in line with REF’s 2010-2015 Strategy. The program officer will be part of the REF Project Management Committee, therefore participating in all decisions related to REF project management and which are the responsibilities of the Committee. More particularly the program officer will:


• Have specific responsibilities for the management of country programs for one or more countries. This activity will involve (a) the review and assessment of grant proposals, establishing appropriate indicators to monitor project progress, supervising the grants throughout the project cycle, building the capacity of the implementing organizations to achieve the project objectives more effectively and ensuring appropriate evaluation of the project when it is finished; (b) the review and assessment of applications for the REF revolving fund and endeavoring to ensure that reimbursable grants are repaid; and (c) leading the policy dialogue with governments and NGO sector so as to develop large-scale interventions for Roma education. The program officer supervises the REF country facilitators who are locally-based consultants and who are the main point of contact for project applicants and implementers.
• Work closely with other program officers and country facilitators so that the lessons of experience across REF projects in different countries are shared within REF and with project partners and other external stakeholders.
• Liaise closely with the other REF programs so as to promote synergies between different REF activities
• Participate in REF communication activities, by attending conferences and seminars, prepare and present papers and contribute to the policy dialogue with partners
• Take part in monitoring visits to other countries and provide advice on the overall grant program of REF 
• Assure REF visibility in Roma education-related events, especially in the country/countries for which the program officer is responsible


Besides regular duties, the Program Officer is required to take part in new projects financed by EU or other Donors according to the terms and conditions of the specific project.



Expected qualifications



  • Bachelor level degree in relevant subject such as education, political science, social science, economics, law or public administration

  • At least five years’ demonstrated success in managing education or Roma related projects. Experience in managing a non-governmental organization or in working for a government ministry will be an advantage

  • Knowledge of issues related to education of minorities in Central and Eastern Europe. Knowledge of Roma issues will be an advantage

  • Preferable language knowledge of Slavic and/or Albanian languages

  • Fluent written and spoken English. Working knowledge of Romanes will be an advantage as will working knowledge of languages spoken in countries of Central and Eastern Europe in which REF is active

  • Ability to work in a multi-cultural team in various contexts

  • Commitment and passion to the REF mission

Please send a letter of interest in English and a CV with at least three references to bolahova@romaeducationfund.org,  before Monday 25 July 2011. Please put ‘Application for Programme Officer’ in the subject line of the email.