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CARE International Senior European Union Funding Advisor


CARE INTERNATIONAL SECRETARIAT
JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
 
Position title                Senior European Union Funding Advisor  
 
Location                      CARE International Representation to the European Union, Brussels,                                 Belgium
 
Supervisor                   European Union Representative
 
Salary                         Competitive salary plus pension and other benefits
 
 
Summary
 
CARE International is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. Non-political and non-sectarian, we operate each year in more than 80 countries around the world, implementing long-term programmes to fight poverty, responding to humanitarian emergencies and advocating for policy change to improve the lives of the poorest people, reaching more than 122 million people.
 
The Senior EU Funding Advisor will be based at CARE International’s Representation to the European Union (EU) in Brussels, Belgium. She/he will work on behalf CARE International (CI) members and Country Offices (COs) in their efforts to optimise level of funding from the European Commission (EC), to improve their relations with the EU institutions and to strengthen their representation to the EU. He/she will also assist in the organisational development of CARE International in Europe. The Senior EU Funding Advisor is supervised by the EU Representative and works in close relation with her/him for the fulfilment of their respective objectives.
 
Key responsibilities
 
1.     Resources mobilisation strategy: Support CI Members and COs to improve CI’s strategic approach and coordination on EU funding (50%)
o    Through an active presence in European networks/fora, provide CI Members and COs with intelligence and information on policies, programming, funding opportunities and regulatory framework
o    Facilitate, develop and support Country Offices (COs) and CI Members’ relations with the EU with regard to contractual, funding and policy related issues;
o    Lead the development of analysis on EC funding trends and policies ,and CARE’s performance, provide strategic guidance on  CI long term strategic development on EU funding
o    Lead the development of co-ordination mechanisms on funding opportunities and donor relations
o    Monitor and negotiate CARE’s contractual framework with the EU on behalf of CI Members
o    Represent CI and support the EU Representative in ensuring that CARE has a voice regarding relevant EU policy processes and dialogues;
o    Lead the development of the ‘Funding theme team’ and other relevant parts of the CI Brussels Annual Operating Plan (AOP)
 
 
  1. Training and capacity building: Support CI members in strengthening their capacities in accessing and managing EC funding and in influencing the regulatory environment; (10%)
-         Support in developing and rolling out a CI training strategy on EU funding:
                                          i.    Develop, update and harmonised training modules and training of trainers manuals on EU funding mechanisms, policies and procedures, with the support of the EU funding officer and CI Members;
                                         ii.    Ensure the accuracy of the training content with latest rules and practices in force;
                                        iii.    In close collaboration with CI members and relevant staff, organise and deliver training in CI members, COs and Regional Management Units (RMUs) if/when required.
- Propose and develop mechanisms for information sharing: 
                                          i.    Strengthen and development of the EU Meeting Point as a-go-to-point on EU matters;
                                         ii.    Development of working tools for greater exchange amongst CARE members, such as databases for experts, projects, donors’ feedback, coordination mechanisms on funding opportunities and donor relations, etc.
                                        iii.    Provide regular EU funding updates on EU development and humanitarian issues
-       Propose and develop capacity building tools:
                                          i.    Develop and update working tools on most common causes of disallowances in collaboration with the CI EU Auditor, relevant compliance staff in CI members, and CI Members’ audit capacities;
-       Participation and engagement in relevant CI groups and meetings.
-   Consult Members and COs on regulatory bottlenecks impeding operations and advocate for improving the framework before the EU (in coalition with other NGOs or as CARE)
 
  1. Support CI Members and Secretariat in the organisational development of CARE International in Europe (10%)
    • Assist in the analysis of problems and opportunities at internal and external levels
    • Through an active presence in European fora, exchange on strategies and modus operandi with peer organisations to feed into the internal reflection
    • Support the EU Representative and members to the formulation of strategies that will promote greater efficiency and sustainability within the European context; and in the wider organisation
    • Participate and support design and coordination of CI coordination meetings and regional fora: European Programme Directors, European Humanitarian Directors, Regional Management Units (RMUs) meetings
 
  1. Undertake representational liaison with EU institutions and other Brussels-based NGOs and NGO networks to advance CARE’s objectives in Europe, to strengthen and expand donor relationships and to showcase CARE International achievements and key areas of expertise (25%)
    • Attend relevant meetings with the EU institutions;
    • Explore relations and funding opportunities beyond DG DEVCO and ECHO.
    • Attend relevant meetings with Brussels-based NGOs;
    • Represent CARE International and engage in relevant Brussels-based NGO networks, particularly in: CONCORD Funding for Development and Relief (FDR) and CONCORD Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) working groups;  and VOICE (Framework Partnership Agreement (FPA) Watch Group), and in other advocacy processes and networks relevant to CARE priority themes, and meetings 
  1. Other responsibilities (5%)
    • Support the implementation, monitoring and reporting of the CI Brussels Office Annual Operating Plan;
    • Supervise interns’ work on funding
    • Support CI Secretariat colleagues in their efforts to raise CARE’s profile towards multilateral institutions;
    • Ensure CI Secretariat colleagues have adequate access to EU institutions;
    • Assist with general office administration and any other tasks as required.
 
Knowledge, experience and skills
 
  • Educated to degree level ideally in social sciences, such as political sciences, international relations, development studies, economics or law;
  • At least 5 years professional related experience : Knowledge and experience of EU Institutions, external relations policies and EU funding procedures, either with an institution or an NGO
  • Experience of managing EC contracts would be an asset;
  • Good understanding of European Commission regulations/legal experience would be an asset;
  • Demonstrable team-working skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues working in many different locations;
  • Strong conceptual and analytical skills and the ability to think and operate innovatively, creatively and strategically;
  • Fluent in oral and written English and excellent working knowledge of French. Further language skills would be an asset;
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills;
  • Excellent inter-personal and presentation skills; including facilitation and networking
  • Very good negotiation, representational and lobbying skills;
  • Previous experience in training/capacity-building would be an asset;
  • The ability to work under pressure, flexible and able to travel ;
  • Very good knowledge and experience of working with internet and Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel),
  • Interest in development and relief issues and commitment to working with CARE
  • Willingness and ability to travel
 How to Apply
 
To apply for the post, please send a letter of application stating the skills and approach that you would bring to the post, your suitability for this role, as well as yourself assessment against the requirements and competencies along with your CV/resume (no photos) in
English in strict confidence BY EMAIL ONLY to Karem Armstrong at Daryl Upsall Consulting International at karem@darylupsall.com     
 
Applications sent by other means will not be considered.
 
Please ensure that they are sent as Word documents with the titles “your name cover
letter“ and “your name CV”. Please put “CARE International – Senior EU Funding Advisor ” in the email  subject line and state how you came across about the job announcement.
 
Deadline for applications: 7 January 2013, 6pm Central European Time