Grants Evaluation Officer

VACANCY NOTICE Ref. No: EED/7

GRANTS EVALUATION OFFICER  

1. Main functions of the post:

• administering and monitoring the operations of the EED and its budgetary policy;
• mapping and matching of possible sources of funding (grants from the UE and other international governmental and non-governmental donors, contributions from interested parties, etc.);
• providing strategic guidance to the funds management, HR, administration and IT.

2. Duties and Responsibilities:

Grants Evaluation Officer reports directly the Director of Operations and shall be responsible for (in addition to the above-mentioned):

• preparing, submitting and managing grant proposals for EU, public, foundation and other donors’ grants;
• researching new government, EU and other donor’s funding prospects and identifying promising funding sources for specific projects, programs and other EED needs;
• negotiating award terms for agreements from EU and other donors, ensuring compliance with award terms and donor regulations and representing EED in discussions with EU and other donors on grants administration and compliance issues; drafting communications to and interacting regularly with donors on grants administration matters;
• working with program staff to prepare requests for reprogrammings, prior approvals and budget revisions, submits requests and tracks status;
• maintaining good working relationships with counterparts at donors and engaging program officers at funding organizations in order to solicit invitations to submit proposals;
• reviewing and editing proposals and reports for assigned program team(s) and ensuring their timely submittal to the appropriate donor;
• reviewing award documents and modifications for assigned program team(s) and preparing written communications to donors;
• advising staff and conducts training for assigned Programme Officers on donor regulations and internal EED procedures;
• in conjunction with other EED staff monitoring budget and logistical developments that affect projects and that require prior approval, donor notification or award modification and on grants administration issues;
• serving as a clearing house to pro-democracy actors (pro-democracy movements and other actors in favour of a pluralistic multiparty system on democratic ground, social movements and actors, civil society organisations, emerging leaders, independent media and journalists including bloggers, social media activists, non-governmental institutions, including foundations and educational institutions functioning also in exile) from the EU Neighbourhood for information on possible sources of new government, EU and other donors’ funding prospects;
• assisting pro-democracy actors from the EU Neighbourhood in preparing, submitting, and managing grant proposals and supporting documents for EU and other donors’ grants as well as in report writing, donor regulations, monitoring and evaluation and related grants administration topics; reviewing and revising budgets of projects seeking funding;
• maintaining close contact with organizations during their review of a submitted grant application;
• advising pro-democracy actors from the EU Neighbourhood on training curricula and modules for building the capacity of their organizations in financial, technical, human resources and budgetary management of grants from the EU and other donors as well as carrying out trainings and capacity / mentorship / development field visits in the areas of financial and human resources management for their organisations;
• maintaining and implementing funding calendar activities; 
•  cultivating relationships with important stakeholders;
• maintain current records in database and paper files, including grant tracking and reporting;
• performing other tasks for the Director of Operations as required.

3. Key eligibility and selection criteria

a.      Conditions for eligibility:

• be a national or having permanent residence permit of one of the EU/EEA countries or Switzerland;
• be entitled to his/her full rights as a citizen;
• have completed any obligations imposed on him/her by the laws concerning military service;
• produces the appropriate character references as to his/her suitability for the performance of his/her duties;
• be physically fit to perform his/her duties;
• hold, or be in a position to obtain, a valid Personnel Security Clearance Certificate (national or EU PSC at CONFIDENTIAL and/or EU SECRET level).

b. Essential selection criteria

Level and type of formal education

• master’s degree in International Affairs, Public Administration, Business Administration, Law, Political and Social Science, Finance, Accounting or related discipline;

 Professional experience

• at least 5 years of proven full-time professional experience in democracy-related projects and programs from the civil society perspective as well as in EU relations and policy advocacy, preferably in Brussels or in the field with relevant contextual experience with the EU external action/delegations;
• extensive knowledge of fundraising and donor relations issues within the democracy support, humanitarian and development field including advanced training and/or demonstrated skills on EU policy development, with a specific focus on external action and donor relations;
• demonstrate track record in the following aspects of non-profit fundraising: annual planning, major donor fundraising, donor services, foundation, and government grant writing, special events management;
• working experience in democracy-related projects and programs in government or international organisations or from the civil society.

Functional competencies

• good knowledge of the European Institutions and working mechanisms within the EU;

• substantive understanding of political issues and trends in the EU Neighbourhood as well as EU policies towards the region;

• thorough knowledge of English; satisfactory knowledge of Arabic and/or Russian to the extent necessary for the performance of duties would be an asset
• ability to keep full confidentiality about all assigned tasks and related documentation as well as able to exercise confidentiality, discretion and tact when dealing with diverse groups of people;
• high degree of communication skills and excellent interpersonal skills;
• ability to develop strong working relationships internally and externally at all levels;
• thorough understanding of social media, its purpose and exploitation;
• solid ICT skills;
• high personal and professional culture;
• ability to work in multi-ethnic and multi-national environment;
• readiness for frequent duty travel;
• provide at least three (3) references as to the suitability for the performance of duties.

4. Application

Please make sure you meet all required qualifications and experience. Applications must include a CV in the Europass format, cover letter, contact information for three (3) references and your net monthly salary requirements.

Failure to fully comply with one of the required information (CV, cover letter, references together with contact information and net monthly salary requirement)  shall result in the exclusion of the applicant concerned from the selection procedure.

 Applications should be made online using “apply for the job” panel. After successfully submitting your application you will receive an automatic email confirming receipt of your application.

In addition to it please send a copy of your CV as an attachment to email address:vacancies@democracyendowment.eu, with reference number and Grants Evaluation Officer in the subject line. Please no phone calls/emails/letters.

Applications should be submitted no later than 15 April 2013, 12 noon (Brussels time)

The applications will not be returned to candidates but will be kept on file by the EED. The information provided in the applications is subject to EU legislation on protection of personal data and confidentiality of information.

5.      Terms of contract

Two-year fixed term contract (with the possibility of its extension) plus decent set of personal benefits.

Expected take up duty date: ASAP (no later than 1 July 2013).

Working place: EED HQ located in the centre of Brussels, Belgium.