Senior EU Funding Advisor

CARE International

Brussels, Belgium

Deadline for applications: 30 August 2013

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 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.

Position summary:

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 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. 

Specific Tasks percentages are indicative and may vary depending on the workload) 

1. Resources mobilisation strategy: Support CI Members and COs to improve CI’s strategic approach and coordination on EC funding (50%)

• 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;
• Facilitate, develop and support Country Offices (COs) and CI Members’ relations with the EC with regard to contractual, funding and relevant policy-related issues; 
• Lead the development of analysis on EC funding trends and policies ,and CARE’s performance; provide strategic guidance and contribute to discussions on CI long-term strategic development on EC funding; 
• Lead the development of co-ordination mechanisms on funding opportunities and donor relations; 
• Monitor and negotiate CARE’s contractual framework with the EU on behalf of CI Members; 
• Represent CI and support the EU Representative in ensuring that CARE has a voice regarding relevant EU policy processes and dialogues; 
• Lead the development of the ‘Funding theme team’ and other relevant parts of the CI Brussels Annual Operating Plan (AOP). 

2. Training and capacity building: Support CI members in strengthening their capacities in accessing and managing EC funding and in influencing the regulatory environment; (10%)

• Provide guidance and support to the EU Funding Officer in the development and roll-out of a CI training strategy on EC funding;
• Lead the development of capacity building tools on accessing EC funding including oversight of mechanisms and tools to best support information sharing; 
• Provide training/webinars and support to CI Members on EC funding issues as needed;
• Consult Members and COs on regulatory bottlenecks impeding operations and advocate for improving the framework before the EC (in coalition with other NGOs or as CARE.

3. 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 for a, 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 in and support design and coordination of CI coordination meetings and regional for a: European Programme Directors, European Humanitarian Directors, Regional Management Units (RMUs) meetings.

4. 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, including: CONCORD Funding for Development and Relief (FDR) and CONCORD Enlargement, Pre-accession and Neighbourhood (EPAN) working groups; and VOICE (Framework Partnership Agreement (FPA) Watch Group), and in other advocacy processes and networks relevant to CARE priority themes, and meetings. 

5. 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. 

Working conditions

The position is based in CARE International Representation to the EU, Brussels, Belgium and is a job at 100 %. The position is reporting directly to the EU Representative.

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 EC 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.

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 Margherita Leone:leone@careinternational.org.