Project Manager, Asia

The Open Society Foundations work to build vibrant and tolerant societies whose governments are accountable and open to the participation of all people.

We seek to strengthen the rule of law; respect for human rights, minorities, and a diversity of opinions; democratically elected governments; and a civil society that helps keep government power in check.

We help to shape public policies that assure greater fairness in political, legal, and economic systems and safeguard fundamental rights.

We implement initiatives to advance justice, education, public health, and independent media.

We build alliances across borders and continents on issues such as corruption and freedom of information.

Working in every part of the world, the Open Society Foundations place a high priority on protecting and improving the lives of people in marginalized communities

The Open Society Justice Initiative uses law to protect and empower people around the world. Through litigation, advocacy, research, and technical assistance, the Justice Initiative promotes human rights and builds legal capacity for open societies. We foster accountability for international crimes, combat racial discrimination and statelessness, support criminal justice reform, address abuses related to national security and counterterrorism, expand freedom of information and expression, and stem corruption linked to the exploitation of natural resources. Our staff is based in Abuja, Amsterdam, Bishkek, Brussels, Budapest, The Hague, London, Mexico City, New York, Paris, Santo Domingo, and Washington, D.C.  

The Human Rights Initiative supports advocates to promote justice, equality, and participation of all. The Human Rights Initiative ensures that a diverse range of voices advocate for rights and fosters alliances through a combination of grantmaking, direct support to activists, and advocacy. It supports some of the largest international human rights organizations, national advocacy organizations, and small and emerging groups working directly with those whose rights have been violated. The Human Rights Initiative recognizes that rights are not realized through law alone, that innovations in one field can unlock opportunities in others, and that experimentation and collaboration strengthen advocacy strategies. It takes advantage of opportunities, working in places where there are prospects to advance human rights standards and protections while supporting efforts in those places where challenges to rights seem intractable. It supports groups to engage directly in public discourse, recognizing that how people talk about rights is important to how those rights are realized in communities.

Purpose of Position

The Open Society Justice Initiative and Human Rights Initiative seek a full-time project manager to help develop and expand joint work on justice and legal empowerment in Asia, with a substantive focus in legal aid provisions and equality issues. The position will report to the director of Budapest office of the Open Society Justice Initiative and the deputy director of the Human Rights Initiative, both based in Budapest, Hungary.  

Working under the supervision of the director of the Budapest office of Open Society Justice Initiative, and the deputy director of Human Rights Initiative, the project manager will conceptualize and oversee the execution of activities to help marshal vision, methodologies, and resources for strengthening the quality and sustainability of efforts dedicated to the community-based justice services for the poor and marginalized communities and promoting fair and equitable justice systems with a specific focus in Asia. 

Working in close collaboration with regional initiatives and foundations, the project manager will partner with CSOs, government institutions, donors, and development assistance agencies to support the development of community-based justice services and national systems that improve access to justice for poor and marginalized communities. The position is expected to work closely with the Southeast Asia Initiative, TIFA Foundation, the Burma Project, the Nepal and Bhutan Initiative, and the China Program.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

The Open Society Foundations may add, change, or remove essential and other duties at any time.

• Conceptualize, develop, and define the goals of the joint initiative on legal empowerment and access to justice and provide overall management support to the projects to ensure its activities are coordinated, implemented and evaluated according to schedule;
• In collaboration with relevant staff, refine, monitor, document, coordinate, and manage the implementation of project activities. This includes ensuring that diverse activities are undertaken to achieve maximal synergy, and in furtherance of project goals and objectives;
• Develop pilot cost-effective models of providing community level justice services and promoting access to basic legal services and manage efficiently the financial resources, including budgeting and budget revisions, as well as expenditure tracking and reporting;
• Identify, cultivate, and expand a network of contacts among donors, NGOs, government officials, regional and international organizations, academics, and journalists interested in Justice Initiative and Human Rights Initiative work in the region;
• Help to expand the availability and accessibility, and enhance the effectiveness, of community-based justice and paralegal services in thematic fields of Justice Initiative and Human Rights Initiative priorities with a particular focus in Indonesia and Southeast Asia through grantmaking and operational activities;
• Support the development of paralegal services and other community-based assistance in obtaining documentation of identity for marginalized groups particularly for those who face multiple levels of discrimination. In collaboration with Open Society in-country partners and grantees, help develop systems that will assist with the identification of patterns of discrimination in access to identity documentation, and inform the strategic response (employing the data/patterns as evidence for litigation, advocacy, media) to effect change at the policy level;
• Develop Human Rights Initiative’s portfolio on justice issues in Indonesia and in Southeast Asia, work with current Human Rights Initiative grantees and existing projects to deepen their support for community based justice services, and provide recommendations for renewals;
• Provide technical assistance to grantees to strengthen projects and/or connect partners with experts in the criminal justice field to enhance projects and build the capacity of project implementers;
• Interact with grantees and other criminal justice advocates and experts and participate in program- and field-related meetings and convenings;
• Implementation of program strategies in the areas of legal empowerment and access to justice; develop and implement the Human Rights Initiative and Justice Initiative’s strategy as well as annual work plans and budgets, in close collaboration with relevant staff;
• Identify key partners and facilitate development of networks and platforms to provide community paralegals with information resources, tools, access to legal expertise and strategic support, training and skills development, and opportunities for self-organization and advocacy;
• Travel widely and conduct site visits to identify new grantees and partners and to monitor existing grants to ensure progress.

Education / Experience

• Advanced degree and several years’ relevant experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• NGO experience essential.

Skills Required

• Ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment, troubleshoot, and follow projects through to completion, with strict deadlines and without loss of attention to detail, budget, and reporting;
• Excellent oral and written English;
• Excellent written, verbal, organizational, analytical, and interpersonal skills with sensitivity to cultural communication differences;
• Ability to effectively work as a team member and independently, with a high-level of self-motivation and ability to set and meet goals;
• Discretion and ability to handle confidential issues;
• Knowledge of key organizations and networks active in the field;
• Pleasant, diplomatic manner and disposition in interacting with colleagues and the general public;
• Willingness to travel internationally on a frequent basis.

Compensation

Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience. Excellent benefits package.

Application Instructions

Please email resume and cover letter before February 28, 2014, to:recruitment-esp@opensocietyfoundations.org. Include in subject line your name, surname, and job code: PMA.