Policy Officer

EPF - European Parliamentary Forum on Population and Development

Brussels, Belgium

About EPF:

The European Parliamentary Forum on Population and Development (EPF) is a Brussels-based Parliamentary network that serves as a platform for cooperation and coordination for the 30 all-party groups in Parliaments throughout Europe that focus on improving sexual and reproductive health and rights at home and abroad through national and regional health and foreign aid budgets. EPF’s Secretariat, which is located in Brussels, now has an opening for a Policy Officer.

For more information, visit www.epfweb.org.

Key Elements of the post:

• Brussels-based position, regular/frequent travel around Europe and internationally;
• Fluent English and good French are a pre-requisite, other languages are an asset;
• Start date: September 2015.

Key responsibilities include:

EPF is looking for a dynamic and entrepreneurial Policy Officer to support the organisation in promoting policies, legislation and funding for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in Europe and worldwide. Key tasks will include:

• Engaging with parliamentarians (MEPs and members of National Parliaments) in a series of activities designed to enhance their understanding of SRHR;
• Supporting partners and allies in their work to engage with Parliamentarians on SRHR;
• Proactively monitoring developments of relevance for SRHR and suggesting constructive areas of input;
• Organising parliamentary events, including hearings, briefings, conferences, delegations and study tours, including the substantive and logistic work behind these events;
• Producing relevant expert documentation on SRHR, including policy and legislative briefs, concept notes, background papers and original research;
• Assisting in fundraising with existing and potential donors, including by proactively identifying potential new areas of funding and cultivating existing and new relationships;
• Support and at times lead in writing and coordinating input for liaising to donors on projects, including regular reports, annual work-plans and proposals;
• Representing the organisation externally, conveys the organisations positions to external stakeholders and represents the Secretariat as necessary;

Description of the Post:

• Unlike many Brussels-based position, the Policy Officer is not exclusively EU/European Parliament oriented. Approximately 30% of the work is EU focused, the remainder is divided equally in focusing on developments of interest at the United Nations (for example the UN Commission on Population and Development and the UN Committee on the Status of Women) as well as developments around geographic Europe (national level and other regional bodies) and developments in SRHR in developing countries, particular priority recipients of European development aid;
• A key aspect of the post involves regular engagement with Parliamentarians, therefore familiarity with parliamentary procedures is essential as is a well developed sense of diplomacy and tact for engaging with decision-makers;
• Must have a keen interest in politics, human rights and international development and cooperation and willingness to learn about sexual and reproductive health and rights;
• As EPF is a small organisation, the Policy Officer, like all EPF staff, will be expected to contribute to the overall success of EPF’s key events, therefore, flexibility and solidarity with co-workers are essential;
• The position reports directly to the EPF Secretary.

Requirements:

• Fully support the principles of the ICPD Programme of Action, including the human right of every individual to make free and informed choices regarding the sexuality and reproduction including in matters of freedom of choice;
• Experience of minimum five years in the field of political advocacy, parliamentary work;
• Professional experience in the field of sexual and reproductive health and rights, international development, parliamentary affairs;
• Proven experience in fundraising;
• Educated to post-graduate level in social sciences or related field;
• Willingness to work flexible hours and willingness to travel between 20-50 days per year, including to developing countries;
• Must be able to legally work in Belgium;
• Full time, permanent contract under Belgian law with attractive employee benefits package.

Please reply by Monday 24 August 2015 with the following:

• Cover letter addressing specifically the vacancy announcement;
• Detailed CV.

Reply by e-mail to: secretariat@epfweb.org

Please note:

• ONLY short-listed candidates will be contacted;
• Interviews will be conducted late August/beginning September 2015;
• we are unable to cover travel expense for interviews.