Deputy Executive Director - Environmental Policy

The Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC) is a multilateral organisation with 32 member states and the European Commission. It was established in 1990 by the governments of the United States of America and Hungary and the European Commission. It has an independent, non-partisan, non-advocacy, and non-profit status enshrined in a legal charter. For 25 years, the REC has built and maintained multi-stakeholder platforms of governments, non-governmental organisations and businesses, and offered technical assistance to the countries in the region to support EU accession and to promote sustainable development. The organisation has also participated in key global, regional and local processes and contributed to environmental and sustainability solutions within and beyond its country office network, transferring transitional knowledge and experience to countries and regions. Headquartered in Szentendre, Hungary, near Budapest, the REC also has a network of more than a dozen offices throughout the Central and Eastern European region, including in South Eastern Europe and Turkey. During the last 25 years, the REC has implemented over 2,000 donor-funded projects with a total budget of over EUR 200 million.        

The REC is opening the position of  Deputy Executive Director Environmental Policy (Ref. no. 2016/10) at its head office in Szentendre, Hungary. 

 

The REC is seeking a dynamic and visionary individual, with a proven track record of managing and motivating expert teams, to serve as Deputy Executive Director for Environmental Policy and to support the REC in fulfilling its mandate. The ideal candidate should have the ambition and ability to work in a multinational organisation, where multidisciplinary teamwork is essential. The candidate should be dedicated and committed to the founding principles of the organisation, as set out in its founding charter and overseen by its Board of Directors, and should devote their full and utmost attention to successfully being a team player in navigating the challenges and opportunities in the REC’s complex and rapidly changing environment, with special regard to environmental policy.

 

Scope of the position

 

Duties include the following:

 

• Providing strategic planning for the development and implementation of projects and programmes under the leadership of the Executive Director. 

• As a member of the Senior Management (SM) team, and with the support of other SM members, coordinating strategy and business development in crucial areas of the REC’s work.
• Being one of the main contact persons in the organisation for development, strategy and annual work planning in cooperation with SM and other assigned senior experts. 
• Under the leadership of the Executive Director, building relationships with important stakeholders, maintaining contacts, negotiating and collaborating with partners, and ensuring good contacts with bilateral donors and business partners.
• Under the guidance of the Executive Director, promoting the vision, mission and strategic goals of the REC.
• Fundraising and ensuring the overall financial sustainability of the REC with the assigned expert staff and in close cooperation with the respective directors. 
• Providing support, motivating, supervising and coaching topic area leaders and experts at all levels, including quality assurance and control and performance monitoring of assigned staff (e.g. annual performance appraisals, capacity building and participating in recruitment).
• Being accountable for the quality and quantity of projects implemented by REC experts.
• Actively participating in the REC’s SM team, in terms of ensuring open communication, active participation in relevant meetings and timely responses to requests, and representing the expert staff before SM and at meetings of the REC’s Board of Directors, and vice versa.
• Meeting the commitments and ensuring the delivery of services efficiently, effectively and ethically to constituents and target audiences.
• Managing any additional tasks and representing the Executive Director as and when assigned.

 

The Deputy Executive Director for Environmental Policy reports to the Executive Director of the REC. 

 

Qualifications and experience

 

• A minimum of 10 years of diverse work experience in the field of environment and sustainable development, preferably in a multilateral setting, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe.
• A minimum of five years of experience in senior management position/s, including business development, financial management and staff supervision in an organisation focused on issues related to the environment and sustainable development.
• Demonstrated experience in the formulation and implementation of organisational visions and strategies.
• A thorough knowledge of environmental and sustainable development issues and their impacts on key stakeholders, including governments, non-governmental organisations, the business sector and the general public.
• Demonstrated experience in the establishment/management of regional or international platforms, programmes and/or secretariats. 
• Knowledge of EU environmental and sustainable development–related legislation, policies and strategic directions, including as they relate to EU accession processes.
• Awareness of current initiatives and projects in the Central and Eastern European region and beyond.
• Excellent fundraising skills with a proven knowledge of EU and other donor funding instruments.
• Effective and proven public speaking, presentation and communication skills.
• Demonstrated diplomatic and negotiation skills, with a thorough understanding of international processes related to the environment and sustainable development.
• Demonstrated experience in networking and partnership building.
• Demonstrated project development and management skills and experience, including the management of projects with a value of over EUR 1 million.
• Excellent command of English. Knowledge of other languages used in the region is an advantage.
• Excellent writing skills and computer literacy.
• High level of initiative and ability to work under pressure.

 

Education 

 

• Advanced university degree in an environmental field and/or relevant international disciplines related to the work of the REC.

 

Terms and conditions

 

• The position is located in Szentendre, Hungary, at the head office of the REC. 
• The assignment is initially for a two-year term, with the possibility of extension. Diplomatic privileges and immunities, when applicable, are determined according to the principles of international law regarding the treatment of officials of international organisations and the headquarters agreement of the REC concluded with the Government of Hungary.
• The selected candidate will be expected to reside in Hungary for the duration of the contract, with extensive travel in the region and beyond.

 

Interested candidates are kindly requested to send a letter in English explaining their interest in and qualifications for the job, as well as a detailed resume, by e-mail no later than November 2, 2016, to:

 

• Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC)
• E-mail: recruitment@rec.org
• Position ref. no: 2016/10

 

Please include the position reference number in the e-mail subject line.

 

Note: Given the large number of applications that we usually receive for each position, we regret that only shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview. 

 

The REC is committed to ensuring equal opportunity in all aspects of employment regardless of nationality, ethnic origin, gender, marital status, political affiliation, religious background, sexual orientation, age, disability, professional affiliation or any other circumstances having no direct connection with employment in the organisation.