The International Renaissance Foundation and Open Society Youth Initiative seek a program coordinator
OPEN SOCIETY YOUTH INITIATIVE
AND INTERNATIONAL RENAISSANCE FOUNDATION
ANNOUNCE
PROGRAM COORDINATOR POSITION
The International Renaissance Foundation and Open Society Youth Initiative seek a program coordinator, to be based in the in the Renaissance Foundation’s Office to co-ordinate the Youth Initiative’s work in Ukraine and neighboring countries.
The Open Society Youth Initiative (OSYI) supports young people in their efforts to be agents of positive change and advocates for the full and effective participation of all young people in the political, social and cultural life of their communities. The Youth Initiative operates globally to identify opportunities and threats to open society values that are particularly relevant to young people making the transition from childhood to adulthood. While primarily focused on empowering youth directly through its operating and grant-making programs, the Youth Initiative is also exploring how it might develop a role in advocating for the adoption of sound national and international youth policies on behalf of youth.
OSYI encourages members of the network of organizations associated to the Open Society Foundations to include youth as partners in their work and assists them in doing so. It sponsors an annual conference for staff of the Open Society Foundations and young activists to share skills and project ideas. The Open Society Youth Initiative’s Youth Action Fund (YAF) is a small grants program that supports projects proposed by individual young people who are interested in contributing to their communities and engaging their peers on open society issues. It is currently running in the Baltics, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Uganda, Moldova, Thailand and Serbia. For more on the Open Society Youth Initiative, visit its web-site.
Responsibilities:
• In consultation and cooperation with local Open Society Foundations, coordinate and oversee Youth Initiative activities in Ukraine and surrounding countries;
• Develop a regional strategy for the Youth Initiative to help it achieve its mission in the region;
• Organize events at regional levels in accordance with the approved strategy;
• Act as a center of expertise on youth programming for Open Society Foundations operating in the region;
• Represent the Youth Initiative with local and international partners;
• Participate in the development of the concept and strategy of the Youth Initiative program,
• Prepare reports on work in the region for the Youth Initiative Advisory Board;
• Organize program evaluations as needed;
• Select and recommend employees for temporary work in the administered program;
• Make suggestions for improvements of the program activities;
• Perform other assignments as necessary for the success of the program.
Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree in international relations or related field required; Masters degree preferred
• Minimum two years previous experience preferred
• Fluent spoken and written English, Russian and Ukrainian
• Demonstrated experience in non-profit work and grant-making
• Flexibility and willingness to work simultaneously on a wide range of tasks and projects and ability to prioritize tasks
• High level of self-motivation and ability to work independently when necessary
• Ability to listen and communicate clearly and effectively with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds
• Attention to detail and ability to work well under pressure
• Pleasant, diplomatic manner and disposition in interacting with senior management, co-workers and the general public
• Extensive computer skills (expertise with Microsoft Word, Access, Excel and Internet required).
Starting date: June 1, 2011.
Salary: competitive, commensurate with experience and results of interview.
To apply, please send your resume (Сurriculum vitae) and brief letter on a candidate’s motivation in Ukrainian and English before April 15, 2011 to Khrystyna Basyliya (basiliya@irf.kiev.ua) with the subject line: “Youth Initiative Program Coordinator”.
Applicants selected for an interview will be contacted by April 25, 2011.
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Main objective of the International Renaissance Foundation is to provide financial and operational assistance to the development of an open and democratic society in Ukraine by supporting key civic initiatives in this area.
