EU Partnership Development Advisor (f/m/d)

Child neglect, abuse and abandonment is everywhere. Families are at risk of separation. Locally led, we work in more than 130 countries and territories to strengthen families who are under pressure so they can stay together. When this is not in a child or young person's best interests, we provide quality care according to their unique needs.

Together with partners, donors, communities, children, young people and families, we enable children to grow up with the bonds they need to develop and become their strongest selves. We speak up for each child's rights and advocate for change so all children can grow up in a supportive environment.

Location: Brussels

Mission

The specific objective is to increase both the number of funding partnerships and the quality of institutionally-financed projects.

Increased institutional funding will enable more children to grow up in caring family environments. Institutional donors work according to a universally agreed development, humanitarian, rights and effectiveness framework such as the SDGs, the UN CRC and the UN Guidelines for Alternative Care etc. By financing projects that are responding to and corresponding with these external references that are also translated into the SOS Children’s Villages International Strategy 2030, institutional partnerships enable communities to sustainably develop and support their children to shape their futures to be active participants and claim their right. The EU Partnership Advisor works as a member of the IPD EU Team, part of the Institutional Partnership Development (IPD) Team across the SOS Children’s Villages International General Secretariat (GSC) and supports federation members to engage with European Union Institutions in Brussels and worldwide and to effectively apply for and manage EU grants in order to significantly diversify and augment the financial resources available to support SOS Children’s Villages International programmes. The EU Partnership Advisor is based in Brussels (Belgium) and represents SOS Children’s Villages International I towards relevant units of the European Commission as well as in different stakeholder networks.

Tasks and Responsibilities

• Monitor and analyse EU development cooperation and humanitarian action funding trends; manage relationships with relevant EU institutions and civil society organisations networks in Brussels;
• Support the Team Leader EU Partnership Development (IPD) in representing SOS CV as an expert actor towards the EU institutions.
• Support EU Partnership Development activities of SOS CV member associations
• Support EU funding application processes including advising on the preparation of budgets with a focus on ECHO applications and a view on delivering high quality EU projects worldwide.
• To update and service relevant EU systems and databases (external platforms)
• Provision of yearly reports on EU funding results internally (contributing to IPD strategy KPIs).
• Contribution to Grant Management System Development and Implementation as required.
• EU technical and policy compliance check.
• Co-developing Children’s Villages International- led EU funding applications
• On demand: Provide guidance, advice and support to programmes on grant management and compliance with donor and internal requirements
• Foster a culture of cooperation and exchange in the federation and support communication activities.
• Regularly inform the SOS CV grant management system and other SOS CV working groups/projects as well as SOS CV strategy and management decision making with EU funding requirements and practice.
• Develop briefings, concept notes, minutes, speaking points, presentations, blog posts, virtual collaboration pages and contribute to reports etc.

Requirements

Essential:

• Academic background or work experience in a relevant discipline International Relations, Political Science, EU studies, Human Rights etc.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience in an international context or university graduate with more than 5 years' experience.
• Excellent knowledge of the EU institutions, structures, policies, procedures and funding mechanisms, including knowledge of DG ECHO strategic developments and procedures
• Solid understanding/experience with gender mainstreaming in project cycle management is a strong asset.
• Documented experience from writing proposals and institutional donor applications
• Experience in financial management of EU Grants (from budget development to final audit)
• Awareness and interest on promoting and supporting children`s rights and the SOS CV mission
• Coordinating several stakeholders and project management skills;
• Strong analytical capacity, ability to organise and manage own work and workload, solution oriented
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral
• Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English;
• Knowledge of another EU language a distinct advantage
• Experience with delivering convincing and engaging meetings and trainings, facilitation, networking skills, presentation skills
• Eligibility to work in Brussels (EU citizenship or work permit)

Desirable:

• Grant management experience with humanitarian projects, preferably with DG ECHO funds considered a strong asset
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment
• Ability to work with a team in different locations/mainly via virtual communication
• Willingness and ability to travel

We offer

• A diverse range of interesting tasks in a leading INGO multicultural working environment
• As a responsible employer we provide a range of training schemes and encourage educational enhancement
• A salary that will be commensurate with experience and qualifications

If you are interested in this position, please submit your application with CV and a motivation letter (max. 1 page) in English by 1st of March 2022 at the latest to ICIMS:

https://careers-sos-kd.icims.com

Due to the high level of responses, SOS Children Villages can only respond to shortlisted candidates.

SOS Children’s Villages International, www.sos-childrensvillages.org/