EU Partnership Development Advisor (f/m/d)

SOS Children’s Villages, founded in 1949 by Hermann Gmeiner, is the world’s largest non-governmental organization focused on supporting children and young people without parental care, or at risk of losing it.

Locally led, we work in more than 130 countries and territories to strengthen families who are under pressure so that they can stay together. When staying together 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.

Mission

The specific objective is to increase both the number of funding partnerships and the quality of institutionally-financed projects. Institutional donors work according to universally agreed development, humanitarian, rights and effectiveness frameworks 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 rights. The EU Partnership Advisor works as a member of the IPD EU Team, part of the Institutional Partnership Development (IPD) Department 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 increase the financial resources available to support SOS Children’s Villages International programmes. The EU Partnership Advisor is based in Brussels (Belgium)..

Tasks and Responsibilities

• Monitor and analyse EU development cooperation and humanitarian action funding trends;
• Support SOS Children’s Villages Member Associations’ EU funding application processes with a view to deliver high quality EU projects worldwide;
• Strengthen capacities of SOS Children’s Villages staff in accessing and implementing EU grants;
• Co-develop Children’s Villages International- led EU funding applications;
• Participate in relevant networks of civil society organisations in Brussels;
• Contribute to positioning SOS CV with relevant EU institutions as an expert actor on social development, humanitarian action, and child and youth care;
• Update and service relevant EU platforms;
• Contribute to reporting on EU funding results internally;
• Provide guidance, advice and support on grant management and compliance with donor and internal requirements;
• 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.;
• Foster a culture of cooperation and exchange in the federation and support communication activities.

Requirements

Essential:

• Academic background or work experience in a relevant discipline such as International Relations, Political Science, EU studies, Human Rights etc.;
• Minimum of 2 years of relevant professional experience;
• Excellent knowledge of the EU institutions, structures, policies, procedures and funding mechanisms;
• Documented experience on writing proposals and institutional donor applications;
• Awareness and interest on promoting and supporting children`s rights and the SOS CV mission;
• Experience coordinating diverse stakeholders and project management skills;
• Strong analytical capacity, ability to organise and manage own workload, solution oriented;
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral;
• Excellent knowledge of written and spoken English;
• Experience with delivering convincing and engaging trainings. Facilitation and networking skills;
• Eligibility to work in Brussels (EU citizenship or work permit);
• Ability to work within a small team, as part of a larger international structure.

Desirable:

• Solid understanding/experience with gender mainstreaming in project cycle management is a strong asset;
• Experience in financial management of EU Grants (from budget development to final audit);
• Grant management experience with humanitarian projects;
• Knowledge of another EU language is a distinct advantage;
• 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;
• Flexible working hours;
• Teleworking scheme;
• An unlimited labour contract.

If you are interested in this position, please submit your application with CV and a motivation letter (max. 1 page) into ICIMS: https://careers-sos-kd.icims.com.

The vacancy does not have a closing date. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Due to the high level of responses, SOS Children Villages can only respond to shortlisted candidates.