Full-Time Executive Director
Job Description
The Roma Education Fund (REF) is seeking a new Executive Director to lead the organization in the fulfilment of its strategy and objectives.
REF’s mission is to close the gap in educational outcomes between Roma and non-Roma, including through the desegregation of education systems. REF strives to achieve this by scaling up interventions that have been successfully piloted, supporting activities that are respectful and inclusive of Roma at all levels of education, providing a forum for advocacy and discussion of Roma education issues, and serving as a centralized source of information on Roma education issues.
REF addresses four priorities in particular:
- Access to compulsory education (including preschool)
- Access to tertiary education
- Strengthening civil society capacity
- Building the evidence for effective policy making
The REF annual budget currently stands at approximately 11 million Euro, and its efforts reach more than 100,000 beneficiaries per year.
The Roma Education Fund is headquartered in Budapest, Hungary, with legal entities established in Switzerland, Hungary, Montenegro, Slovakia, Serbia and Romania. The Executive Director serves as CEO for this network of entities. The Executive Director is accountable to the Board of each legal entity, but primarily to the Board of REF Switzerland, which exercises ultimate programmatic and financial authority for the network.
The Executive Director manages all staff and is responsible for assigning tasks and conducting regular performance reviews. REF currently employs 18 staff in headquarters, with 20-38 staff in the other offices (depending on the number of active projects). There are also Country Facilitators in eight countries to provide support to local organizations preparing and implementing projects with REF support and there are 14 Country Coordinators responsible for managing the REF Scholarship Programs in their respective countries.
The Executive Director oversees and Chairs a Senior Management Team that meets regularly.
Duties
- Manage REF’s operations in order to implement its strategic objectives and continue increasing flexibility, efficiency and effectiveness of programs.
- Recruit, manage and develop REF staff to ensure the right balance of skills and knowledge and to motivate and support staff for performance and growth.
- Plan for and oversee growth of REF, including the development of new legal entities in target countries subject to approval by the Board.
- Lead fundraising to maintain operations and for future growth.
- Act as primary contact to donors, ensuring timely reporting and maximum transparency.
- Plan and manage REF’s budget and ensure the highest level of fiscal accountability and integrity.
- Develop strong collaborative links with all stakeholders, especially Roma communities and organizations, pro-Roma civil society, municipal and national governments, international organizations and donors.
- Represent REF externally to support education policy change and new and existing programs, especially with international organizations and governments (including ministries of education and local governments).
- Provide timely and clear information and advice to the REF Boards.
- Serve as Secretary to the REF Boards.
- Ensure all REF decisions and actions are taken in line with existing policies and that accurate and complete records are kept.
- Sustain the independence, objectivity and integrity of REF and its programs.
Profile
The successful candidate should have:
- A successful track record of at least five years managing staff, resources and fiduciary responsibilities in a multicultural environment.
- Experience leading an organization, department or project through a period of growth.
- Experience raising funds from a variety of sources (governmental, international organization, private).
- Demonstrated success in managing complex, international programs and projects.
- Ability to work effectively and sensitively with a very wide range of stakeholders, including minority groups, civil society, international organizations and governments.
- Familiarity with policies of international organizations in Europe, especially the European Commission, Council of Europe and OSCE.
- Experience with minority inclusion issues, programs and projects.
- Knowledge of education policy and practice. Experience of these issues as they relate to Roma is an advantage.
- Excellent spoken and written English. Knowledge of other relevant European languages spoken in Central and Eastern Europe, including Romanes, will be an advantage.
- The highest personal integrity.
- A Master’s Degree or equivalent academic qualification in a relevant field of study, such as education, social science, political science, management or economics.
REF considers all applications on merit. REF particularly encourages applications from Roma, women, LGBT communities, persons with disabilities and others whose diversity can contribute to the work of the organization.
Salary and benefits: Commensurate with experience. The Executive Director will be employed on a contract under Hungarian Labor Law.
Applicants should send a letter of interest, a statement of up to 500 words explaining their interest, experience and how they would contribute to the implementation of REF’s Strategy, a full CV and the names of three references who may be contacted at an appropriate point in the recruitment process. These materials should be sent to Andrzej Mirga, REF Board Chair at: office@romaeducationfund.org. This is a confidential e-mail address to which only the Chair and the current Executive Director have access.
Deadline: Applications should be received by August 25; however, REF reserves the right to consider applications received after that date until the position is filled. All applicants will receive an email confirmation that their application has been received. Thereafter, only those invited to proceed to the next stage in the recruitment process will be contacted.
More information about the Roma Education Fund, including its 2015-2020 Strategy, can be found at: www.romaeducationfund.org.
How to Apply
Applicants should send a letter of interest, a statement of up to 500 words explaining their interest, experience and how they would contribute to the implementation of REF’s Strategy, a full CV and the names of three references who may be contacted at an appropriate point in the recruitment process. These materials should be sent to Andrzej Mirga, REF Board Chair at: office@romaeducationfund.org. This is a confidential e-mail address to which only the Chair and the current Executive Director have access.1927 total views, 0 today