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Deputy Director and Head of Programmes
refugee rights europe
  • Salary £35,000 - £42,000 per year
  • Location Greater London (On-site)
  • Job Type Contract, Full-time
  • Category Management , Advocacy
  • Sectors Human Rights
  • Job Reference :

Job Description

Position: Deputy Director and Head of Programmes

Contract type: Full time, one-year contract with potential extension

Reporting to: Executive Director

Location: London, UK

Salary range: £35,000-42,000 (depending upon experience)

Start date: As soon as possible

Overview

Refugee Rights Europe (RRE) is an advocacy organisation defending the human rights and dignity of refugees and asylum seekers in Europe.  We work collaboratively with grassroots organisations and national level civil society in the UK, France, Belgium, Greece, Italy and the Balkans, in order to hold decision-makers to account. We call on the EU institutions and national governments to ensure universal human rights are secured for individuals seeking protection in Europe.

RRE is recruiting for a Deputy Director and Head of Programmes to join our team in London, UK (with the possibility of discussing flexible working arrangements). The Deputy Director and Head of Programmes leads on organisational advocacy, including the delivery of projects and activities at EU, UN and national levels. The role works with the Executive Director to develop and maintain the organisation’s position and its issues across Europe, and deputises for the Executive Director as needed. S/he recommends modifications to, and ensures compliance with, existing organisational policy and strategy.

The Deputy Director and Head of Programmes oversees the organisation’s projects and programmes carried out by regional staff in various European locations, including staff management and budgeting. S/he inspires the development of innovative and creative and collaborative advocacy campaigns, driving core elements of our external positioning in support of the organisation’s strategic objectives. S/he represents the organisation in both formal and ad hoc advocacy contexts, with parliamentarians, policy makers and other key stakeholders, if/as required.

Key responsibilities

Programme and Staff Management

  • Line-manages regional staff and oversees European programme activities aimed at fostering collaborative work with partner organisations, which includes the coordination of joint advocacy activities, the creation of advocacy tools, and the production of ground update reports.
  • Line-manages and acts as a resource and sounding board for the EU and UN Advocacy and Policy Manager, ensuring that advocacy work at the EU and UN levels is aligned with RRE’s yearly strategy and any external policy developments.
  • Ensures that planned programme activities are compliant with finance policies and funder commitments.

Strategic Development and Representation

  • Alongside the Executive Director, develops and maintains the organisation’s position and its issues across Europe, updating RRE’s advocacy strategy in accordance with European policy developments.
  • Represents RRE at UN, EU and national level policy events in RRE’s focus countries, as well as at conferences, workshops and meetings, if/as required.

Advocacy, Policy and Research

  • Oversees the monitoring of the policy landscape at EU and UN levels, as well as the national levels in RRE’s focus countries.
  • Leads on organisational advocacy, including the delivery of advocacy projects and activities at EU, UN and national levels.
  • Coordinates and oversees the drafting of evidence submissions to national, EU and UN level mechanisms.

External Communications

  • Ensures quality control of external facing communications and products, including research reports, website, blogs, etc.
  • Oversees staff and volunteers who operate RRE’s social media channels and blog platform, and regularly reviews RRE’s approach to social media to ensure effective social media engagement.
  • Leads RRE’s monthly review process, aimed at documenting achievements and impact.
  • Acts as point of contact for RRE’s group of Advisors and pool of researchers, ensuring regular updates and effective ongoing communications.

Other

  • Contributes towards regular submissions to the Board of Directors on progress of RRE’s advocacy and programmatic work.
  • Supports the Executive Director in the recruitment of staff, if and as required.
  • Oversees the maintenance and development of the Salesforce contacts database, Dropbox filing system and other internal systems and processes.
  • Carries out any other tasks, as required and reasonably requested.

Person specification

Essential

  • A resilient leader, who embraces complexity and uncertainty, and with substantive staff management experience.
  • Demonstrable experience managing complex grant budgets for a non-profit organisation.  
  • A strategic, innovative and creative thinker with the ability to deliver tangible results.
  • A keen policy 'savviness' and a solid understanding of how to achieve ambitious policy change, preferably with a demonstrable track-record.
  • A track record of leading campaigning and advocacy initiatives, through parliamentary advocacy, private diplomacy, mobilising constituencies, working with diverse partners and/or using the media, at international, EU and/or and national level.
  • Excellent levels of personal organisation, ability to manage a varied workload, and strong attention to detail.
  • A strong ability to work collaboratively with colleagues across functions and levels of seniority.
  • Excellent writing and communication skills in English, and the ability to translate complex material into coherent and effective narratives.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and strengths in dealing with varied stakeholders ranging from grass-roots groups to policy-makers.
  • Knowledge of major trends and current issues relating to asylum and migration in policy and human rights contexts across Europe.

Desirable

  • A thorough and demonstrable understanding of multilateral political institutions and processes (UN, EU, Council of Europe).
  • Experience of working in networks and building strong working relationships with a range of stakeholders.
  • Experience of monitoring and evaluating advocacy activities for impact.
  • Good understanding of social media for outreach.
  • Knowledge of French / Greek / Italian or other European languages.

The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.