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RCW is hiring!

Reaching Critical Will (RCW) is the disarmament programme of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF). We work to facilitate a broader and deeper knowledge of issues related to disarmament and arms control of many different weapon systems; militarism and military spending; and gendered aspects of the impact of weapons and of disarmament processes.

We are recruiting a Programme Manager for RCW. We need an experienced person who can take initiative and be in charge of implementing projects, engaging with diplomats, coordinating other civil society actors, and conducting research, writing, and editing. We also need someone who works well as part of a team. The Manager reports to the Director and will manage interns and coordinate with other WILPF International staff and WILPF National Sections.

Location for the work may be New York or Geneva; please indicate your preference in your application. Position begins 3 October or 1 November 2016.

Job description

To achieve its objectives, Reaching Critical Will:

  • provides reporting and analysis on all relevant conferences and initiatives;
  • produces research and analysis on relevant issues in the form of papers, books, fact sheets, and blog posts, independently and in partnership with other organisations;
  • participates in and organises relevant meeting, panels, seminars, workshops, and conferences;
  • helps coordinate civil society engagement on disarmament issues at the UN;
  • represents WILPF in disarmament campaigns and coalitions; and
  • maintains a comprehensive online archive of all statements, resolutions, and other primary documents on disarmament.

The Programme Manager task portfolio includes work related to managing the programme in all its aspects. This position reports to the Programme Director.

Programme management

  • Works with the programme director to prepare grant proposals and reports; develop and maintain an effective grant tracking system; and keeps on top of deadlines and reporting requirements.
  • Works with WILPF’s financial manager and bookkeeper to ensure system requirements are met; WILPF disarmament grants are integrated with WILPF proposals where appropriate; and to coordinate the financial planning of the disarmament programme in Geneva.
  • Leads event organisation and logistical arrangements for meetings on WILPF’s disarmament work and that of coalitions and campaigns it is a member of, including assisting with organisation of other WILPF staff or WILPF Section travel.

Project management

  • Oversees the development and implementation of specific projects in coordination with the programme director. Currently the programme manager is responsible for implementation of our UNSCAR project related to gender-based violence and the international arms trade. This includes liaising with WILPF National Sections involved in the project; managing the grant in coordination with our financial manger and bookkeeper; coordinating research and materials publication; arranging relevant events and travel; etc.

Inter-WILPF coordination

  • Liaises with other WILPF programmes as well as the communication and administration team to ensure WILPF’s disarmament programme is operating effectively within WILPF’s integrated approach; identifies new opportunities for collaborative work within WILPF.
  • Attends monthly WILPF editorial board meetings to plan disarmament contributions to the overall WILPF communication.
  • Liaises with WILPF Sections and members who are interested in working on disarmament related activities.
  • Visits WILPF Sections as part of WILPF disarmament projects.

 Civil society coordination

  • In coordination with the Programme Director, works to enhance and coordinate NGO participation in international disarmament forums, including by establishing and maintaining good relationships with UN Office of Disarmament Affairs staff, to ensure NGO access to and engagement with various fora, and by working with other civil society groups to coordinate interventions in relevant forums.
  • Liaises with relevant member state delegations and research institutions.

Communication

  • Assists and/or coordinates in the creation of all RCW publications, papers, fact sheets, and newsletters, including but not limited to the E-News, NPT News in Review, First Committee Monitor, Small Arms Monitor, and ATT Monitor.
  • Designs and layouts WILPF’s disarmament publications or liaises with designers, publishers, and printers as relevant.
  • Liaises with the WILPF communication team regarding communication plans and strategies around WILPF disarmament publications and work.
  • Helps identify new opportunities for projects that advance the visibility, goals, and policies of WILPF’s disarmament work.
  • Identifies ways to improve the communication and presentation of WILPF disarmament products.
  • Maintains the RCW website and social media sites in consultation with other WILPF staff.
  • Prepares drafts or assists with the monthly RCW E-News, disarmament contributions to the SG report, WILPF newsletter, WILPF annual report, and other relevant publications.
  • Assists with research, writing, and editing RCW newsletters, publications, and fact sheets.

Meeting, monitoring, reporting

  • Attends, monitors, and reports on multilateral meetings on disarmament issues in coordination with the programme director.
  • Represents RCW/WILPF in meetings and on panels in coordination with the programme director.
  • Serves as alternate WILPF representative in the policy setting organs of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), the Campaign to Stop Killer Robots (CSKR), and the International Network on Explosive Weapons (INEW).

Qualifications

Commitment: Strong commitment to WILPF’s mission and vision and work for gender equality, peace, and disarmament.

Education: Masters/graduate degree in women’s rights, peace, international relations, human rights, social sciences, or a related field.

Experience: Minimum five years of relevant work experience, including at least three years progressively responsible management experience.

Related skills and knowledge

  • Exceptional ability to motivate, mentor, and coordinate volunteers / trainees, and orchestrate effective communication among staff, interns / fellows, technical team, international staff, diplomatic and INGO partners, and global peace advocates.
  • Exemplary verbal and written communication skills in English with high attention to detail and strong organisational skills, including experience in copy editing and / or other media release writing.
  • Ability to take initiative, prioritise tasks with minimal supervision, and work independently are required, as is ability to work well under pressure while juggling multiple tasks simultaneously as part of a team.
  • Strong computer skills: fluency in MS Office applications; experienced in managing or developing website CMS platforms, traditional and social media (press releases, blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram), and electronic newsletters (e.g., MailChimp).
  • Ability to represent WILPF with exemplary personal and professional authority and conduct.
  • Sense of humour, and ability to show tact, diplomacy, and maturity in dealing with interns/fellows and colleagues.
  • Prior research and analysis experience and fluency in language other than English a plus.

To apply, please submit:

  • CV
  • Cover letter explaining interest in the position
  • Writing sample
  • Two references
  • Indicate preference of New York or Geneva

Please send your application to uno.wilpf[at]gmail.com with the subject line “Apply RCW”

Deadline for applications is Friday, 5 August 2016.