SOS Children’s Villages International Representative (CVI Rep)CEE/CIS/ME (f/m) At SOS Children’s Villages International

SOS Children’s Villages International is the umbrella organisation for the global federation of SOS Children’s Villages. As a non-governmental social development organisation we support children without parental care and families in difficult living conditions through services in care, education, health and emergency relief, and we advocate for the rights of children and young people, in alliance with a great diversity of partners. We work in 137 countries and territories, reaching over one million children, young people, families and caregivers each year. To support us with this important responsibility the International Office CEE/CIS/ME is looking for a committed:

SOS Children’s Villages International Representative

(CVI Rep)CEE/CIS/ME (f/m)

Location: Vienna – Austria.

Mission:

The mission of the SOS Children’s Villages International Representative (CVIR) is to be the link between the General Secretariat (GSC) and the governing bodies and leadership of assigned Member Associations (MAs), supporting the MAs according to mutually agreed priorities and GSC services, which are based on Federation strategy and local needs .

Purpose of the position:

• To promote good governance and management in Members Association
• To advise and support MA (Members Association) boards and leadership in critical strategic issues and in application of Federation policies, strategy and plans
• To have high level oversight of the development of assigned MAs and critical risks and issues
• To ensure two-way exchange of information and priorities between MA boards and leadership and the GSC/developments in the Federation
• To work closely with IOR functions to mutually ensure that the MA receives relevant services

Tasks and Responsibilities:

Governance and leadership

• Assist in establishing legal entities, statutes, governance structures and board composition
• Assist in developing good governance within the MA
• Strengthen and maintain affiliation by communicating main strategic developments and policies of the Federation, share regional and federation know-how, and foster opportunities for meeting and sharing between MA Boards
• Monitor, support, escalate that the development of the MA is in line with federation minimum standards, policies, and guidelines and raise critical issues with the board
• Maintain a regular dialogue with the National Director and advise, support as requested

Risk and Issue Management

• Maintain an overview of the MA’s development and any significant risks (internal and external)
• Regularly visit the MA and participate in board meetings in order to maintain overview
• If actions are needed to address risks, bring this forward on a timely basis to National Management, Board, IOR functions and/or management.
• Ensure that crises, complaints. compliance and other issues are dealt with at the appropriate level and following Federation processes

Coordination with stakeholders

• Provide effective information flow to Promoting & Supporting Associations (PSAs) and link with MAs to contribute to effective working partnerships
• Upon the request of the MA, represent the MA to stakeholders and external partners, including national government and others as relevant
• Link up with IOR functions to ensure coordinated services to MAs

Strategy, planning, budgeting, reporting

• Support MAs in developing national strategies, linking up with IOR functions, and endorse MA strategies, plans, proposals and budgets according to applicable processes
• Approve the reallocation of MA funds within the relevant frame
• Maintain an overview of progress of strategies and plans and bring forward the needs for corrective actions on a timely basis

Affiliation, Knowledge Management

• Bring together National Directors (and Board presidents) in relevant and motivating focus groups to offer an agile approach to address and develop their key priorities and increase affiliation
• Link and finding solutions for issues raised by one or a group of MAs
• Motivate MAs to contribute to the Federation by sharing knowledge and support through funding other MAs

Safeguarding (CS)

• Support National boards to monitor the implementation, progress and effectiveness of CS procedures within their respective MA and to ensure that needed improvement and remediation actions are taken on a timely basis
• Support the IOR CS Advisor (focal person) as requested in dealing with challenging CS issues/follow up of CS action plans in MAs

Requirements:

• Bachelors’ degree in Management and Social Science or development related subjects. Masters´ degree an added advantage.
• Should have total work experience of 10 to 15 years, including international experience
• Experience of senior management role in INGO or relevant organisation
• High interpersonal skills and excellent communication in a range of situations
• Team-oriented: Ability to build strong/professional relationships/networks and cooperate effectively in a spirit of mutual respect, integrity and trust with peers, partners, stakeholders, local governments and others
• Ability to do critical analysis and integrate information
• Ability to think strategically and future-oriented towards operational and fundraising planning
• Good understanding of numbers, ability to do critical analysis and integrate information.
• Strong Business writing skills
• Fluent in written and spoken English language skills.
• Any additional languages preferably Arabic and/or Russian

We offer:

• Working for a meaningful cause
• A range of interesting tasks in a leading international NGO’s multicultural working environment
• Opportunities for learning and development
• A committed and innovative team and management culture