Services Development Officer

Job Title: Services Development Officer

Location: Brussels, Belgium

Duration: One (1) year, renewable

Starting date: ASAP

Line manager: Head of PRTU

About PI

Protection International (PI) is an International NGO that contributes to the improvement of the protection of human rights defenders (HRDs) throughout the world. PI provides tools to develop HRDs’ capacities to manage their own security as their struggle against impunity and work in favour of human rights and democracy in their respective countries or regions. PI seeks to contribute to a situation where HRDs are recognised as legitimate actors for social change and to an environment where they can exercise their right to defend universally accepted human rights.

Protection International has its global office in Brussels, but primarily works where protection of HRDs is needed. PI has long-term presence in several countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America. Under its Global Strategy 2019-2023, PI is gradually transforming into a network of Hubs, establishing regional offices that work in a flexible manner across several countries.

General Objective of the position

The post-holder will contribute to PI’s overall effort to advice and support to civil society actors on matters concerning the security and protection of Human Rights Defenders (HRDs). The key purpose and function of this role will be to develop and refine PI work on consultancy services, thus contributing to PI’s decentralisation efforts by supporting the Global Team, Hubs and PDs in increasing PI’s capacity to use and apply its expertise beyond the countries where there is a field presence. The post holder will also manage and report upon all other small grants and sub-grants to HRD communities or organisations that PI may request or allocate.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Engaging with HRDs from different countries and other protection actors in order to keep abreast of the current issues which impact on the security of HRDs and develop programs which meet their protection needs;
• Maintaining current and customer relationships: follow up on provision of consultancy services and referrals resulting from field activity, and manage relations with donors;
• Support the implementation of the service development strategy and its monitoring/adjustment at global, regional and national levels
• Working on the acquisition of potential new partners, including civil society organizations, international NGOs, universities and partners of donor organizations: identify and contact other consultancy service prospects and target groups;
• Communicating new service opportunities, special developments, information, or feedback gathered through field activity to the Head of PRTU and other concerned staff (including Regional Hub Directors, Country Representatives and PRTU staff);
• Building collaborative and sustained working relations with other PI teams globally to ensure efficient and fast delivery of services within the framework of PI ongoing decentralization efforts;
• Managing all paperwork to activate and implement efficiently consultancy service contracts (i.e. negotiating contract terms, drafting of contracts, making of arrangements for travel etc.);
• Liaising with the Finance and Administration Unitand Finance Officers in PI field offices in developing competitive budget which include include cost recovery for PI and opportunity for reserves.
• Liaising with the Finance and Administration Unitand Finance Officers in PI field offices in preparing draft narrative and financial reports and administrating expenses claim reports and collection of payments;
• Developing and updating consultancy service promotion materials including presentations and online content;
• Knowledge management on services, contracts and sub-grants through PI monitoring and evaluation tools;
• Exploration of distance learning applied to PI’s work and development of a service portfolio that combines blended training (combination of face-to-face and distance learning support) as an innovative way to support HRDs and CSOs.
• Benchmarking PI’s services against competitive offers in the field and gathering relevant information services, contracts through PI monitoring and evaluation tools;
• When required, provide support to the members of the Management Team in the preparation of a variety of status reports, including activity, follow-up, closings, and performance;
• Provide support on related administrative tasks to other colleagues in the Global Team, when required.

Job Requirements

Education

• Required relevant university degree in social sciences (political science, law, sociology, international relations, communications) , business school (business administration, marketing and finances) or similar working experience
• Preferred relevant professional training courses (Human Rights Defenders, humanitarian and development sector, management, etc.)

Experience

• Minimum 5 years of similar experience
• Proven experience in preparing, managing and reporting upon budgets with rigor and attention to details essential;
• Experience in managing small grants desirable
• Experience and familiarity with HRDs and human rights work highly desirable
• Field experience and proven interest in the not-for-profit sector are strong assets

Skills & Knowledge

• Highly organised/efficient time management
• Advanced skills in computer productivity software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook)
• Enthusiastic, self-starter who is able to work autonomously, under pressure, in decentralized teams, and think outside the box
• Ability to persuade and influence others. Ability to develop and deliver presentations. Demonstrated capacity to orally communicate clearly and effectively to a wide range of – expert and non-expert – audiences;
• Ability to create, compose and edit written materials.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, providing a positive organizational image to the public;
• Knowledge of advertising and promotion techniques for consultancy services desirable

Languages

• Required fluently spoken and written English, Spanish and French
• Good knowledge of other working language in PI is an asset
• Other languages: Good knowledge of French or Portuguese is an asset

Other requirements

• Only candidates authorized to work in Belgium/EU without any restrictions are eligible for this position.

What we offer

• The possibility to gain first-hand experience and knowledge on strategies to support human rights defenders and grassroots movements globally – and to contribute to these strategies.
• An open, friendly and multicultural work environment.
• Respect for autonomy, room for creativity, innovation, and learning.
• A people focused and collaborative way of working both within the unit the post sits under and with other teams.
• One year fix-term contract, renewable, for 30h/week
• Depending on experience, an annual gross salary between €2,760 to €2,895 monthly gross plus benefits: “pécule de vacances” (national holidays +20 days of annual leaves+ 8 days extra leaves + 2 weeks offered at the end of the year), health and hospitalisation insurance, lunch vouchers, reimbursement of home-work public transport.