Notice of vacancy at TGEU
Eastern Europe/Central Asia
Advocacy and Programme Officer
TGEU is looking for an 80% (32h/week) EECA Advocacy and Programme Officer for an initial period of 24 months. This position is based in Berlin, Germany, and will ideally begin 1 October 2021.
The Eastern Europe/Central Asia Advocacy and Programme Officer will be mainly responsible for the implementation of project-related advocacy trainings, UN-related advocacy, and partnerships with international organisations and institutions. The Officer will work closely with TGEU’s policy, programmes, communications, and operations staff.
Closing date
Applications sent by e-mail to jobs@tgeu.org will be considered.
Background
TGEU is a member-based organisation working primarily in Europe and Central Asia for the rights and lives of trans people. TGEU’s mission is to strengthen the rights and wellbeing of trans people in Europe and Central Asia, and represents 166 member organisations in 47 countries. We are seeking applicants who are committed to a world free from discrimination where gender diversity is celebrated, where trans people are valued, and where trans movements are self-aware, intersectional, and evolving to meet the needs of a diverse and resilient community.
Job description
The EECA Officer will be responsible for developing and implementing a 3-year project to support advocacy and capacity building for trans human rights civil society organisations in Eastern Europe and Central Asia through training, networking, and peer support.
The project will use a cohort-based approach to support trans human rights defenders by building the capacity of five local NGOs working in challenging social and political contexts through: training, network development, and capacity-building efforts; developing emergency response and safety resources to protect trans activists under threat in high-risk countries in EECA; documenting legal discrimination against trans communities and building data collection capacity; and strengthening the ability of groups in EECA to engage in public education and advocacy within the UN and other international human rights mechanisms.
Primary job duties include:
Programme management
- Design a program to enhance the capacity of trans groups and activists in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
- Develop relationships with organisations, networks, and activists in EECA.
- Contribute to internal and external reporting, and support the development of EECA-related grant applications as needed.
- Contribute to the strategic development of TGEU programmes and contribute to other tasks as required.
Advocacy
- Facilitate access to international institutions such as UN agencies and EU regional institutions.
- Develop advocacy materials and submissions to domestic policymakers and international human rights mechanisms.
- Support domestic advocacy work with country partners.
- Organise roundtables with regional and/or international bodies on the regional situation.
- Network with other international partner organisations, such as APTN, GATE, ILGA-World, and others.
Who we are looking for
For this position, we are looking for an advocate with strong competency and interest in trans issues, including experience working within the post-Soviet region. We are looking for someone who applies a (self-)critical approach to their work, includes intersectional perspectives and accumulates a set of experiences and skills. The ideal candidate will have:
- A deep commitment to trans organising and capacity building in post-Soviet countries.
- At least three years of experience working in non-governmental organisations, ideally at national, regional, or international levels.
- Work or volunteer experience in trans, LGBTI, anti-violence, and/or human rights organisations.
Required skills and experience
- Excellent knowledge of English and Russian (spoken and written) with strong writing skills.
- Understanding of the landscape of post-Soviet countries and political dynamics both regionally and nationally.
- Ability to understand (or quickly learn) legislative processes, communicate about those policies, and support activists in responding to policy developments at the national level.
- Ability to work proactively and take initiative, as well as comfort working individually and within diverse teams.
- Indisputable work ethics.
- Commitment to TGEU values and policies.
Preferred skills and experience
- Organising experience in trans, LGBTQI, or other social movements.
- Comfort speaking in public to diverse audiences – from local trans advocates to UN representatives.
- Experience delivering trainings and working with key professional groups, such as attorneys, journalists, or healthcare professionals.
- Knowledge of UN treaty bodies and special procedures, and experience preparing written and oral interventions for policymakers.
- Ability to take responsibility for planning how and when to carry out the tasks required to complete this project, and when to ask for input from others.
- Understand power dynamics and issues experienced by marginalised groups.
- Ability to manage a high workload and prioritise tasks as needed.
What we offer
- An 80% (32 hours per week) position for an initial period of 24 months
- The possibility to work for the European and Central Asian trans movement – and truly make a difference
- A dedicated team that will allow you to implement your ideas
- Full healthcare plan
- Gross salary of 43,857€ per year with a 5% increase after one year
- Up to 1500 € of relocation support to Berlin, Germany, if needed
- A pet-friendly office space
- Access arrangements depending on the needs of the employee
- German or English classes, if desired
- Counselling/coaching sessions, as needed
Due to COVID relocation challenges and funding restrictions, preference will be given to applicants who are already eligible to work in the EU/Germany. However, all candidates will be considered. For those who may need a work permit, a university diploma will be required due to German immigration practices.
Accessibility of TGEU’s office
TGEU’s offices are partially accessible for wheelchair users: there is a steep ramp from the street down to the elevator; once inside, all the rooms are situated on one level and the office doors and corridors are very wide; the toilets are on the same level but the doors are too narrow to allow access when using a wheelchair.
Application procedure
https://tgeu.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/TGEU-eeca-officer-2021-application.docx
For applications and questions, please contact jobs@tgeu.org with EECA OFFICER in the subject line. Anonymised CVs are welcome, but please do not send degrees or diplomas. Only complete application packs will be considered. Approaching TGEU team members directly might lead to automatic rejection of the application.
Timeline
24 July 2021
24 August 2021
1-3 September 2021
6-9 September 2021
15 September 2021
1 October 2021
Launch of the call
Deadline for receiving applications
First round interviews
Second round interviews
Decision
Start of position
TGEU is an equal opportunities employer striving to avoid discrimination and increase representation and expertise from underrepresented groups on the team. Therefore, TGEU encourages trans and/or queer; black people and people of colour; D/deaf and disabled people; people with a migration background; sex workers; trans women and gender-non-conforming people; people from Eastern Europe and Central Asia; people living with HIV, to apply and mention their backgrounds and experiences in their application. We guarantee that all information will be held confidentially.