Location: Belgrade, Serbia
Date Posted: November 18, 2009
Application Deadline: December 1, 2009 by 17.00 (CET)

The Civil Society Advocacy Initiative, a program implemented by the Institute for Sustainable Communities and funded by the United States Agency for International Development seeks a:

Grants Officer

The Civil Society Advocacy Initiative (CSAI) is a $14 million, five-year program that supports Serbian civil society in its ability to influence public policy, serve as government watchdogs, and conduct sustained advocacy campaigns on a wide range of reform issues. CSAI nurtures a healthy and vibrant civil society by focusing on the sector’s capacity to successfully advocate at local and national levels for the issues it defines, and to secure a legal and regulatory environment that fosters the long-term financial and operational sustainability of NGOs through encouraging development of the concept of corporate social responsibility and investing in development of philanthropy. CSAI envisions the growth of civil society such that all people in Serbia identify themselves as citizens of a stable, democratic nation where participation is the norm, and personal responsibility contributes to a renewed sense of individual and national dignity.

Responsibilities

Under the supervision of the Director of the Grants Program the incumbent will:

• Provide leadership and guidance on overall program implementation;
• Serve as primary liaison with partners, insure effective cooperation and networking between project partners;
• Monitor and implement open and transparent grants awarded to civil society organizations (grantees);
• Review grantees’ reports to ensure appropriate implementation according to scale, timeline, and the achievement of desired results;
• Insure that grantees receive the needed assistance and training to fulfill program requirements;
• Coordinate monitoring and evaluation of program implementation;
• Coordinate with Program Auditor to make sure the expenses support the project goals;
• Coordinate with the Finance Department for funds transfers to grantees based on results of review/approval process;
• Perform and report on site visits;
• Draft programmatic reports,  success stories and provide program updates on a regular basis;
• Liaise and develop partnerships with relevant stakeholders to broaden impact of the project;
• Work closely with other ISC staff to coordinate activities and create synergies with other ISC program activities;
• Other tasks required by ISC for the successful implementation and completion of the program.

Qualifications

• Native Serbian  speaker with excellent English language skills;
• Experience working with civil society organizations in Serbia;
• Experience working with civil society organizations promoting European integration, social position of vulnerable groups and transparency of local and national decision making processes is preferred, though not required;
• Prior work experience with international organizations, embassies or foundations preferred;
• Familiarity with grant policies and procedures; experience in program management;
• Standard office and internet skills;
• University degree desired;
• Prior experience in donor reporting strongly preferred.

To Apply

Interested candidates should submit a CV, one-page cover letter explaining how their qualifications match the requirements of the position, and salary history to: isc@iscserbia.org.

Please mention the position title you are applying to in the Email subject.

Deadline for applications is Tuesday, December 1, 2009 by 17.00 (CET). Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. No telephone enquiries please.

ISC is an equal opportunity employer.