PEACE BRIGADES INTERNATIONAL – CANADA

Interim Coordinator (Sabbatical Position)

Application deadline 9:00 AM EDT, Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Position Status: Salaried contract (28 hours) per week, with occasional overtime and weekend work. June 24, 2013 – March 14, 2014.

Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Overview:

PBI-Canada is looking for an experienced organiser and/or campaigner, with proven communications skills, to fill the role of Interim Coordinator, a sabbatical filling position. The Interim Coordinator will work respectfully with other PBI-Canada staff and volunteers and with the support of the Board of Directors, to maintain the day-to-day operations of the PBI-Canada office and activities. The role will have a majority focus on fundraising and communications work, with key responsibilities to include maintaining PBI-Canada’s funding base, ensuring that grant applications and reports are submitted in a timely manner, the coordination of individual donor communications, and ensuring that PBI generated material is disseminated and communicated to appropriate contacts, allies and networks. There will be some direct public engagement work necessary, to support the profile raising activities of PBI.

With the support of the Board of Directors and our Administrative Coordinator, the Interim Coordinator will facilitate PBI-Canada’s public education and communications work including responses to emergency response alerts regarding the safety of the human rights defenders PBI accompanies, developing content for our website, and some participation in meetings and events. PBI-Canada is but one constituency of the global PBI organisation. As an organisation that works through consensus and joint planning, there will be issues and requests for input from PBI-Canada which the Interim Coordinator will ensure timely responses and input. The Interim Coordinator will also provide support to the PBI-Canada Board to ensure that governance and other activities are undertaken.

Peace Brigades International (PBI) is an international non-governmental organisation that was founded in Canada 30 years ago. PBI uses nonviolent action to deter political violence and expand the physical and political space of human rights defenders (HRDs) working in areas of conflict. On request, PBI sends international volunteers to provide protective accompaniment and an international presence to local defenders and displaced communities who fear for their safety.

Human rights violators don’t want the world to know about their crimes. The work of PBI helps make sure the world does know. Peace Brigades International has helped hundreds of communities and thousands of people by protecting HRDs who work in pursuit of justice for the victims and survivors of violence, displacement and repression. PBI works to ensure that there is space throughout the world where peace can grow and thrive and where there is universal respect for human rights. PBI has presence in 16 countries, including Canada.

PBI’s work in countries like Canada – while still very much a PBI ‘Presence’ – takes a different form than in the countries where we undertake international presence and physical accompaniment activities. Our work in countries such as Canada is essential to our ability to provide protection to HRDs. Because of the worldwide support networks built by PBI-Canada and other PBI groups, our field volunteers – their presence on the ground – are the physical symbol of a global network that will pay attention and respond to threats. Perpetrators of violence usually do not want the world to know what is happening. Our “knowing” and ability to communicate to a global community of concern is central to our ability to protect. It is also central to our commitment to active solidarity and to be a part of social movements dedicated to building a peaceful world where human rights are universally respected.

Please visit www.pbicanada.org and www.peacebrigades.org for further information.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

As a means of promoting the work of PBI generally, and PBI’s role in Canada, develop, coordinate and facilitate communication activities to raise the profile of the organisation in Canada and to provide materials that will compel individuals and organisations to support the work of PBI both financially and through other activities. Your key responsibility is to ensure that our communications and fundraising plans and identified tasks get done through your direct work and your support and coordination of others.

Communications and Writing

– Identify new and connect with existing networks of activists and NGOs, to initiate information sharing about the work of PBI-Canada and the human rights defenders accompanied by PBI, with an eye on strategic communication that would support fundraising and political support for the work of PBI.
– Develop communications materials intended for a Canadian audience such as newsletters and annual reports, and issue specific materials necessary for public engagement and education opportunities.
– Revise and develop copy for PBI-Canada’s website.
– Ensure consistent posting of PBI produced material to relevant social media platforms.
– At the direction of the Board and in response to emergent opportunities, coordinate events and other activities.

– Respond to inquiries and correspondence from the public.

Fundraising
– Write grant proposals for pre-identified opportunities.

– Work with fundraising and communications professionals on our Board, identify and engage with funding prospects and fundraising strategies.

– Draft letters and follow up correspondence to individual donors.

– Prepare reports to funders and other documents, as required.

Governance and Administration
– As a member group of Peace Brigades International structure, PBI-Canada is called upon to provide comment, review and respond to a variety of documents and issues, as part of our participation in a consensus based global organisation. As the primary contact for PBI-Canada within the global structure, the Interim Coordinator will ensure that requests for response are directed to the Board, and with them, ensure that follow up is done.

– Working with Board members, ensure that annual budget and organisational work plan is developed, and shared with PBI’s international operations council.

– Provide support for governance activities, including board meetings and AGMs.

– Develop and maintain general knowledge of policies and procedures.

Administration
– Work with the Treasurer and the Administrative Coordinator to ensure the submission of all information, reports and records as requested or required by law to appropriate government officials and/or the Board of Directors.
– Assist in the day-to-day operation of the PBI-Canada office.
– Identify volunteer needs for administrative and fundraising activities. Work with other staff and volunteers to organise volunteers involved in public events and other activities.

Essential Experience, Knowledge and Skills:
Our staff and volunteers are committed to human rights and nonviolence. PBI undertakes its work through consensus decision making. For this position we seek:
– Commitment to nonviolence
– Understanding of key issues pertaining to universal human rights and the role of human rights defenders
– Superb written and oral communication skills, including the ability to compose original material, editing and proofreading, with exemplary attention to grammar, spelling and other details
– Experience working within Canadian civil society, with knowledge of relevant NGOs, organisations (such as trade unions, faith groups) and grassroots groups
– Experience in collective and/or consensus decision making
– Fluency in written and spoken English
– Ability to work under short deadlines, resource limitations and balance multiple activities
– Demonstrated capacity to work both independently and as part of a team
– Strong analytical skills
– Strong inter-personal communication skills; proven experience and success interacting with a diversity of people including members of the public, volunteers, donors; experience in working with and supporting the work of volunteers
– Strong computer skills and experience with standard word processing, spreadsheet programs and email, (Microsoft Office Suite especially Word and Excel)

Desirable Experience, Knowledge and Skills
– Fluency in French and/or Spanish

– Experience in social justice issues as faced by civil society in any of PBI’s field projects

Work Environment

PBI-Canada maintains a small office with a small staffing compliment in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The primary language of operation in the office is English. PBI-Canada provides a non-discriminatory workplace, where work relationships and the organisation’s policies are based on a commitment to work cooperatively and in a spirit of nonviolence, to make decisions by consensus, and to share collective responsibility for one another and the organisation. We respect and will honour all relevant Federal and Provincial Human Rights and Labour Standards legislation in effect.

Salary and Benefits:
Gross pay of $32,000.00 plus a benefits payment of 10% or $3,200. Individuals are responsible for arranging their own health benefits and pension plans.

Application Process

Applicants should submit a cover letter explaining their interest in and qualifications for this position along with a résumé and the names and contact information of 3 references. Please submit your application by email to jobs[at]pbicanada.org with the subject line: Interim Coordinator application.

Deadline: MAY 15, 2013. Only applicants under consideration will be contacted. Short-listed applicants will be invited to an interview in mid- to late May, early June. It is hoped that the successful candidate would be able to attend all or a significant portion of our annual face to face planning meeting, to be held June 7,8, 2013 and would be available to do some work days prior to beginning the full contract (any mutually agreed on work time will be remunerated). This is a position to fill specific tasks during the leave of absence of our National Director. There is a three month probationary period, subject to a 3 month extension.

We ask that only applicants within a reasonable commute distance to our office in Ottawa apply. We are grateful to all who have taken the time to apply to work with us. Only those applicants being considered for interviews will be contacted.