Two Policy Officers

Two Policy Officers

Victim Support Europe

Brussels, Belgium

Victim Support Europe (VSE) is the leading umbrella organisation advocating for victims of crime. It consists of 78 member organisations from 34 countries which together support over 3 million victims of crime every year. VSE advocates on behalf of all victims, to strengthen their rights and services throughout Europe.

The organisation aims to ensure that every victim in Europe is able to access these rights and services in the aftermath of crime, regardless of where the victim lives or where the crime took place.

Whilst embodying our fundamental values of respect, compassion, commitment, community, and collaboration, at the heart of our success is our commitment to unbeatable quality, innovation and a focus on practical solutions to the problems faced by victims. That focus has resulted in continual growth over the last ten years. We are recruiting for two policy officers to support the increased demand for our advocacy work as well as numerous projects we are delivering.

The key candidate will be highly organized, have excellent drafting skills and a pro-active and dynamic approach to work with the ability to solve problems and create solutions using their own initiative. The candidate should have at least 4 years of proven experience in policy and advocacy work.

Key responsibilities

EU policy and research:

• Develop policy guidance, recommendations and expert advice on victims’ rights, needs and services, and on priority victim topics as determined by VSE’s annual work programme and project work;
• Coordinate stakeholder engagement and communications throughout the policy consultation, design and implementation phases;
• Develop expertise in a particular area of policy, or draw on the expertise of others;
• Keep up to date with social, political and economic developments, and brief others on these;
• Support or coordinate meetings, conferences, workshops or debates;
• Monitor, analyse and respond to developments at EU level relevant to VSE work;
• Develop internal and external policies, guidance and training for victim support practitioners and wider stakeholders;
• Manage and respond to information requests relating to policy;
• Maintain accurate records of policy advice, including key discussions, decisions, handwritten and electronic notes;
• Support delivery of wider VSE activities including policy development, training programmes, and advocacy work and representation of VSE at external events;
• Support the Executive, Deputy Director and Project team in the delivery of their policy tasks.

Delivery of VSE projects – including both projects coordinated by VSE and partners, in particular by:

• Project coordination and management, including management of relationships with partners and stakeholders, ensuring timely development and delivery of project results, organising project events, reporting and communications;
• Develop project methodologies, analytical reports, models, questionnaires and other tools, as required;
• Provide administrative support for the development, implementation and production of project reports;
• Carefully manage budgets for assigned tasks;
• Other tasks required to successfully deliver project proposals, active projects and project reports.

Activities on specific thematic areas:

• Lead on specific thematic areas as needed, particularly in relation to specific types of crime.

Skills & Experience

General requirements:

• At least 4 years of relevant work experience in advocacy, policy and research;
• University Degree in victimology, law, human rights, international relations, or other relevant subjects;
• Relevant experience and qualifications in project management;
• Knowledge of EU institutions and system is an advantage;
• Knowledge and/or experience in victims’ rights issues is an advantage;
• Previous work experience in the NGO or victims’ sector at EU level is an advantage;
• Applicants must have the legal right to work in the EU. VSE cannot assist non EU Nationals to obtain a work permit or help with relocation costs.

Technical Skills:

• Excellent research, analysis and drafting skills;
• Strong management, leadership and organisational skills;
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English. Knowledge of other European languages is an advantage;
• Proven experience in advocacy and policy;
• Proficient computer skills especially in Microsoft applications;
• Ability to understand and master new technical concepts and information.

Personal Skills:

• Ability to work under pressure and manage tight and competing deadlines;
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work as part of a team;
• Diplomatic and non-judgmental, able to relate to people in all situations;
• Very organised with a strong attention to detail;
• Flexibility – post holder will be required to travel.

Terms of the contract

VSE is a people focused organised which combines a drive for excellence with a desire to ensure success and fulfilment of all its employees. In addition to the competitive salary conditions below, VSE offers a 3/2 day split for office and home working, flexi-time, offers in-house and external training in accordance with personal development plans which are focused on helping every employee achieve their best in a positive environment.

The selected candidate will be offered a full-time contract (38 hours/week).

Desired starting date of employment is 4 March.

Salary is 3000 (gross) per month, with regular statutory and non-statutory indexations.

The employment contract includes holiday bonus, 13^th month, meal vouchers and transportation allowance.

Extra-legal leave is granted during the first year of employment and additional benefits (flexible hours, work from home allowance, eco cheques and similar) are made available to employees.

This is a vacancy for a position based in Brussels, Belgium. All applicants need to have a legal right to reside and work in Belgium.

VSE is not in a position to cover any application for related cost to shortlisted candidates, or relocation costs to successful candidate.

Application

The application should include:

• an up-to-date CV;
• a motivation letter outlining: why the applicant wants the job; what special attributes the applicant would bring to the job; and what skills, knowledge and experience the applicant has that are transferrable to this position;
• a minimum of two references that may be contacted during the recruitment process should be mentioned.

Please send your application only electronically to [email protected].

The deadline for sending applications is 31 January 2024.

After the application deadline:

• Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis;
• Shortlisted candidates will be contacted by the first week of February;
• Interviews will take place in the second week of February.

Depending on the number of applications, VSE withholds the right to invite shortlisted applicants to complete a written assignment, which can affect the planning laid out above.