SOS CHILDREN'S VILLAGES INTERNATIONAL -
CONTINENTAL FAMILY STRENGTHENING ADVISOR

SOS Children's Villages International is the umbrella organization of more than 130 affiliated national SOS Children's Village associations worldwide. SOS Children's Villages is a non-governmental and non-denominational, child-focused organisation that provides direct services in the areas of care, education and health for children at risk of losing parental care, or who have lost parental care.

The organisation also builds the capacity of the children's caregivers, their families and communities to provide adequate care.

SOS Children's Villages advocates for the rights of children without parental care and those at risk of losing parental care. Founded in 1949, its operations are guided by the spirit of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The Continental Office CEE/CIS/Baltics seeks a Family Strengthening Advisor to support SOS work in the area of prevention of child separation from the family. The post will be based in one of the following countries: Albania, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Czech Republic or Latvia. The post holder will have a national contract, which means that the applicant should be a citizen of one of these countries or have a valid work permit. This is a one year position with a possibility of further extension of contract.

Tasks and responsibilities:
- Support National Association in 3-5 countries in the strategic development and growth of national family strengthening programmes;
- Guide and support National Association in 3-5 countries in programme development, including planning, quality assurance, monitoring and evaluation of family strengthening projects (FSPs);
- Facilitate knowledge sharing and capacity building of the national staff;
- Contribute to the development of continental guidelines and standards;
- Assist the Head of the Unit with regard to the administration, documentation, cross-regional data capturing and analysis of Family Strengthening projects on the continent;
- Build partnerships on continental level with other organisations working on issues related to prevention of child separation and advocate on behalf of SOS Children's Villages.

Main Requirements:
- Advanced degree in the area of social work, social pedagogy, psychology and international development
- At least 3 years work experience in the field of child protection and well-being (preferably in the area of prevention of child abandonment and issues concerning families at risk of separation)
- Strong experience and skills in project management, strategic planning, monitoring and evaluation
- Basic financial and HR understanding
- Experience in organizing and holding workshops and meetings
- Knowledge of international development
- Fluent in written and spoken English and Russian or other Slavic language;
- Readiness to travel at least 30% of working time
- Leadership skills
- Excellent communication and networking skills

Preferred additional criteria:
- Work experience in an inter-country position
- Experience in community mobilization and development
- Work experience with government authorities

We Offer:
- Diverse and challenging tasks in an international working environment
- Opportunities for further training

If you are interested in this position, please send your CV and motivation letter to [email protected] putting Continental Family Strengthening Advisor in the subject line. Only selected candidates will be contacted for an interview.

Deadline: 30 April 2011

www.sos-childrensvillages.org