The Rule of Law Program of the International Renaissance Foundation seeks for a Program Coordinator to work jointly with the Open Society Justice Initiative (http://www.osji.org/) for the Legal Empowerment of the Poor Initiative.

The Rule of Law Program is focused on implementation of constitutional provisions on human rights and fundamental freedoms, on establishment of effective mechanisms of public control and monitoring of the state’s obligations in the sphere of human rights, and on increase of the effectiveness of citizens’ access to justice.

Legal Empowerment of the Poor is a new initiative of the Rule of Law Program aiming to enforce processes of systemic change through which the poor and excluded become able to use the law, the legal system, and legal services to protect and advance their rights and interests.

Key responsibilities/tasks:

Under the supervision of the Rule of Law Program Director, the Project Coordinator will develop an independent, self-sustaining mechanism for promoting community justice services. Specific responsibilities will include: 

• To design institutional frameworks for ensuring the sustainability of legal empowerment strategies;
• To propose options for the institutional form an initiative should take;
• To identify local or regional groups currently working in this field who could take leadership in forging a broader initiative;
• To liaise with potential donors, map their interests, discern how best to secure their involvement;
• To identify and help plan the activities the initiative should undertake, including both advocacy and technical assistance in selected locations to scale up model projects;
• To identify, cultivate and expand a network of contacts among donors, NGOs, government officials, regional and international organizations and academics; and maintain current information about activities in support of LEP;
• To identify research gaps and needs, and develop methodologies for assessing effectiveness of community-level legal empowerment interventions;
• To monitor projects implementing for the LEP work;
• To perform other project-related tasks as assigned by the Rule of Law Program Director.

 Qualifications/skills:

• Previous professional experience in the field of human rights, law reform, and/or development;
• Preferably Master degree in Law or Public policy, Economy, Sociology or similar relevant academic qualification;
• Excellent verbal, written skills in Ukrainian, English and Russian;
• Strategic thinking;
• Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills;
• Ability to work in a fast paced diverse work environment;
• Availability to travel (nationally and internationally), and work overtime when required;
• Pleasant, diplomatic manner and disposition in interacting with colleagues at all levels, program contacts, and the general public;
• Ability to work both independently and in a team;
• Experience working with state and/or local authorities, international donor organizations, bi-lateral organizations, and/or governments preferred.

Starting date:  December 1, 2009
Salary: Competitive but commensurate with experience and abilities. 

To apply: Send a detailed Curriculum Vitae, cover letter and writing sample in Ukrainian and English not later than November 15, 2009 to Khrystyna Basiliya (e-mail: basiliya@irf.kiev.ua). Please mark your letter ‘Application for the Rule of Law Program Coordinator’. 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the interview till November 24, 2009.

			Vasуlуna Yavorska, Rule of Law Program Manager tel: +380 (44) 482 03 63 | fax: +380 (44) 486 76 29 email: yavorska@irf.kiev.ua office: Kyiv, Artema Street, 44, room 1